Fire detection in data center raised floor areas can be challenging for traditional smoke detection systems: Fires typically start slowly with a long period of overheating and smoldering before erupting into flames; detecting smoke early is therefore essential to avoid the onset of flames. However, the high levels of ventilation necessary to prevent equipment overheating also disperse smoke, making it more difficult to detect and enhancing the risk of a fast fire distribution to other rooms.

Our fire detection concept for data centers combines aspirating smoke detection with highly accurate smoke detection with Sinteso^TM S-LINE detectors, on one loop. Aspirating smoke detectors counteract the high ventilation levels by providing continuous air sampling and analysis. When smoke particles are detected, a pre-alarm is generated, triggering a ventilation shut down and enabling S-LINE detectors to verify the alarm. On alarm confirmation, the extinguishing system is activated.

As in any fire situation, ensuring people are alerted immediately and know what to do is top priority. Alarm sounders and sounder beacons from Siemens provide immediate audible and visual alert to people in the danger area. The E100 voice evacuation system from Siemens – automatically activated by the fire safety system – provides clear and precise instructions through live or prerecorded voice messages to ensure people evacuate the danger area quickly and safely.

Based on innovative technologies and 100 years of extinguishing experience, our solutions are tailored to your data center’s individual need and size: they extinguish fires quickly and reliably, thereby protecting people, processes, assets, and the environment.

The MM8000 danger management system provides centralized supervision and alarm handling for fire safety, security, and building automation systems in data centers. This functional interaction between the different systems provides an optimal event response, supported by a step-by-step guided event response process. The system improves operator efficiency by providing a uniform operation of all integrated systems, with simple to use graphical site overviews.