APC APPLICATION NOTE # 159

Hot Aisle Containment System (HACS) and

Data Center Fire Protection

By Stephen McCluer and Gary P. Wong

Abstract
The design of data centers around Hot Aisle Containment Systems (HACS) is growing in popularity. Engineers and,
increasingly, Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) are questioning the need for fire protection in the hot aisle; specifically:

• Incipient stage fire detection (high sensitivity smoke detection)

• Smoke detection

• Fire suppression

• Sprinkler protection

This application note describes fire protection strategies for hot aisle containment systems. It is intended to clarify questions
regarding detection and suppression requirements as applied to asset protection as well as address misconceptions within the
HACS space.

Introduction
The HACS is considered a single set of Information Technology equipment by UL and is listed under UL Standard 60950-1.
As a result, the HACS can be considered IT equipment excluding it from additional fire protection requirements. However,
local codes and AHJ’s may have their own interpretation which could require some form of fire protection for the HACS.

Building fire protection systems serve two purposes; life safety and asset protection. Life safety systems are comprised of
three basic systems; detection, alarm and suppression. Fire suppression is most commonly achieved by automatic wet pipe
sprinkler protection. Not all commercial buildings are provided with sprinkler systems. Conventional wet pipe sprinkler
protection is slow acting and is not considered adequate to protect high valued data center contents nor business interruption
potential due to a fire.

In addition to base building fire protection systems, data center fire protection systems are most often enhanced to protect
against high valued asset and business interruption losses. Data center fire protection is often applied in a three tier approach:

• Early warning or incipient stage fire detection (HSSD or high sensitivity smoke detection)

• Detection; Smoke or heat detection

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• Suppression; gaseous clean agent system or sprinkler systems

This application note does not address manual fire suppression systems, portable hand held fire extinguishers or water mist
systems.

Incipient stage fire detection (HSSD or high sensitivity smoke detection) is a very early warning system that often uses laser
detection technology to detect particles of combustion long before a conventional photoelectric smoke detector alarm. Due to
the high sensitivity of the HSSD, these systems are not likely to be tied into an automatic fire suppression system. The HSSD
systems’ primary objective is to enable human intervention to prevent a fire condition in the data center.

Smoke detection is used as either a stand alone system arranged to sound a building fire alarm system or as a means to
actuate a fire suppression system. Smoke detectors are commonly configured in a counting zone or cross zone system that
initiate first and second stage alarms and suppression discharge sequences.

Heat detection is used as either a stand alone system arranged to sound a building fire alarm system or as a means to actuate
a pre-action sprinkler system. A pre-action sprinkler system differs from a conventional wet pipe sprinkler system in that the
pre-action sprinkler system distribution pipes are normally dry. Under fire conditions, the detection system actuates the control
panel and the pre-action system trips, allowing water into the sprinkler system. Water is not applied to the protected space
until a fire sprinkler is fused.

Conventional wet pipe sprinkler systems are also employed and are most often seen in smaller data centers. Wet pipe
systems are usually supplemented by the use of conventional smoke detector and alarm systems. Most data center customers
prefer not to have wet pipe sprinkler systems in their data centers.

A more detailed discussion regarding data center fire protection is available in APC White Paper #83, “Mitigating Fire Risks in
Mission Critical Facilities”.

HACS Fire Protection Challenges

Authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ’s) may object to the HACS system by identifying it as a room within a room, thereby
requiring additional room zone fire protection systems. While the HACS system has door and ceiling assemblies, it does not
have a self contained air system. There is no fire partition between the room and the HACS. However, the AHJ’s interpret the
HACS system as a separate room requiring protection because of the following attributes:

• The ceiling assembly shields the hot aisle from sprinkler water protection

• The HACS ceiling assembly may prevent smoke within the HACS from actuating HSSD and smoke detectors

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or stored in any retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright owner. www.apc.com Rev 2009-0
 APC APPLICATION NOTE

• The HACS system may prevent clean agent gases from reaching an extinguishing concentration within the hot
aisle

These fire protection challenges can be met by extending the same fire protection measures within the HACS system.
Because the HACS is not a separate fire zone, independent systems are not necessary. Common fire protection schemes are
outlined in Table 1.

Table 1 – Common fire protection schemes

Room Protection HACS Protection
Wet pipe sprinkler Extend wet pipe sprinkler(s) beneath HACS ceiling structure while
maintaining existing ceiling sprinklers
Smoke detection Install additional smoke detector(s) beneath the HACS ceiling
structure
High sensitivity smoke detection Install additional detector(s) beneath the HACS ceiling structure if
using an individual detector system
Install additional detection pipes into the hot aisle space if using an
aspirating system (eg. VESDA)
Preaction sprinkler protection Install preaction sprinkler(s) beneath the HACS ceiling structure
Install actuation detection (heat or smoke) beneath the HACS
ceiling structure
Clean agent fire suppression Extend or install a discharge nozzle into the HACS, beneath the
ceiling
Install actuation detection beneath the HACS ceiling structure (At
least two detectors will likely be required)
If there is no automated “power off” connected to the fire
suppression system, there is no need to extend the discharge
nozzle into the HACS.

Conclusions
The hot aisle containment system does present fire protection challenges to the data center environment that can be met by
extending what is already installed or is planned for the general data center space.

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 APC APPLICATION NOTE

About the Authors:

Gary Wong is the Director of Data Center Integrated solutions for Schneider Electric. He is a graduate of Worcester
Polytechnic Institute where he received his Bachelors degree in Environmental Engineering. He has over 7 years experience
as a Senior Fire Protection Consultant and has more than 16 years experience in data center fire protection.

Stephen McCluer is a Senior Manager for external codes and standards at APC by Schneider Electric. He has over 25 years
in the power protection industry. He serves on NFPA Technical Committees 75 (Information Technology Equipment), 110
(Emergency and Standby Power), and 11 (Stored Electrical Energy). He chairs several working groups within the IEEE
Stationary Battery Committee; he serves on two BICSI standards technical committees for bonding/grounding and for data
center design; and he is a chapter chair for The Green Grid/ASHRAE guide for real time power measurement in data centers.
He is a frequent speaker and has authored many articles, white papers, and technical papers. He has a Masters degree in
International Management.

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©2009 American Power Conversion. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used, reproduced, photocopied, transmitted,
or stored in any retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright owner. www.apc.com Rev 2009-0