VESDA & Fire Suppression

Very Early Smoke Detection Alarm (VESDA) detectors are located above and below the racks throughout Perth iX. The VESDA detects fire at the earliest possible stage and reliably measures very low concentrations of smoke. Should an alert be triggered warning lights and alarms are triggered depending on the extent of the heat and smoke.

In the case of fire, the VESDA can trigger the FM-200 Fire Suppression system. This is a waterless system that extinguishes fires quickly through a combination of chemical interaction and physical heat removal. FM-200 absorbs heat from the flame zone and interrupts the chemical chain reaction of the combustion process. The gas penetrates with three-dimensional capability, easily reaching into obscure or hard to reach areas. This waterless suppression system is installed into the two main data center areas at Perth iX whereby activation can be triggered independently.

In the administrative areas of Perth iX more traditional water-based fire suppression is installed - over-head sprinklers. These are in areas where there are no client servers, such as the sales offices and reception therefore there is no possibility of water damage to client equipment. In the Network Operation Centre there are dry pipes and sprinkler heads, with a pre-activation system before the pipes are pressurized and activated by the VESDA. There is no client equipment in the NOC, and activation of sprinklers in this area will not affect client servers.