Research Report: Effect of High Airflow and Aisle Containment on Clean Agent System Performance in Data Centers

A Joint Study by the Fire Suppression Systems Association and the Fire Industry Association (UK)

Issued November 1, 2023 - Released December 15, 2023

"The Fire Industry Association (FIA), a non-profit organisation, has pledged to dedicate a portion of its yearly revenue to support joint research initiatives that contribute to the well-being of its members, the industry, or public safety. Collaboration with other organisations is integral to the success of these projects. The partnership with the Fire Suppression Systems Association (FSSA) exemplifies the FIA's steadfast commitment to this initiative." - Robert Thilthorpe, Technical Manager, Fire Industry Association

“This research report is the culmination of almost six years’ collaboration between the UK’s Fire Industry Association (FIA) and the USA’s Fire Suppression Systems Association (FSSA). The research demonstrated that continuous recirculating airflow can enhance uniformity of gaseous agent concentrations in data center applications, even in spaces where aisle containments are present. The conclusions of the report should be quite useful to those responsible for designing and maintaining clean agent fire extinguishing systems for data centers” - Tom Wysocki, Technical Director, Fire Suppression Systems Association

“The need to keep IT equipment within safe temperature ranges means cooling and air handling systems must remain operational in modern data centres during and after the discharge of gaseous fire extinguishing agents. This research project set out to understand the effects that these high air flows have on the distribution of the agent and whether the continued air movements would assist or hinder the performance of any system, and if design approaches need to change” - Alan Elder, Chairman of FIA Working Group Gases