- Author
- Federal Fire Council
- Title
- Fire Protection for Essential Electronic Equipment. Recommended Practices No. 1.
- Coporate
- Federal Fire Council, Washington, DC
- Report
- RP-1, March 1962, 36 p.
- Distribution
- AVAILABLE FROM National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. Telephone: 1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000; Fax: 703-605-6900. Website: http://www.ntis.gov
- Keywords
- electronic equipment | fire protection | construction | cables | storage | housing | training
- Abstract
- ***SEE ALSO: R7801681 - "Standard Practice for the Fire Protection of Essential Electronic Equipment Operations". RP-1. August 1978*** The revised edition was developed by a subcommittee operating through task groups with broad based representation of interested parties including architects, design engineers, electronic engineers, data processing specialists, records mangement specialists, and fire protection specialists. The final product was extensively reviewed and considered and where appropriate changed by the full Committee on Design Standards. The product as published herein represents the culmination of this effort. Some aspects of the previous edition were substantially revised. The broad base of representation on the task groups and the extensive review, however, are felt to assure that the revisions were not promiscuously made. The most important changes are considered to be the following: The most important changes are considered to be the following: a. The previous system of four classifications of combustibility interlocked with four classifications of importance has been deleted as idealistic but unworkable and replaced with machine construction standards that are reasonably obtainable and a simplified method of system or hardware importance classification. b. A new section has been added to Chapter 3 on cable construction. The potential hazard of cable fires has been recognized. The data provided is considered the best currently available though not totally complete. It is hoped that future developments will allow improvement of the information on safe installation of cable. c. The requirements for installed protection systems have been completely overhauled and revised. (1) The revised edition requires that all essential electronic equipment areas involving computers and other low energy devices shall be completely protected by automatic sprinkler systems. The inherent amount of combustibles built into the equipment, the character of the peripheral equipment, and the need for paper and other combustibles necessitates automatic extinguishing systems. Extensive review of fire control and potential damage from both fire and fire extinguishing actions has convinced the committee of the need of this requirement. (2) Ionization type detection systems have been selected as the type of early warning detection to be provided when installed automatic fire detection is required or used. (3) The previous recommendations for automatic carbon dioxide extinguishing systems have been eliminated. (4) Readily available around-the-clock human response is required for all vital installations. Such capability is provided by the operators during their periods of presence. (5) The previous requirements for automatic shutdown of air handling systems has been revised to encourage the use of smoke removal systems whenever practical. d. A new paragraph has been added to the section on protection of records bringing attention and protection requirements to bear on memory devices. e. A new section has been added in the coverage of salvage aperation detailing the system for recovery from fire and water damage as developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.