48 I ICT TODAY
Overcoming Data Center Challenges:
FIRE AND AIRFLOW CONTAINMENT
By Chris Kusel, CFPS, CDT
Data center design and construction practices continue to evolve. Owners desire to build faster and deliver more
efficient facilities while being cognizant of overall construction costs. These realities further complicate the need
to establish and maintain building code compliance. Irrespective of building type or number of daily occupants,
life safety is the most important aspect of fire prevention and protection efforts. However, embedding these
efforts into design and construction practices is also critical for mitigating property risk.
Many owners face the general challenge of controlling airflow in their data centers. Studies reveal that fire
incidents are one of the leading causes of data center downtime. During a building fire, flames and smoke travel
via gaps such as those created by mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) penetrations through floor and wall
assemblies. Airflow leakage helps contribute to the migration of smoke throughout a building. Even with only
a few small holes in a fire barrier, smoke spread could be significant and rapid.
