Telangana issues fire safety norms for data centres

Telangana’s Fire Services Department has issued special fire and life safety guidelines for data centres to speed up provisional Fire NOC processing. The norms cover detection, suppression, battery rooms, fuel storage, ventilation and emergency shutdown arrangements.

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence Department has issued special fire and life safety guidelines for data centres in the State to facilitate faster processing of provisional Fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs) while ensuring protection of critical infrastructure.

Director General of Fire Services Vikram Singh Mann issued the guidelines, which prescribe specific safety measures considering the unique risks associated with data centres, which house servers, storage systems and networking equipment requiring uninterrupted power and cooling. The UPS systems, batteries, transformers, generators, fuel storage and extensive cable networks pose distinct fire hazards.

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The official explained that the measures include fire detection and alarm systems, suitable suppression systems, fire compartmentation, firefighting shafts, wet risers, refuge areas and adequate water storage and pumping facilities. Automatic sprinklers are required in administrative areas, while technical areas must have suitable water-mist or clean-agent gas suppression systems.

Special attention has been given to battery rooms, UPS installations, transformer and switchgear rooms, fuel storage and other high-risk areas. The guidelines also mandate comprehensive fire risk assessments, adequate ventilation, fire-rated separation and emergency shutdown arrangements.

Measures to prevent the accumulation of combustible materials in data halls have also been prescribed. The guidelines will apply to provisional Fire NOC applications submitted on or after November 6.