The server room is one of the worst places for a fire. Even the smallest amount of smoke in an area can severely damage your IT equipment. Corrosive sulfur and chloride byproducts are enough to corrode metal materials over time, even with brief exposure. Fortunately, server room and IT equipment damage are avoidable. The expensive equipment in a server room is replaceable, but your confidential and vital data is irreplaceable. Here is how to prevent a fire in your server room.
Fire prevention is vital.
Three Common Causes of Server Room Fires
The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) reported some causes of server room fires. Three of the most common include:
- Overloaded or short-circuited electrical components: When electrical equipment overloads or becomes short-circuited, it becomes a severe fire hazard.
- Subfloor wiring: Malfunctioning or faulty wires running through the subfloor is another cause of server room fires, which can be hard to detect.
- Overheating: Electronics overheat when they don’t have adequate room to ventilate or aren’t kept cool properly.
How to Prevent a Fire in Your Server Room and Reduce Damage
A fire of any sort is devasting but preventable. It’s worth knowing what to keep on your radar to prevent a fire from happening in the first place. These tips include:
- Keep the room at an appropriate temperature: It’s best to keep the temperature between 68-71 degrees to keep IT equipment from overheating. Also, maintaining a 40-60% humidity level will decrease static electricity risk, which might be a fire hazard.
- Keep the room neat: Ensure wires are plugged in and stored correctly. It’s best to remove unused wires and cables. It’s also best to remove unnecessary items fueling a fire.
- Keep electronics clean: Dust or debris settling on or in the equipment could contribute to overheating and fire fuel.
- Maintain a Properly-Ventilated Room: Best practice is not to place servers or equipment too close or sit objects on top of them.
- Inspect cords and equipment: It’s best to regularly check cords and outlets for frayed or damaged cords or outlet covers. You should also periodically check your servers’ power supply with diagnostic software to catch minor defects before they become significant problems.
- Hire us: Are you unsure if your room or building is a fire hazard? Your fire suppression systems should have regular inspection and maintenance to ensure all your systems work optimally. You can hire us to ensure that your building adheres to NFPA standards.
If a Fire Happens Anyway
Clean agent fire suppression systems are the best way to prevent water damage to IT equipment. Clean agent fire suppression extinguishes fires with minimal damage to the electrical equipment. This suppression system relies on gases and chemicals to suppress the fire in its early stages. However, it’s still vital to have a fire sprinkler system as a backup because clean agent fire suppression systems are not well-equipped to extinguish a robust, widespread fire. Is your server room safety subpar? Contact Chesapeake Sprinkler today so that we can determine the best fire protection systems for your property.
Contact Chesapeake Sprinkler Company Today!
Chesapeake Sprinkler Company is a leading fire sprinkler contractor in the region, which is now a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) company. As a full-service fire protection company, we offer design, fabrication, installation, testing, maintenance, and inspection of fire protection systems. Everything you need from your fire suppression specialist.
For more information, please email or call our Odenton location at 410-674-7041, our Ashburn location at 703-729-5150, or for service/maintenance Chesapeake Protection Services at 410-674-7577. For emergencies, call 800-298-3473 (FIRE). Feel free to keep in touch through Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn!