Data centre fire safety under scrutiny after multiple incidents

Data centre fires raise questions over safety measures

Several recent data centre fires have raised concerns over the adequacy of existing fire safety protocols in these facilities, as reported by JLL.

In September, a fire in a Singapore data centre disrupted services for numerous technology companies and caused significant damage to its critical infrastructure.

Similarly, a blaze at India’s largest telecom provider resulted in a nationwide outage.

A 2022 fire at a South Korean data centre in Pangyo also caused prolonged outages, highlighting the recurring nature of these incidents.

The common factor in many of these cases is the use of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries in uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems.

These batteries provide backup power during outages, but their fire risk has raised concerns.

Andrew Green, Regional Data Center Practice Lead for Asia Pacific at JLL, explained: “Li-ion batteries, while highly efficient for energy storage, pose a fire risk when the lithium gas is exposed to oxygen.”

The dangers of lithium-ion batteries

Li-ion batteries are a staple of modern data centres, typically housed in dedicated battery rooms fitted with gaseous fire suppression systems.

While this setup aims to reduce the spread of fires, other risks such as human error or design flaws can still cause issues.

Green pointed to a 2022 South Korean government investigation that found the design of the Pangyo data centre contributed to its fire.

The failure to separate batteries from UPS modules, along with inadequate fire prevention, worsened the damage.

Green noted: “Delayed replacements of batteries or lapses in round-the-clock monitoring operations could still contribute to fires.”

The need for stronger regulations

Data centre operators are carefully reviewing investigations into these incidents, hoping to identify vulnerabilities in fire safety measures.

According to Green, this could lead to the introduction of new industry regulations within the next few years.

However, costs could slow down the implementation of these changes.

Since Li-ion batteries typically have warranties of up to 15 years, the need for regular replacement becomes a costly but necessary part of maintaining a safe facility.

“From a business perspective, companies must balance the risk and expenditure,” Green stated.

Balancing fire safety with operational efficiency

Achieving better fire safety in data centres will require careful regulation that balances cost, safety, and energy efficiency.

While implementing stricter measures could help prevent further fires, it is vital that these standards are financially sustainable for operators.

Green concluded: “All these factors are equally essential for data centres to be resilient and operate without downtime.

Neglecting any of these elements can result in significant repercussions for your data centre operations.”

Data centre fire safety under scrutiny: Summary

Recent fires in data centres across Singapore, India, and South Korea have raised concerns over the adequacy of current fire safety measures, as reported by JLL.

Many incidents have been linked to the use of lithium-ion batteries in uninterruptible power supply systems.

Andrew Green of JLL highlighted the fire risk posed by these batteries, particularly if they are exposed to oxygen.

Investigations into these incidents have prompted data centre operators to review fire safety protocols, with a focus on enhancing regulations in the coming years.

However, the financial costs of battery replacement and other safety improvements could present challenges for data centres trying to balance safety and operational efficiency.