Keeping your building safe from fire hazards is important no matter where it is located.
Keeping your building safe from fire hazards is important no matter where it is located. You might have your main office in one city but your data in “the cloud.” Any data centers that host information on servers will need protection. They are responsible not just for their own data, but their customers as well. Here are some suggestions for how data centers can protect themselves from damage caused by fires.
Declutter
One of the most common fire hazards is clutter. Clutter can make any professional setting uncomfortable to work in. Unfortunately, clutter can also get in the way during a fire emergency and interfere with a timely evacuation. While this is problematic during a fire drill, it can be downright dangerous when an actual fire breaks out in your data center. Keep data centers clear of papers and anything else that can easily catch fire. If the printer and copier are inside the data center room or server room, then you need to be on top of ensuring there are no stacks of paper left behind.
Look at Power Cords
Computers and other office equipment rely on power cords and other connector cables. Even with the advent of modern technologies that have moved away from wired setups, these cords are still indispensable. Data center facility managers need to look at the cords and replace them if they are worn out. Electrical fires can happen when you least expect if you neglect to take care of cords and wires
Plan for the Worst
When it comes to the presence of fire hazards in your data center, you need to plan for the worst case scenario. Dusty equipment can also go up in flames if exposed to a spark. That’s one major reason why data centers need to be kept as clean as possible. Although it’s optimistic to hope and expect for the best, make sure that employees and visitors know what to do if they need to evacuate your building.
Upgrade Fire Protection Systems
You can’t protect everyone inside your data center without the best possible fire protection technology. It’s critical to start exploring how to upgrade your existing systems – especially since water-based fire sprinklers are ill-suited for data centers. It’s much safer to install clean agent fire suppression systems instead such as an FM-200 system. Other common forms of protection and detection in data centers include high-sensitivity air sampling systems such as VESDA as well as pre-action sprinkler systems. Once these systems are installed it is important to schedule regular inspections and maintenance procedures so that nothing can fail unexpectedly the next time a fire should start in your facility.
Fire Protection Services from Fireline
Whether you need smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or an automatic sprinkler system installed at your commercial property, Fireline has you covered. We have been protecting people and properties from fire damage since 1947—and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our wonderful customer service, our expertise, and our reliability. For more information on how we can help your residential or commercial property, visit us online or give us a call at (800) 553-3405. We are located in Baltimore, MD, with a second office in Leesburg, VA. For more fire safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.