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Posted By Booney
Hi All,
I have just been asked to make enquiries about finding a suitable replacement for our automatic fire extinguisher in our ICT suite. We currently have a powder bomb, but it is felt that if this does go off it would probably mitigate the effects of a fire but would also cause many thousands of pounds damage to the servers and other IT equipment in there - does anyone have any ideas on a suitable automatic extinguisher that would minimise damage to the equipment please?
Regards
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Posted By TBC Is this the one you are looking for? Fire Suppression - INERGEN INERGEN is the world's leading inert gaseous fire suppression agent. It is fast, effective, safe, and environmentally friendly and provides excellent fire protection for all critical areas within the facility. INERGEN is a mixture of nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide gases and has been specially developed to provide fire protection for sensitive electrical and electronic instruments and equipment. This mixture of gases extinguishes fire by reducing the oxygen level in a room to below 15%, the point at which most combustibles will no longer burn. Simultaneously the carbon dioxide in INERGEN stimulates the uptake of oxygen by the human body, so protecting anyone who might be trapped in the fire area from the effects of the lowered oxygen levels. Here's the brochure link. http://www.wormald.co.uk...Gas/Inergen_brochure.pdfNo I'm not on commission and of course there are other issues you will have to consider like procedures etc. Regards
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Posted By Ken Taylor
If you need an automatic total flood system, I'm entirely with Inergen - being only gases we breathe in and out all day and able to be released while people are still present (on their way out). Reject the claims of people trying to sell synthetics like HFCs.
Smaller ICT suites may well only need a couple of CO2 extinguishers and trained persons to use them.
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Posted By D Whitelegg I'm currently working for a company that uses FM200 in their data halls and it certainly looks good in that it is safe to use whilst people are still getting out of the room and doesn't damage the kit. Try this link for more info. http://www.keysource.co....uterroom/firedefence.aspDavid
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Posted By Ashley Wood Try this link www.fireworks-ltd.co.uk they are an independent company and have no axe to grind. I have used them several times and they are competitive. An inert gas is fine i. e Inergen, Argonite etc, they are 100% environment friendly. The draw backs are that they need pressure vents to release excess pressure on discharge, so if you have an inner room this may be a problem. They also take up a lot of space with cylinders. The man made gases i.e FM200, FE13, NAFS3 have questions hanging over them with regard to global warming and the 'Kyoto protocol.' These questions could lead to the need to remove them in 5-10 years. However, they are cost effective and the cylinders take up little space. No pressure vents are required for the chemical gases. Now this next suggestion will probably make people think I should be committed! High pressure water mist or fog. Yes, water in an IT room! Ask Fireworks about this as I know of some major users of these systems i. e Banks, internet host sites, MoD, NHS, etc. You are right to get shot of the powder, it will eat into every item of IT kit you have and destroy the equipment. Hope this helps?
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Posted By Booney
Thanks to you all, this has been most helpful
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Posted By Ken Taylor
The synthetics may be cost effective when you buy the system, but ask them to do a discharge test and enquire how much the replacement chemical will be if you have a release or want to test the system. The cylinders for Inergen are a bit bigger but can be located remotely outside the room if you wish. I have no shares in Inergen - just a concern for health and the planet.
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Posted By Booney
Thanks Ken, this is a concern that we share and I shall ensure the decision makers are aware!
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Posted By huang927_1981@yahoo.com.cnDEAR SIR: we have been handling variours kinds of fire extinguisher.we are a manufacture in fire extinguisher in china. It has advantages of non-poisonous, tasteless, non-stimulus reaction, and 100% breaking down.While putting out fire,the product shows functions of sticky, permeating, insulating and fire-retardant and features of membrane foam. Its distinctive quality is to put out the polarity solvent fire(such as the ethanol fire).Suitable for public places, such as factories, warehouse,cars,mining tunnel, oil field, school, hotel, market, train station, airport, plane, ship etc.If you have any requirements,pls let me know,we shall try our best to satisfy you at all times.we hope you can help us to find some agents to help us . website: www.hzthfp.comemail: huang927_1981@yahoo.com.cnMSN: huang927_1981@yahoo.com.cnicq: 216 112 417 skype: huang927_1981@yahoo.com.cntel: 86-0571-63739773 fax: 86-0571-63739773 we will give you the highest quality and reasonable price. we are looking forward to your reply your faithfully, jacky hung TaiHang Fire-retardant Material Co.Ltd
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Posted By shaun mckeever
Rather than using an extinguishant have you considered creating an atmosphere that would prevent a fire starting in the first place?
By reducing the oxygen level in the room you can create an atmosphere where fire would not start but would not be below a level which would support life. A system called 'oxyreduct' may be an alternative solution to those suggested above. Type it into your search engine.
Regards Shaun
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Posted By Ken Taylor
- but do we want to work long-term in an atmosphere with only 15% Oxygen - which has been said to be the point below which loss of muscular co-ordination can be experienced - particularly if we have some measure of respiratory problem like asthma,etc?
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Posted By David Bannister
Have you thought about not bothering with any automatic system at all? Any extinguishing system that operates will cause some damage, causing the IT kit to stop, possibly for an extended period for repairs and/or replacement. It is expensive to install, expensive to maintain and requires staff training in its functions etc.
Why are you considering the automatic system? How crucial is the IT function? (ask the operations people, not IT people!). The probability of fire is likely to be very low. If the data is secure, the kit is standard and it is not needed to be constantly operational, why not concentrate on fire prevention? Replacement kit may be quickly available "off-the-shelf" Have you considered a standby arrangement?
Agree that the powder "bomb" was about as useful as the fire brigade's hoses in protecting the IT function, although the water option would control the spread to the rest of the facility.
Disaster/Crisis management planning should assist in reaching answers.
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Posted By Ken Taylor
Changing the ratio of naturally-occuring gases already present in the room should not cause any damage to the equipment or software - but the fire is quite likely to do so.
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Posted By shaun mckeever
You are right Ken. I was assuming that the room is unmanned with just the occasional visit by an IT bod (do they have muscles?).
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Posted By jom
TBC,
>Simultaneously the carbon dioxide in INERGEN >stimulates the uptake of oxygen by the human body, so >protecting anyone who might be trapped in the fire >area from the effects of the lowered oxygen levels
Do you know if this is supported by scientific evidence. I know it is the buildup of CO2 in the blood that drives our urge to breathe, but I'm wondering how stimulating breathing when there is low O2 produces a good outcome.
Might be so, just asking if the notion is proven,
Regards,
John.
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Posted By Booney
Thanks again to all that have contributed
Regards
Booney
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