Data Centers: Fire Protection in Water-Sensitive Environments.

In a data center, unintended water discharge can cause extensive damage. It can take critical equipment offline, disrupt operations, and drive up recovery costs. For the people responsible for protecting these facilities, the question isn’t just how do I stop a fire; it’s how do I stop a fire without creating a new problem?

That’s why preaction fire protection systems are often considered for data centers and other critical environments. That’s why Reliable engineered the PrePaK™ System, a compact, fully integrated preaction system designed for critical areas where there’s no room for error.

Fire Protection Without Unintended Water Discharge

Data centers house some of the most valuable and sensitive infrastructure in the world. A single facility can support thousands of businesses, and even brief interruptions carry serious financial and operational consequences.

Traditional wet pipe sprinkler systems keep water in the piping at all times. That means accidental impact or a corroded pipe section can release water directly onto live equipment, no fire required.

For data center risk managers, facilities directors, and fire protection engineers, this creates a balancing act: the building needs code-compliant fire protection, but the systems themselves can’t introduce the risk they’re meant to prevent.

How Preaction Systems Help Protect Critical Spaces

Preaction sprinkler systems are often selected for data centers and other critical spaces where unintended water entering the system piping is a concern. Unlike wet pipe systems, preaction systems hold water behind the system valve until specified conditions occur.

In a double-interlock configuration, both the detection system and a loss of supervisory air or nitrogen pressure—typically caused by an operated sprinkler—must occur before the valve opens and water enters the piping. This added safeguard can help reduce the risk of unintended water entering the system, but the appropriate configuration depends on the hazard, system design, applicable requirements, and the facility’s protection objectives.

The Reliable PrePaK™ is Built for Critical Spaces

The Reliable PrePaK™ takes the preaction concept and packages it into a self-contained, cabinet-enclosed system that’s factory-assembled and performance-tested before it ships.

What makes it a fit for data centers:

• FM Approved as a factory-assembled system: Each unit is built, wired, and tested at Reliable’s manufacturing headquarters in Liberty, South Carolina.
• Compact footprint: Systems from 2″ through 4″ fit within a floor space of just 4.7 square feet, and all sizes fit through a standard 36″ doorway. Space is valuable in a data center, and the PrePaK doesn’t take much of it.
• DDX Valve: The clapper, seat, and push rod assembly are constructed of stainless steel for corrosion resistance. Learn more about the DDX Valve.
• Corrosion mitigation options: Available with the Vapor Pipe Shield® corrosion inhibitor or an integrated South-Tek N2 Blast® nitrogen generator to extend the life expectancy of system piping and components.
• Simplified installation: Factory assembly consolidates electrical connections into a single terminal box, reducing time in the field. A Reliable-trained technician assembles and personally inspects each unit; their signature even appears on the label.

Protecting What Matters Most

Whether the project is a hyperscale campus or a single-tenant colocation facility, the fire protection system needs to reflect the value of what’s inside. The PrePaK™ gives designers and risk managers a compact, FM Approved solution that helps reduce unintended water exposure and simplifies field installation.

Reliable works with engineering firms and contractors to help identify fire protection solutions for critical facilities If you’re specifying fire protection for a data center project, our Product Technology team can walk through the details and help identify the right system configuration.

Learn More

For a deeper look at how preaction systems protect data centers, watch our recorded webinar: Basics of Data Center Fire Protection.

Ready to talk through your project? Contact our Product Technology team for consultative support tailored to your data center fire protection needs.