T 1.4 Fire

Apart from the direct damage caused by fire to a building or its equipment, there may be consequential damage, the impact of which can attain disastrous dimensions, especially for IT systems. For example, damage from water for fire fighting does not occur only at the direct site of the fire. Such damage can also be found in lower parts of the building. The burning of PVC generates chlorine gases which, when combined with air moisture and the fire-fighting water, form hydrochloric acid. In the event that such chlorine gases are spread via the air conditioning system, this may lead to damage of sensitive electronic devices in other areas far away from the site of the fire. But even "normal" smoke given off by fire can have harmful effects on IT equipment.

Fires can be caused not only by careless handling of combustible material (e.g. Christmas candles, welding and soldering work etc.), but also by improper use of electric devices (e.g. unattended coffee machines, overloading of multiway socket outlets). Technical faults on electrical equipment can also cause fires.

Factors which help fires to spread include:

• wedging fire doors open

• improper storage of combustible materials

• failure to observe relevant standards and regulations

• absence of fire detection devices

• absence of hand fire extinguishers and automatic quenching systems

• deficient fire prevention (e.g. lack of fire insulation along cable routes).

Examples

• In the early 90s, a mainframe computer centre in the Frankfurt region was hit by a disastrous fire, leading to total failure.

• It is an all too common occurrence that small electrical devices such as coffee machines or halogen lamps are not installed or operated in the proper manner, causing fires as a result.