Server rooms can pose a substantial fire risk to businesses of all sizes. They are filled with power cords, electrical wires, combustible materials and equipment that can overheat or spark. Fires can occur within the digital equipment, wires, cables, HVAC equipment, raised floors, suspended ceilings, and other combustibles found in server rooms. Even with precautions in place, there is still a chance that a fire can occur and result in significant downtime for a business. According to the National Archives & Records Administration in Washington, 93 percent of companies that lost their data center for 10 days or more due to a disaster filed for bankruptcy within one year of the disaster. For this reason, fire suppression systems are recommended to mitigate the overall damage and reduce downtime resulting from a server room fire.

To protect electronic and other computer equipment, there are two primary types of automatic fire suppression systems that can be used: water based and gaseous agent.  Automatic systems react to a rapid rise in heat, or fire situation, without any human intervention. Each type of system has inherent advantages and disadvantages. The following is a summary of these systems, their basic operational concepts, and property damage concerns.

Automatic water-based sprinkler systems

Wet pipe systems

In a wet pipe sprinkler system, the sprinkler heads connect to pipes that are filled with pressurized water. When a fire is detected, the sprinkler system activates automatically to extinguish the fire. Wet pipe systems are a very traditional type of fire suppression system and they are the most common type. They are particularly popular because they are low cost, may already exist in the server room in the first place, and they are effective. Once they have been activated, they will continue to expel water until they have been shut off. While it is a popular choice because of its ease of installation and optimal protection, the main problem with water sprinklers is that they can cause significant damage to the equipment.  With the goal of remaining operational and maximizing uptime while preventing catastrophic fire, dramatic water damage could still lead to downtime. Additionally, water sprinklers could accidentally become activated and cause unnecessary damage. And, while sprinklers systems are inexpensive, the water damage that they cause is not.

For this reason, many data centers and server rooms implement pre-action water sprinklers.
 

Pre-action systems

Pre-action sprinkler systems are water-based systems occasionally used in server rooms for fire protection. The benefit to the pre-action system is that the water is not stored in the sprinkler pipes, reducing the risk of pipes leaking and causing damage to the equipment. Even as a water-based system, pre-action systems do have a lowered risk of water damage due to false alarms, as the pre-action system requires two separate events in order for water to flow out of the sprinkler system; first, the smoke detectors must identify a developing fire which releases the pre-action valve allowing water to flow into the sprinkler pipes, second, the sprinkler heads must be activated by heat to allow water to flow out into the room. This can typically give personnel a chance to investigate the alarm before water flows.  Additionally, the alarm can be interlocked to shut down critical equipment before sprinkler heads are activated. While these precautions do reduce the chance of water damage in the event of a faulty system or false alarm, if an actual fire occurs water damage is guaranteed.

Water mist systems

Water mist systems work by both cooling the room temperature and displacing oxygen with steam.  Like other fire protection systems, water mist systems naturally use water, with one key difference, that is, smaller droplets. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), “water mist” consists of droplets with a diameter less than 1,000 microns (1 millimeter) each. That's roughly a fifth of the size of the droplets made by standard fire sprinkler systems.

By spraying large numbers of tiny droplets, water mist fire protection systems create a large water surface area that can more readily lower temperatures. When these tiny droplets meet hot air, they evaporate and turn to steam. Steam can absorb more heat per unit of time than larger water droplets, therefore reducing the temperature of the flames faster. Steam also displaces the oxygen in the room so that the fire is suffocated and extinguished.

There are four different applications related to water mist systems:

• Local-application water mist systems, which spray directly on a specific object or hazard.
• Occupancy protection systems, which are installed throughout a building or a portion of a building.
• Total compartment application water mist systems. All nozzles (sprinkler heads) activate at the same time, providing complete protection of an enclosure or space.
• Zoned application systems, a variation on total compartment application systems, activate throughout a given zone or region within a given space.

Over the past decade, there has been substantial research done regarding water mist technology in fire suppression applications when extinguishing fires in electronic equipment and computer rooms. This research shows that water mist systems can be just as effective at slowing the spread of fire without the cleanup that comes with dry chemical systems. Testing the system also becomes significantly easier than dry chemical systems because of the discharging of dry chemicals vs. water.

Gaseous agent systems

Gaseous fire suppression systems work in similar ways as water sprinklers: smoke detectors signal the presence of a fire, triggering the release of a gaseous agent. However, instead of smothering the flames, as water does, gaseous methods fill the area with unreactive gases that dilute the oxygen level in the room. Once the oxygen level reaches a low enough point, the fire is no longer able to burn and simply goes out. As a result, the fire is put out without causing any additional damage to the computer equipment. Despite the fact that gaseous systems alter the amount of oxygen in the area, the oxygen levels are maintained at a level in which individuals are still able to safely evacuate the premises.

The gaseous systems use either inert, clean agent, or carbon dioxide gas.

Inert gaseous systems

An inert gas system uses a mixture of argon and nitrogen gases to decrease oxygen levels present in the room which naturally puts out the fire. A drawback to inert systems is they have a large footprint due to the amount of gas cylinders needed to effectively saturate the given area. Because sounds over 130 decibels destroy hard drives in a data center, the system requires special nozzles to muffle the powerful sound given off when the inert system activates. 

These systems are non-ozone depleting with short atmospheric lives. They are non-conductive, as well as non-corrosive which protects against damage caused by the act of extinguishing the fire as with other suppression agents like chemicals and water. In addition, they leave no residue and, as a result, avoid costly and time-consuming post-fire cleanups.

Clean agent systems

Clean agent fire suppression systems use gas that's designed to extinguish fires shortly after they've started. As the name suggests, these systems are “clean,” so they leave no residue behind making them ideal for valuable electronics and other delicate environments. Like fire sprinklers, these systems have a piping system installed throughout the room.   The system activates through smoke and heat detection, and the clean agent gas disperses evenly throughout the room through nozzles. These systems are total flood or engineered systems.

There are several types of common clean agent fire safety systems that can be implemented based on the environment and assets being protected.

The two common clean agent gas systems are Novec 1230 and FM-200. They suppress the fire by reducing the heat of the fire through absorption. These gases have zero ozone depletion, which makes them safe for the environment and around humans. The physical footprint is smaller than inert gas systems because they don’t require as much agent to fill up an entire room.

Clean agent gases are electrically non-conductive, non-corrosive, and leave no residue upon evaporation. This makes them the ideal fire suppression agents in data centers.

Carbon dioxide systems

CO2 extinguishing system is a gaseous agent that is colorless, odorless, and electrically non-conductive, leaving no residue behind after deployment.  CO2 systems work as inert gas and clean agent systems do in that they deploy a gas through nozzles, filling the protected space, and reduce oxygen levels below those which support combustion, effectively suppressing the fire while at the same time not damaging sensitive electronic equipment.

While CO2 fire suppression systems are highly effective at suppressing fires, the CO2 agent also poses a health risk when compared to the other agents.  At 7.5% concentration, CO2 can cause asphyxiation to humans. Most CO2 fire suppression systems are designed to have 34% CO2 concentrations for a total flood of the protected space. Due to the obvious dangers of CO2, the CO2 fire suppression systems are required to have certain life safety devices to protect personnel around or near the protected spaces. One of the life safety devices is a pneumatic siren that warns people around the area that the CO2 will be discharging from the suppression system. In addition to these safety mechanisms, it is critical to train all employees and personnel in the building on the health risks of a CO2 fire suppression system, as well as appropriate evacuation procedures in the event of a fire.

Summary

In order to select the most appropriate fire suppression for your computer room, advantages and disadvantages of each should be evaluated. Due to the variables of each fire, property damage from the suppression system cannot be fully estimated. In general, assuming proper installation, the additional property damage from fire suppression systems activation is minimal in comparison to the losses without such protection.

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“The Hanover”) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you. The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.

In electrical and safety engineering, hazardous locations are defined as places where fire or explosion hazards may exist. Sources of fire include combustible and flammable liquids, gasses or solid material like fibers or dust. Electrical equipment installed in such locations could provide an ignition source due to electrical sparking, arcing, or high operating temperatures of the equipment.

When purchasing electrical equipment for your facility, knowing that the equipment you purchase will be safe operating in a hazardous location is essential. While meeting industry and governmental requirements for safe operations is imperative, having equipment that will efficiently operate and is adjustable for changing demands at your facility will ease your mind and increase your comfort level.

Below are the details of the classification system for electrical equipment.

Location classification

The National Electrical Code (NEC; also known as NFPA 70 National Electrical Code) defines hazardous locations as those areas “where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to flammable gases or vapors, flammable liquids combustible dust, or ignitable fibers or flyings.” Articles 500 through 504 and 510 through 517 provide classification and installation standards for the use of electrical equipment in these areas.

Hazardous locations are classified in three ways by the National Electrical Code: type, condition, and nature.

Types

There are three types of hazardous locations:

1. Type (Class) 1 Hazardous location is created by the presence of flammable gases or vapors in air, such as methane or gasoline vapor in enough quantities to be explosive or ignitable.  Typical Class 1 locations include petroleum foundries, flammable and combustible liquid storage and dispensing areas, and spray finishing areas. These locations would require equipment specifically made for that environment.
2. Type (Class) II Hazardous locations are made hazardous by the presence of combustible dusts. Finely pulverized air suspended material can cause an explosion just as powerful as a petroleum refinery explosion. Class II locations include producers of plastics, medicines and fireworks, plants that use magnesium or aluminum powders, grain mills, candy plants, and spice grinding plants.
3. Type (Class) III Hazardous locations are areas where there are easily ignitable fibers or flyings present due to the type of material handled, stored, or processed. Fibers and flyings are not only present in the air but can accumulate around machinery or lighting fixtures where a spark or accumulated heat can ignite them. Typical Class III locations include woodworking plants and textile mills.

Condition

Hazardous materials location conditions can be classified as normal or abnormal.

In the normal condition, the hazard is expected to be present on an everyday basis. This is described as Division 1 Condition.

An abnormal condition is described as when the hazard is present on an incidental basis or due to accident. While it is normal to store flammable liquids in a flammable liquid cabinet or storage room, the only time when one would expect flammable gases or vapors present is if there was a leak in the flammable liquids container.  This is described as Division II condition.

Nature

Class I hazardous locations are broken into four groups by code A, B, C and D. Materials within the codes are grouped by the ignition temperature of the substance, its explosion pressure, and other flammable characteristics.

• The only substance in Group A is acetylene.
• Group B is also a small, classified area and includes hydrogen and other materials with similar characteristics.
• Group C and D are the more usual Class I materials such as butane, gasoline, propane, and natural gas.

Class II hazardous locations contain code groups E, F and G, which are classified according to the ignition temperature and conductivity of the hazardous substances.

• Group E comprises metal dusts, and the physical characteristic of electrical conductivity is important here. This includes aluminum, magnesium, titanium and similar nature dusts.
• Group F atmospheres contain materials such as carbon black, charcoal dust, and coal dust.
• Group G contains the grain dusts, flour, starch, cocoa, and similar types of dusts.

NFPA 70 NEC Hazardous Locations Classes, Divisions and Groups

Determining the class, division and group in hazardous environments is critical in determining which equipment to place in that environment while controlling property loss from fire or explosion. Which system is deemed preferable depends on the owner’s preference, how the area is classified, and the electrical wiring system used? Industrial electrical equipment for a hazardous area needs to conform to appropriate standards to reduce danger to life and property.

