In a data center fire protection design, which approach best matches Huawei facility practice for protecting IT rooms while minimizing secondary damage to IT equipment?

Huawei's data center facility designs align with global best practices (e.g., NFPA 75, TIA-942) to ensure maximum fire safety with minimal operational disruption. The optimal approach involves a multi-layered strategy. A very early warning smoke detection system (VESDA) identifies combustion particles long before a fire develops. If a fire is confirmed, a clean-agent gas (e.g., Novec 1230, IG541) extinguishing system is automatically discharged. This gas suppresses the fire without leaving residue or causing water damage, thereby protecting the valuable IT equipment. Interlock controls are critical for shutting down air conditioning and power to prevent reignition and ensure agent concentration.

A. Use only portable extinguishers and rely on manual response: This is inadequate for protecting a critical facility, as it relies solely on human presence and intervention for what could be a rapidly escalating fire.
C. Install a water sprinkler system as the only suppression method inside the IT white space: Water causes catastrophic and often irreparable damage to electronic equipment, making it a last resort, not a primary or sole method of protection.
D. Disable automatic suppression to avoid accidental discharge: This is a direct violation of fire safety codes and standards. It exposes the facility, equipment, and personnel to unacceptable risk.

- Huawei Data Center Facility Design Technical Proposal, Section: "Fire Safety and Suppression System." This document outlines the standard design, specifying a combination of VESDA and a gas-based fire suppression system for IT rooms.

- TIA-942-B, Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers, Annex G, "Fire Protection." This industry standard recommends gaseous suppression systems as the primary means of fire protection for the "computer room" (white space).

- NFPA 75, Standard for the Fire Protection of Information Technology Equipment, 2020 Edition, Chapter 8, "Gaseous Total Flooding Extinguishing Systems." This standard details the requirements and recommendations for using clean agent systems in IT environments.