Recent Test Data Underpinning Clean Extinguishing Agent Design Considerations for Energy Augmented Fires in Data/Telecommunications Facilities

Presenters: Romil Patel, University of Maryland; Paul Rivers, PE, 3M Company 

Energy use in typical data center/telecommunications cabinets has increased dramatically recently. Cabinets were originally designed to support energy densities less than 2kW/rack. With the growth of high use data applications, energy densities between 10 and 20kW/rack are the norm and are increasing. What is a typical energy augmented data center fire and its related heat flux rates? NFPA’s Fire Protection Research Foundation sponsored a 2008 review of relevant subject research providing scientific analysis. The report referenced 3M and NIST research examining clean agent performance at heat flux rates of 10-60kW/m2 using the NIST Radiant Enhanced Extinguishment Device (REED). This paper reports on agent performance at heat flux rates an order of magnitude less, agent performance at those lower heat flux rates, and provides industry validation.