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标题: "How AI Is Changing Fire Protection in Modern Data Centers"
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[

Insight and analysis on the data center space from industry thought leaders.

](https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/program/industry-perspectives)

Effective protection depends on early design integration and a holistic approach that considers building construction, emergency procedures, and operational resilience – not just code compliance.

Getty Images

Artificial intelligence is driving one of the fastest periods of data center growth in history. As data centers become more power-dense and incorporate advanced electrical and cooling technologies, fire protection engineers are encountering risks that were uncommon only a few years ago. AI training workloads and other high-performance computing (HPC) applications concentrate significantly more computing power within a smaller footprint, creating electrical and thermal demands that differ from those of traditional data centers.

The fundamental principles of fire protection have not changed, but the environments in which they are being applied are evolving rapidly. Fire protection designers must now account for how these emerging technologies affect the [fire risk within a facility](https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/outages/incident-response-lessons-learned-from-a-data-center-fire) and whether traditional detection and suppression strategies remain appropriate.

## Higher Power Density

The growth of AI infrastructure is driving a sharp increase in the amount of power delivered to individual equipment racks. Although most data centers still operate at lower densities, some high-performance systems now exceed 40 kW per rack, and certain newer AI installations may exceed 100 kW per rack.

[Higher rack density](https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/ai-data-centers/ai-rack-density-s-real-limits-power-cooling-failure-risk) does not inherently increase the likelihood of a fire, but concentrating more power and heat in a smaller area can change how fire risks should be evaluated. Potential concerns include:

- Overloaded electrical equipment
- Damaged connections
- Insulation failures
- Cooling interruptions

This makes coordination especially important; fire protection engineers should be involved early in the design process. Airflow patterns should be considered when locating detection devices, particularly in areas with high rates of air movement. Sprinkler and suppression system layouts should also account for potential obstructions that could interfere with discharge patterns. Addressing these considerations early allows fire protection strategies to be better integrated into the overall facility design.

## New Power and Cooling Technologies

Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly being used in [uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems](https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/uptime/comparing-data-center-backup-power-systems) because they generally require less space and offer different maintenance and performance characteristics than traditional lead-acid batteries. Their use also introduces several fire protection concerns:

- Thermal runaway
- Combustible gas production
- Fire propagation
- Potential for reignition

Lithium-ion battery installations require consideration beyond the traditional battery room approach. Engineers need to understand the project-specific battery system and how its characteristics may influence the overall fire protection strategy. Installation requirements depend on whether the battery system is part of a UPS or classified as a stationary energy storage system. UL 1778 addresses UPS equipment, while UL 9540 applies to energy storage systems and equipment. UL 9540A provides a test method for evaluating thermal runaway fire propagation in battery energy storage systems. NFPA 855 may also apply to stationary energy storage installations.

[Cooling technology](https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/cooling/liquid-cooling-options-rdhx-direct-to-chip-immersion) is changing as well. Data center designers and operators are considering direct-to-chip liquid cooling and immersion cooling to manage the heat generated by high-density computing. These technologies introduce new considerations for fire protection. The properties of the cooling fluid and the potential for leaks near energized equipment should be evaluated as part of the design. Changes in airflow may also affect how quickly traditional smoke detection systems detect an event.

The answer is not necessarily to add more fire protection systems. The protection strategy should instead be based on the specific hazards associated with the technology being used.

## Lessons from a Real-World Incident

The [2021 fire](https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/uptime/the-myth-of-always-on-confronting-data-center-spofs) at a data center campus in Strasbourg, France, offers a useful real-world lesson. A French government investigation identified an electrical fault involving a UPS and the connected batteries near the area where the fire began. The affected building had fire detection but lacked an automatic extinguishing system. Investigators also concluded that building construction features and the proximity of nearby structures contributed to the spread of the fire.

Approximately an hour and a half after the initial alarm, the building was [reported](https://regmedia.co.uk/2022/06/10/ovh_report.pdf) to be fully involved. The fire destroyed one data center and disrupted operations across other buildings on the campus.

This incident demonstrates that protecting individual equipment or a battery room is only one part of the problem. The ability to contain an event can depend on much more than the protection provided for the equipment itself. How a facility is constructed and separated from surrounding buildings can significantly affect the extent of fire spread.

For owners and operators, the lesson goes beyond code compliance. Data centers must protect people, but they must also maintain critical services and limit operational losses. Fire protection planning should consider:

- Emergency procedures
- System commissioning
- Impairment planning
- Coordinated shutdown procedures
- Emergency response training and drills

While every data center is unique, this incident serves as a reminder that resilience depends on more than code compliance alone.

## Fire Protection Planning

The growing demand for high-performance computing to support artificial intelligence is reshaping the way data centers are designed, powered, and cooled. Over the next several years, data centers are expected to consume a growing share of US electricity as AI and digital services expand. As computing densities increase, liquid cooling is expected to become more widely used. Owners may also look to on-site generation and energy storage to improve power reliability.

Fire protection strategies will need to evolve with these systems. The most effective approach will not rely on a single suppression technology or prescriptive solution. Instead, fire protection should be integrated into the design process early, with input from other disciplines involved in the project. Testing and commissioning are equally important to confirm that these systems perform as intended.

The fundamentals remain familiar: control ignition sources, detect problems early, limit fire spread, and provide effective suppression. The challenge moving forward is applying those fundamentals as the technology inside data centers continues to evolve.

## About the Authors

Telgian Engineering & Consulting

Altay Uzel is a Senior Fire Protection Consultant at [Telgian Engineering & Consulting](https://www.telgian.com/companies-services/telgian-engineering-consulting/) with 13 years of experience in the fire protection industry. His background includes fire protection system design, construction management, and consulting for new and existing facilities. In his current role, Altay provides fire protection due diligence and consulting services across a variety of commercial and industrial facilities. His work includes evaluating existing fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems for compliance with applicable codes, standards, and client requirements.