Data Centre - Very Early Warning Aspirating Detection

Scope

A Tier 3 colocation data centre required aspirating detection coverage across its electronic equipment rooms. Detecting a fire at sub-visible concentrations - minutes before a conventional detector would trigger - is critical when the room contains tens of millions of pounds of client compute.

Design was to BS 6266 Class A sensitivity, with integration to the main fire alarm panel, graphical display and site BMS.

What we delivered

• VESDA-E aspirating detectors across cold aisles, hot aisles and UPS hall
• Full pipe-network design modelled for transport time and sensitivity
• Capillary sampling where discrete detection was required
• Class A sensitivity calibration to BS 6266
• Integration to the main fire panel - graphical display, cause & effect
• BMS interface for alert escalation and operator dashboard
• BAFE SP203-1 certificate of compliance at handover

Why it mattered

In a data centre, conventional detection is too late - by the time a point detector activates, the damage is done. Aspirating detection gives the operator enough warning to investigate, isolate a rack, or hot-swap before an incident escalates. For this client, the install moved their fire-risk rating from acceptable to market-leading and unlocked a revised insurance premium.