The objective of data center fire protection is to suppress or extinguish a fire before it can cause significant damage to the equipment, personnel, or business continuity. Fire suppression systems are designed to reduce the heat, oxygen, or fuel elements of the fire triangle, and to limit the spread of fire and smoke. Fire suppression systems can be classified into two types: water-based and gas-based. Water-based systems include sprinklers, mist, and water spray systems, which use water as the extinguishing agent. Gas-based systems include inert gas, halocarbon, and clean agent systems, which use gases or chemicals as the extinguishing agent. The choice of fire suppression system depends on several factors, such as the fire risk, the type of fuel, the environmental impact, the reliability, the cost, and the compatibility with the data center equipment and operations.

* EPI Data Centre Professional (CDCP) Preparation Guide, page 31

* A Comprehensive Approach To Data Center Fire Safety

Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment, such as computers, servers, switches, cables, and wiring. These fires require the use of non-conductive extinguishing agents, such as carbon dioxide, dry chemical, or clean agent, to prevent electrical shock and damage to the equipment. Water-based extinguishers, such as Class A or K, are not suitable for Class C fires, as water can conduct electricity and cause electrocution or short circuits.

Fiber-optic cables use light as the source to transmit data. Light pulses are modulated to carry information through an optical fiber. The light is confined in the core of the fiber by total internal reflection at the core-cladding interface. The light travels along the fiber with minimal loss or interference, making it suitable for long-distance and high-bandwidth applications.

Waveform distortion is a type of AC power quality anomaly that occurs when the shape of the voltage or current waveform deviates from the ideal sinusoidal shape. Waveform distortion can be caused by nonlinear loads, such as rectifiers, inverters, variable frequency drives, and electronic devices, that draw current in pulses or harmonics. Waveform distortion can result in overheating, reduced efficiency, malfunctioning, or damage of equipment.

Class D fires involve combustible metals or combustible metal alloys such as magnesium, sodium and potassium. These metals can react violently with water, air, or other chemicals, and require special extinguishing agents1