Explore the unique fire risks in data centres — from lithium-ion battery storage to cable management — and the specialised suppression and detection systems required.. The Critical Nature of Data Centre Fire Safety Data centres are the backbone of the digital economy, housing critical IT infrastructure worth millions of pounds. A fire incident can cause catastrophic business disruption, data loss, and reputational damage far exceeding the direct property damage. The unique fire risks in these facilities demand specialised fire safety solutions. Key Fire Risks in Data Centres Electrical Risks Cable fires — thousands of kilometres of cabling with significant fire load UPS battery systems — lithium ion and VRLA batteries with thermal runaway risk Power distribution units — high current connections and potential arc faults Transformer fires — oil filled transformers on site Environmental Risks Hot aisle/cold aisle configuration — concentrated heat in specific zones Below raised floor — hidden cable runs and potential ignition sources Above suspended ceiling — HVAC distribution and cable trays External plant — generators, chillers, and fuel storage Fire Detection Strategies Data centres require very early warning fire detection (VEWFD) systems that can detect fires at the incipient stage, before visible smoke or flame: Aspirating Smoke Detection (ASD) — VESDA or similar systems sampling air continuously Sensitivity levels — Alert, Action, Fire 1, Fire 2 thresholds Sampling pipe networks — above racks, below floor, in ceiling voids Integration with BMS — automated responses to detection events BS 6266 provides specific guidance on fire detection in data centres. Fire Suppression Options Gas Suppression Systems Clean agent gas suppression remains the preferred solution for data centre server halls: Agent Trade Name Mechanism Environmental Impact FK 5 1 12 Novec 1230 Heat absorption GWP = 1, zero ODP HFC 227ea FM 200 Chemical + physical GWP = 3220, zero ODP IG 541 Inergen O₂ reduction Zero GWP, zero ODP IG 55 Argonite O₂ reduction Zero GWP, zero ODP Water Mist Systems Pre action water mist systems offer an alternative where gas suppression is impractical: Minimal water damage to equipment No environmental concerns Effective cooling capability Can be used in occupied spaces without evacuation Lithium Ion Battery Energy Storage (BESS) The proliferation of lithium ion battery storage in data centres introduces specific risks: Thermal runaway — cascading cell failure generating toxic gases (HF, CO, HCN) Reignition — batteries can reignite hours or days after initial suppression Explosion risk — flammable gas accumulation in enclosed spaces Suppression challenges — conventional agents may not prevent propagation NFPA 855 and the recently published PAS 63100 provide guidance on BESS fire safety. Business Continuity Considerations Fire safety design must balance protection with operational continuity: Compartmentation — limiting fire spread between server halls Redundancy — N+1 or 2N configurations for fire systems Phased evacuation — maintaining operations in unaffected areas Recovery planning — contamination assessment and remediation procedures Our Data Centre Fire Engineering Services Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD has designed fire safety solutions for multiple Tier III and Tier IV data centres across the UK and internationally. Our holistic approach covers detection, suppression, compartmentation, and evacuation, ensuring both life safety and business continuity are optimised. Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD — UK's Leading Fire Safety & Fire Engineering Consultancy 🌐 magnus opifex.co.uk 📞 +44 7486 691724 ✉️ office@magnus opifex.co.uk Founders: Nicoleta Vasile, Baroness of Brattleby — CEO, Lawyer and Barrister, Legal & Administrative Director Alina — Technical Director & Expert Fire Engineer (BEng) Head Office: Ealing Cross, 85 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5BW Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD delivers engineering led fire engineering, fire risk assessments, CFD modelling, and building safety consultancy across the United Kingdom and internationally. With over 20 years of combined experience and a UK portfolio spanning healthcare, residential and infrastructure, we bring truly engineered solutions with a personal touch. © 2026 Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD. All rights reserved.