Technology, it’s what makes our world go around and protecting these electronic systems that provide for our technology-driven businesses and lifestyles is essential. Sadly, a large economic loss to a business can happen in seconds. If a fire breaks out in a server room, the way the fire is extinguished can sometimes cause more financial damage than the fire itself.
When a fire is detected by a smoke detector, it will set a fire panel into alarm and it will alert the fire brigade. After the room fills up with smoke an ordinary sprinkler system will then engage and a fine water mist will disseminate over the area. Once the fire brigade arrive, they will use water to extinguish the fire. A combination of water, fire, soot and smoke usually leave electronics unservicable.
Fortunately there is a product on the market called “3M Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid”. It is a clean extinguishing agent and is electrically non-conductive and will not leave a residue when it evaporates therefore not damaging expensive electronical or mechanical devices.
Rather than having water in the sprinklers in vital areas that must remain going even in the event of a fire such as a data centre, control rooms and telecommunication centres, using this ‘water like’ substance, the Novec fluid in a clean agent suppression system will extinguish the fire in seconds, leaving the rest of the server room, dry and undamaged. Eliminating extensive consequential damage to your equipment, walls and floors.
As Novec Fluid is electronically non-conductive, this means you could have a laptop plugged into the wall in a bucket and pour the fluid over the top. You could safely reach into the bucket and pull out the laptop with no fear of an electric shock.
You would never do this with water and you wouldn’t be able to keep using any electric equipment once it’s been submerged in any liquid! So it pays off to be smarter with your choices for your fire protection because after all, the business data is the biggest asset that a business owner has.