[AusNOG] [AUSNog] : Re Data Centre Fire Suppression Safety

[Brad Peczka]

Unlike Australia, the US doesn't have a ban on Halon (just Halon production), and it's still possible for existing Halon systems to be recharged using recycled Halon - especially if they're in a "critical applications".

As of 2011 there were Halon based systems at McMurdo (https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications/NFPA-Journal/2011/September-October-2011/Features/Nowhere-to-Go) - it may well be the case that these are still pending conversion.

The use of personal gas detectors is common in Oil and Gas when working in areas that may contain dangerous levels of CO2, Chlorine, Methane or Sulphur - perhaps it's time to see if these units can be adapted to detect suppression agents as well.

Regards,
-Brad.


________________________________
From: AusNOG <ausnog-bounces at lists.ausnog.net> on behalf of Jim Woodward <jim at alwaysnever.net>
Sent: Thursday, 13 December 2018 8:17 AM
To: ausnog at lists.ausnog.net
Subject: Re: [AusNOG] [AUSNog] : Re Data Centre Fire Suppression Safety

Hi,

I have been in facilities with Halon systems fitted, Pretty sure they've been illegal for some time now but there have always been stringent inductions around evacuation in the event of a triggered alarm, any system that silently deploys a gas based fire suppressant silently would be against code and highly illegal.

It could be in that case they accidently severed a pressurised fire suppressant line and were unaware that they had done so.

Jim.


From: AusNOG <ausnog-bounces at lists.ausnog.net> On Behalf Of Paul Wilkins
Sent: Thursday, 13 December 2018 10:53 AM
To: ausnog at lists.ausnog.net
Subject: [AusNOG] [AUSNog] : Re Data Centre Fire Suppression Safety

Every data centre has a fire suppression system. We're not used to thinking of this as a hazardous environment, but consequent to two techs being found dead working on a fire suppression system in Antarctica<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/12/antarctica-two-technicians-dead-mcmurdo-station-ross-island>, I find myself wondering yet again, why there aren't more stringent controls around the fire suppression systems in data centres: viz - when you enter a data centre, how confident can you be you're not going to be quietly asphyxiated?

Kind regards

Paul Wilkins
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