Server and communications rooms contain critical infrastructure that must be protected from fire without causing damage from the suppression system itself.. Server Room Fire Protection Server rooms and communications rooms contain critical IT infrastructure where both fire and water damage are unacceptable. The fire protection strategy must suppress fire without causing collateral damage. Fire Risks Electrical fires — overheated cables, short circuits, component failure UPS batteries — lithium ion and lead acid battery fires Overheating — cooling system failure leading to thermal events Cable fires — high density cable runs acting as fire propagation paths Dust accumulation — combustible dust on equipment and in raised floors Detection — The First Line of Defence VESDA (Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus): Aspirating system sampling air continuously Four alarm levels: Alert, Action, Fire 1, Fire 2 Alert level triggers investigation before fire develops Sampling points above and below raised floor In cabinet sampling for critical equipment racks Suppression Options FK 5 1 12 (Novec 1230): Chemical agent that suppresses fire by heat absorption Leaves absolutely no residue Safe for occupied spaces (design concentration below NOAEL) Equipment can continue operating during and after discharge Stored as liquid, discharged as gas — compact storage Inert gas (IG 55, IG 541): Reduces oxygen from 21% to 12.5% — fire cannot sustain No chemical interaction with equipment Safe for occupied spaces at design concentration Higher storage volume required than chemical agents May require larger discharge pipework Room Integrity Gas suppression systems require sealed rooms: Door integrity test to BS EN 15004 / ISO 14520 All penetrations (cables, pipes, ducts) sealed with fire rated materials HVAC systems isolated on fire alarm activation Pressure relief vents to prevent structural damage during gas discharge Retention time: minimum 10 minutes to allow fire service arrival Best Practice Design 1. Separate UPS/battery room from main server room (different fire risk profile) 2. Under floor detection as well as ceiling detection 3. Pre action sprinklers acceptable where gas suppression cost is prohibitive 4. Fire rated cable coatings on all cable runs 5. Regular cleaning of raised floor voids 6. Emergency power off (EPO) — available but use controversial For server room fire protection, contact us. 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.