Risk of Fire at Data Centers

Due to loss of power, a transformer explosion and fire at The Planet's Houston data center facility knocked 7,500 customers' Web sites offline. The fire, fortunately for The Planet and its customers, was extinguished before it reached the server room. If the fire had destroyed the servers, mission critical information would have been lost, which is likely something much more valuable than the equipment.

As witnessed by this event in Houston, the high voltage transformers, UPS systems and HVAC equipment required to operate a data center makes these facilities vulnerable to the threat of fire. Vast volumes of data could be lost in a single incident due to the trend toward increased density of equipment in server racks and the exponential growth of storage capacity on this equipment. Along with the sheer volume of data, the rate of information change has made it increasingly difficult to perform data back ups that capture all mission critical information.

FIRELOCK has seen, in the last few years, increasing demand for their Class 125 fireproof Server Vaults. To keep the temperature inside the vault chamber below 125-degrees F, the point at which data is destroyed, even if temperatures outside the vault reach 2,000-degrees F, the patented modular panel system utilizes ceramic fiber (a high temperature industrial insulating material). To reach this Class 125 rating, along with specially insulated penetrations for power and network cables, coolant lines, and air ducting, a double door assembly with automatic door closers is required. To help eliminate hot spots from heat-generating servers, the insulated dampers can even be equipped with airflow vectoring fins. These components allow all the network connectivity, power delivery and cooling capacity required by server rooms without compromising the integrity of the data vault.

Enforcement of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, is another factor that makes protecting corporate information a high priority. Corporate officers are responsible for providing auditors with financial data and other information. regardless of the reason the information was lost, vailure to do so can result in harsh fines or even prison time. The corporate officers liable for the protection of mission critical information are seeking ways to protect it, because so much data is now on the servers. FIRELOCK Server Vaults are a cost-effective and efficient way to protect this valuable information.