Download pdf - NTSP 2005 International Telecommunications Safety Conference · NTSP 2005 International Telecommunications Safety Conference St. Louis, Missouri September 13-15, 2005 Fire Safety

NTSP 2005 International Telecommunications Safety

ConferenceSt. Louis, Missouri

September 13-15, 2005

Fire Safety in Telecommunications Facilities / NFPA 76

Telecommunication Facilities – Yesterday

Bell Company Central OfficeFortified Concrete / Masonry BuildingsBellcore (now Telecordia) Technology Equipment StandardsWell Trained Craft & Operating PersonnelYears of Proven Methodologies

Telecommunication Facilities – Today

Legacy & Non-Legacy Central Office & Telecommunications Switching Facilities



Legacy CO Buildings, Switching Facilities in Commercial High Rise, Mega Data Centers, Cellular Switching Facilities



Legacy CO Buildings, Switching Facilities in Commercial High Rise, Mega Data Centers, Cellular Switching Facilities Both Telecordia Technology Equipment & IT Standard Technology Equipment



Legacy CO Buildings, Switching Facilities in Commercial High Rise, Mega Data Centers, Cellular Switching Facilities Both Telecordia Technology Equipment & IT Standard Technology EquipmentMinimum Craft & Operating Personnel & Outsourced Contractor Services



Legacy CO Buildings, Switching Facilities in Commercial High Rise, Mega Data Centers, Cellular Switching Facilities Both Telecordia Technology Equipment & IT Standard Technology EquipmentMinimum Craft & Operating Personnel & Outsourced Contractor ServicesWide Variety of Standards

What are Today’s Likely Telecom Fire Scenarios?

Ignition Source – Energized Electrical (Class C)Overheating Technology Equipment –Power Watts/ft2Power & Mechanical Infrastructure EquipmentOperational Activities


Ignition Source – Energized Electrical (Class C)

Technology EquipmentElectrical DistributionPower Conversion Equipment


Overheating Technology Equipment –Power Watts/ft2

Recent CO Equipment = 15-25 watts/ft2Latest IT Equipment = 50-200 watts/ft2


Power & Mechanical Infrastructure Equipment

DC Plant & UPS Power ConversionComputer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC)Storage Battery ArraysDiesel Generators


Operational ActivityTechnology Equipment Expansions

Increase Human ActivityPacking Combustibles

Power Equipment Hot WorkDC Plant Bus & DistributionPower Cuts

What’s in Jeopardy When a Fire Threatens a

Telecom Facility?

Emergency communications (911) circuits and cellular are at riskBusiness, Government and Medical institution communications potentially disruptedVoice services may cease

Fire Protection for Telecommunications

FacilitiesNFPA 76 - Standard Practice for Fire Protection

of Telecommunications Facilities 2005In April of 1996, NFPA Standards Council formed Technical Committee on TelecommunicationsThis Action in Response to FCC “Network Reliability Council”Issued by Standards Council Effective February 7, 2005

Fire Protection for Telecommunications

FacilitiesNFPA 76 - Standard Practice for Fire Protection

of Telecommunications Facilities 2005A performance-based documentIncludes prescriptive solutions by hazard areaBased on the best practices of the telecommunications industry

NFPA 76 - Highlights

Scope of NFPA 76Fire Protection Requirements for telecommunications facilities serving telephone, data, cellular, internet, voice over internet protocol and video to the public.


Chapter 4 - Risk ConsiderationsEstablish a Fire Protection Program Considering:

Exposure Threat Internal / ExternalImportance of Facility Service to PublicBusiness Risk ManagementService Continuity Risks


Chapter 5 – Performance-Based DesignPerformance Objectives:

Life Safety Egress ProvisionsDesign Protect from Worst Credible FireDocument Design AssumptionsAddress Fire Scenarios Methods of Assessing PerformanceDocumentation of Design


Chapter 6 – Prescriptive-Based DesignPrescriptive Requirements:

Defines Specific Areas of ProtectionRequirements for Building Services HVAC EquipmentCompartmentationVery Early & Early Warning Fire DetectionDepoweringGenerator Fuel Control


Chapter 7 – Redundant or Replacement - Based Design

Redundancy Onsite or Off SiteReplacement Facility


Chapter 8 – Fire Protection ElementsIdentifies Prescriptive Design Elements

ConstructionCompartmentationAlarm ProcessingDetectionAutomatic Fire SuppressionEquipment Ignition & Fire Resistance


Chapter 9 – Fire PreventionHousekeeping

Storage HazardsUse of Ignition Sources

Open Flame LimitationsLimiting Operations HazardsPrevention AwarenessCable Management


Chapter 10 – Pre-emergency Planning Provisions

Content of PlanFire Department ParticipationDepowering ProceduresEmergency Recovery Procedures

Questions ?


Thanks for Your Attention


Thomas L. SimmsMember, NFPA Technical Committee on TelecommunicationsRolf Jensen & AssociatesThe RJA Group, Inc.Phone: 312-879-7200E-Mail: [email protected]