References

1. NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, 2020 edition.
2. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.307 Hazardous (classified) Locations.
3. IEC 60079:2020 SER Series- Explosive atmospheres; International Electrical    Commission 2020-06-26.

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee loss prevention. The examples in this material are provided as hypothetical and for illustration purposes only. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“The Hanover”) specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations contained herein will make any premises, or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. By providing this information to you. The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.

LC 2022-345 

Learn ways to prepare your home before, during and after freezing temperatures.

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These essential tips, developed by The Hanover, provide important guidelines to help you prevent the most common weather-related damage that may occur during freezing temperatures. Bookmark this page to refer to these tips regularly, to help avoid or reduce the effects of a storm on your home and vehicles.

Learn ways to prepare your business before, during and after freezing temperatures.

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These essential tips, developed by The Hanover, provide important guidelines to help you prevent the most common weather-related damage that may occur during freezing temperatures. Bookmark this page to refer to these tips regularly, to help avoid or reduce the effects of a storm on your business and vehicles.

By Kim Kennedy, Chief Operating Officer, Hanover Personal Lines, September 23, 2022. This article was originally published in PropertyCasualty360.

“Now Hiring” signs remain on many storefronts, including insurance agencies, in most towns across the country. Where have all the workers gone, and when are they coming back?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 50,000 openings for insurance agency sales producers every year moving forward. Despite that gloomy forecast, there’s some optimism the tide will turn and we’ll start to see an increase in professionals interested in careers in our industry, especially with companies that have creative talent sourcing and development strategies. Yet even if that happens, most independent agencies will still face challenges retaining high performers, not to mention the expense that will go along with it.

According to HubSpot, over 90% of customer service teams report their customers’ expectations for agile and relevant service experiences continue to rise. With these pressures and more, independent agents must evolve their operating models if they want to stay competitive among their peers and the direct writers in the years ahead.

Consistent with our internal data, top-performing agencies have the highest premium and policies-in-force managed per employee, with the best-of-the-best eclipsing their counterparts by as much as 57%. Agencies that want to achieve this level of operational efficiency need to be thoughtful in their approach. Overworking current staff is an unsustainable solution that inevitably leads to employee attrition, which ultimately impacts the ability of an agency to grow its book of business. The top quartile agent’s much more sustainable and successful approach is to continuously optimize business operations in a way that creates capacity within the organization for employees to focus on rewarding, growth-generating activities.

Here’s what we see the most resilient agents doing to maximize how their people spend their valuable time:
 

No. 1: They are enrolling in carrier service centers.

One of the biggest misconceptions agents have about carrier service centers is that by enrolling, they will relinquish their relationships with their customers. The opposite is true. While insureds certainly appreciate personalized relationships with their agents, when they have a need, most want it to be handled quickly and easily by a knowledgeable insurance professional. Having a larger team of insurance experts available at a carrier makes for better customer experiences and improved days in an agency office. Carrier service centers free up an agency staff’s time to focus on true relationship building. Less time answering inbound calls regarding billing and payment questions means more time to conduct thoughtful, proactive customer outreach that demonstrates an agency’s true purpose and commitment to its clients, such as account renewal consultations and education on new coverage offerings. Our internal data shows that agents enrolled in our service center have a 42% higher premium handled per CSR than unenrolled agents. They simply need less staff to service their book of business, so they repurpose that capacity on activities that retain customers, prospect for new customers, and build their agency’s community networks. Some of our enrolled agents report their staff has more time to serve as agency brand ambassadors at local charity events. These agents are differentiating themselves in the marketplace.
 

No. 2: They are investing in technology and tapping into carrier capabilities.

This could be an article all on its own, but in short, high-preforming agencies invest in sophisticated technologies for their staff and customers. With more and more businesses running hybrid models between in-office and remote work, phone systems that facilitate proficient call routing to the right person the first time are essential. Most carrier call centers record 100% of calls, and independent agencies should too. Call recording allows for a clear understanding of the service experiences an agency is delivering, the identification of improvement opportunities, and impactful employee coaching for ongoing development. What better way to get a new employee up-to-speed than to have them listen to the “rock star” calls of their tenured teammates? And let’s not forget that customers don’t want to have to call their agent or carrier for everything. Top performing agencies integrate carrier online portals and mobile apps into their total customer service offerings. They meet their clients where they’re at with capabilities that match when and how they want to do business.
 

No. 3: They are staying true to origin stories while unapologetically pursuing economies of scale.

While it’s important for many agents involved in mergers and acquisitions to maintain their local agency brands, there is much to be gained by centralizing core functions, processes, and technologies sooner than later. With every organizational change comes an opportunity to identify meaningful efficiencies that drive enhanced employee and customer experiences. Top quartile agents implement first-available phone and digital servicing across all locations rather than continue to segment servicing based on customers’ originally assigned offices. They consolidate mail handling and other support activities, expeditiously enroll newly acquired books of business into their established carrier service center relationships and expand technology platforms and professional development programs across their enterprise. These pursuits unlock a growing agency’s ability to not have to replace employees when they move on or hire additional staff. Most importantly, it enables the agency to invest more time and energy in the people, positions, and activities that will support its profitable growth.
 

No. 4: They are continually strengthening the partnership and connectivity between their sales and service teams, and they view their preferred partners as meaningful extensions of both.

High-performing agencies find ways to ensure their sales professionals spend their time selling, their service professionals spend their time servicing, and their carriers service centers are contributing to both selling and servicing. Introducing new customers to the greater team and all the ways they’ll be supported from the start reinforces the excellent decision they made in establishing a relationship with the agency.

The most successful independent agents continuously look for ways to evolve their business operations. This means pursuing strategies and capabilities that expand, strengthen and lengthen client relationships. By leveraging their best carrier partners’ resources, agents stay resilient and open to challenging status quo thinking to thrive — even in the most difficult times.
 

About the author

Kim Kennedy is chief operating officer of personal lines at The Hanover Insurance Group Inc.

Have you been struggling finding talent? You’re not alone. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the insurance industry will soon be faced with 50,000 job openings per year. Current workforce trends have only added to the challenge of hiring today. 

Let the Hanover CSC do the job instead. When you work with our customer service center, you can free up capacity, enabling you to use less resources to do more, all while you receive valuable support with sales, loyalty building and customer outreach. All without having to hire.
 

Learn more about The Hanover's CSC    Request a consultation

Learn ways to prepare your home before, during and after a hailstorm.

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Insurance Information Institute

Insurance Journal

NOAA

These essential tips, developed by The Hanover, provide important guidelines to help you prevent the most common weather-related damage that may occur during a hailstorm. Bookmark this page to refer to these tips regularly, to help avoid or reduce the effects of a hailstorm on your home and vehicles.

Learn ways to prepare your business before, during and after a hailstorm.

Sources:

Insurance Information Institute

Insurance Journal

NOAA

These essential tips, developed by The Hanover, provide important guidelines to help you prevent the most common weather-related damage that may occur during a hailstorm. Bookmark this page to refer to these tips regularly, to help avoid or reduce the effects of a hailstorm on your business and vehicles.

Learn ways to prepare your home before, during and after a wildfire. You can also download this resource to have it at your fingertips.

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These essential tips, developed by The Hanover, provide important guidelines to help you prevent the most common weather-related damage that may occur during a wildfire. Bookmark this page to refer to these tips regularly, to help avoid or reduce the effects of a wildfire on your home and vehicles.

Learn ways to prepare your business before, during and after a wildfire.

Sources:

Insurance Information Institute

Congressional Research Service

These essential tips, developed by The Hanover, provide important guidelines to help you prevent the most common weather-related damage that may occur during a wildfire. Bookmark this page to refer to these tips regularly, to help avoid or reduce the effects of a wildfire on your business and vehicles.