FM Global publishes research to help data centers combat fire-caused interruptions

IN CONJUNCTION WITH the National Fire Protection Association, FM Global has published findings based on more than 100 experiments on how best to place smoke detectors to reduce downtime and loss from fires at data centers.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH the National Fire Protection Association, FM Global has published findings based on more than 100 experiments on how best to place smoke detectors to reduce downtime and loss from fires at data centers.

WEST GLOCESTER – Using its test center, FM Global, in cooperation with the National Fire Protection Association, has conducted research to determine the optimal placement of smoke detectors in data centers.
The Johnston-based property insurer regularly runs experiments at its West Glocester facility that help it advise clients on the best way to mitigate the various risks they face. With the average loss at its clients’ data centers coming to $17 million, FM Global ran more than 100 experiments taking air and smoke flow patterns into account to determine how to reduce the potential loss to companies managing data centers.
“Our belief is that the majority of loss is preventable through engineering and research,” said Louis Gritzo, vice president and manager of research at FM Global, in prepared remarks. “These unique and novel experiements will help make our clients’ data centers more resilient and less prone to business interruption.” Research shows that cost of a data center going offline costs an average of $97,000 per minute.
“Even a small fire within a data center can result in a significant loss of information,” said Kathleen Almand, the executive director of the Fire Protection Research Foundation of the NFPA, in a statement. “The best way to conduct fire prevention and detection research is to run well-designed, full-scale tests, and FM Global has the facilities, science and engineering expertise to do that.”
To download the complete research, click HERE.

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