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Fire in the server rooms can ruin data, risking your business. Fires can cause mass destruction of property and information. Information and data on the servers are invaluable. Your business is quite likely to depend on limited interruption to data processing. So, in case a fire breaks out, time lost in repair and the cleaning process can prove quite overwhelming.

The usage of powered equipment can enhance the risk of fire substantially. Though the electrical fire is the chief culprit when it occurs in the IT rooms and data centers, there are several other risks and hazards that come with operating this facility.

Maintain Computer Room to Prevent Fire Outbreak

There are several things that you can do to prevent fire. As you know, prevention is always better than cure. You can put in a few practices that can eliminate unintentional fire emergencies. These can be more effective than the evacuation plans or fire protection systems.

How to go about it? Check out on it here.

• Organize the room properly and keep it free from combustible materials.
• Inspect the power cords regularly to rule out frays and damages.
• Keep the computers clean
• Schedule inspections of the fire protection system

Minimize Damages Caused by Fire

Now check out on some steps to minimize fire damages.

Create Backup Soon after Setting a Computer or a Group of Computers

Apart from making use of an external drive or a device to store data, you may consider a few online backup services. They store data offsite and thus, the data is somewhere else and perfectly well protected in case a fire breaks out.

Both homes, as well as business computers, need to be backed up. Most experts believe that businesses should opt for both online as well as onsite data backup because few small businesses can survive catastrophic data loss. You can buy subscriptions to a backup website or a cloud-based one.  With the aid of cloud backup, you can access data from several locations and devices.

Purchase a Fire Data Safe or a Cupboard

Keep hard drives and on-site backups that are not in use in this safe. The fire safes, available at variable rates, offer an extra barrier in instances of a fire.

Learn to remove the hard drive from the desktop computers. In instances of a fire or your extended absence, you can store the hard drive in a safe. Don’t you think this step is easier compared to protecting the entire desktop?

Review the Standards and Codes

The server rooms may install the following to prevent unsafe work conditions:

• Alarms and fire detection equipment must be installed in all the rooms and not just the ones containing computers. Consider installing equipment that can detect smoke or can sense heat.
• The portable fire extinguishers are crucial for the protection of human life. In case a fire begins, you can use an extinguisher. This will prevent spreading of the fire to the whole room endangering people as well as computers.
• Install an emergency fire sprinkler system. Water sprinkling systems are quite commonly used in business houses. However, remember that it can ruin the computers.

Install Fire Suppression System

It’s true that you may ruin your things if you use a water sprinkler.

So, how can you solve the issue of a fire accident at your office?

The pro inert gas extinguishing systems are safer as compared to Halon or carbon dioxide systems. The fire suppression systems are designed to protect sensitive electronic equipment from fire. With fast acting technology, these minimize damages. They are perfect for protecting things like:

• Data storage
• Financial records
• Data processing equipment
• Computer equipment
• Health care records

Some of these systems get activated within 10 seconds; this does not just bring down damage, but also limits fire to the ignition site.

Understand the Insurance Policy

Most insurance companies have fire protection needs built into their policy. These go much beyond the minimum needs. In case a fire occurs and the needs are not met with, your insurance company will never pay for the replacement of the computers and the servers.

Know the Risks

Consider the impact a fire in the server room will cast on operations and determine the requisite level of protection that makes sense for your facility. You can consider the necessary protection from insurance companies and the local authority that has jurisdiction.

Disasters can strike anytime without issuing any warning. So, it’s always better to remain well prepared to fight fire in the computer and server room, especially when it is your business in concern.

Katie Smith is a Fire Expert and his area of interests and expertise lies in forensic science and accident or crime scene investigation related matters. He often consults Houston Fire Investigation.