Fire Protection of Electronic Data Processing Installation - Code of Practice
2004 Edition

The recommended fixed automatic fire extinguishing systems under this standard include the sprinkler system compliant with IS 15105 (except for floor voids), clean agent total flooding systems per IS 15493 with restrictions on halons, carbon dioxide (CO2) total flooding systems as per IS 15528, and high expansion foam systems primarily for floor void protection. Selection depends on risk type, with CO2 and clean agent systems requiring no occupancy during activation and manual controls mandated if areas are occupied. Proper ventilation and agent replenishment procedures must be in place to ensure safety and system effectiveness.

Computer rooms and EDP areas should ideally be housed within fire-resisting, non-combustible buildings with at least one hour of fire resistance for walls, floors, and linings. External walls exposed to potential fire should have 6 mm wired glass windows set in metal frames rated for 60 minutes fire resistance. Doorways on exposed sides must be fitted with fire check doors also rated for a minimum of 60 minutes as per IS 3614 (Part 1). Internal partitions should be non-combustible with one-hour fire resistance, featuring self-closing fire doors to separate processing and output areas. Paper and combustible materials must be stored in enclosed metal cabinets, and dedicated air conditioning plant rooms should be segregated by fire-rated walls with external access.

Electrical wiring and cable management in EDP zones must follow stringent requirements including compliance with lightning protection systems as per national codes and IS 1646 to handle voltage transients and equipotential bonding. Cables should be installed using conduits, trays, or clips with strict segregation of power, lighting, and communication cables to prevent interference. In air handling plenums, PVC data cables are permitted if adequately separated from power cables and protected by smoke detection systems; mineral insulated cables may be installed without enclosure. Only flame-retardant, low-smoke, non-corrosive cables conforming to IS 1554 (Part 1) are allowed. The overall EDP environment must be fire resistant with one-hour protection and safeguarded by wired glass windows and fire-rated doors.

Maintenance of clean agent and CO2 extinguishing systems should adhere strictly to their respective Indian Standards referenced within IS 12456. Routine upkeep involves inspections, leak checks, pressure monitoring, and ensuring agent levels are sufficient. Full discharge testing is discouraged unless no alternative commissioning method exists, in which case it must follow the detailed protocols of the applicable IS code. These procedures ensure system reliability and safe operation while minimizing unnecessary agent release.

Combustible materials within EDP settings should be minimized to essential quantities only, including paper stocks, inks, and recording media, all stored securely in fully enclosed metal cabinets as stipulated in the standard. Flammable liquids like cleaning agents must be kept outside the EDP area. Larger reserves of combustible materials should be located in separate rooms away from critical EDP zones. The EDP facility itself must be constructed of non-combustible materials with at least one hour of fire resistance, including wired glass windows and fire check doors on exposed sides to reduce fire risk and safeguard vital computing infrastructure.