Computer Room

[kiss]

Is there anything in the 2002 NEC that states that a asco is required to shut down all power to a computer room in case of Fire. Engineer states that an emergency panel feed from an emergency generator should shut down this emergency panel in case of Fire. The load on the panel is as follows. 5 air handlers for A/C, 2-UPS serving 2 panels which feed 40 circuits for computers, and some regular duplex outlets. I can't find anything in the code that says it needs an asco. I think it's a good idea to shut down the air handler units in case of a fire, but this is usually done via relays and the Fire Alarm system in the building. Any help on this is appreciated.

 

[iwire]

Re: Computer Room

Yes, No, Maybe in no particular order.

You need to determine if the room is covered by article 645.

645.2 Special Requirements for Information Technology Equipment Room.

This article shall apply, provided all the following conditions are met:

(1)Disconnecting means complying with 645.10 are provided.

(2)A separate heating/ventilating/air-conditioning (HVAC) system is provided that is dedicated for information technology equipment use and is separated from other areas of occupancy. Any HVAC system that serves other occupancies shall be permitted to also serve the information technology equipment room if fire/smoke dampers are provided at the point of penetration of the room boundary. Such dampers shall operate on activation of smoke detectors and also by operation of the disconnecting means required by 645.10.

FPN:For further information, see NFPA 75-1999, Standard for the Protection of Electronic Computer/Data Processing Equipment, Chapter 8, 8-1, 8-1.1, 8-1.2, and 8-1.3.

(3)Listed information technology equipment is installed.

(4)The room is occupied only by those personnel needed for the maintenance and functional operation of the installed information technology equipment.

(5)The room is separated from other occupancies by fire-resistant-rated walls, floors, and ceilings with protected openings.

If this room is an ARTICLE 645 Information Technology Equipment type room then you need to install an EPO (Emergency Power Off) switch at the door to kill power.

This does not have to be controlled by the fire alarm.

645.10 Disconnecting Means.
A means shall be provided to disconnect power to all electronic equipment in the information technology equipment room. There shall also be a similar means to disconnect the power to all dedicated HVAC systems serving the room and cause all required fire/smoke dampers to close. The control for these disconnecting means shall be grouped and identified and shall be readily accessible at the principal exit doors. A single means to control both the electronic equipment and HVAC systems shall be permitted. Where a pushbutton is used as a means to disconnect power, pushing the button in shall disconnect the power.

Also it does not have to be controlled by a contactor, a common way to provide the EPO is with a shunt trip breaker.

Feel free to add more info and ask more questions.

 

[kiss]

Re: Computer Room

Thanks for all that info, I read the article and learned something today, including that you have to kill the battery power to the UPS system when killing the power.

 

[steve66]

Re: Computer Room

Posted by Kiss:

including that you have to kill the battery power to the UPS system

This isn't my strong area, but that's not the way I read it if you are talking about a UPS with internal batteries. I think if you disconnect the supply to the UPS, and disconnect the output of the UPS, you have complied.

When 645.11 says "disconnect the battery from its load", I don't think the load means the UPS.

Steve

 

[sandsnow]

Re: Computer Room

Originally posted by iwire:

If this room is an ARTICLE 645 Information Technology Equipment type room then you need to install an EPO (Emergency Power Off) switch at the door to kill power.

This does not have to be controlled by the fire alarm.

[/QUOTE]

I'm not an expert, but I have seen the Fire Dept require the EPO system as part of the Fire Alarm as well as the ventilation system. The EPO for power and ventilation will also operate independently

 

[iwire]

Re: Computer Room

Originally posted by sandsnow:
[I'm not an expert, but I have seen the Fire Dept require the EPO system as part of the Fire Alarm as well as the ventilation system.

Hey I am not an expert either

Bob

 

[kiss]

Re: Computer Room

There is an existing Fire Alarm system that was resently installed. It does not kill power to the panels in any way. It has smoke detectors that activate the alarm and notify the Fire Dept. I did miss that this room has a total of 5 Electrical panels all existing, and the plan is to install 5 separate asco's to shut down each panel in case of fire. So far no provisions have been made for shutting down the batteries to the UPS or the output of the UPS. I think as mentioned earlier that a shunt trip breaker per each panel would be cheaper and probably a better job than all these asco's.

 

[sandsnow]

Re: Computer Room

Originally posted by iwire:

We ended up disconnecting the Fire alarm from the shut down and the Fire Chief that had forced the connection got a not so gentle reminder not to go beyond written codes.

Last I heard the sprinkler contractors insurance company was going after the City to recover the losses.


Bob

I hope it helped change things.

 

[ssquared]

Re: Computer Room

Typically when you have a room defined by 645 in the NEC we follow the letter of the code and disconnect all power into the room. Feeds to panels, a/c units etc are disconnected via shunt trip breakers before the feeder gets into the room. This ensures that all power to all equipment in the room is off. The Fire Alarm is not required to kill power in accordance with the NEC but some local officials want the power off if sprinklers are activated in the space. It is something we do only when forced into it by the local official. If done then we add a disable switch so if the FA vendor screws up he won't dump the data center.