Clean agent upgrade and maintenance of an existing system

The challenge

The data center of a services company was running a suppression system installed more than 15 years ago, with no maintenance records and an agent no longer compliant. Any intervention had to be carried out without interrupting the operation of the critical equipment.

Technical scope

• Assessment: inspection of the existing system, review of cylinders, piping and panel, and room integrity test (door fan test).
• New clean agent system (NFPA 2001): concentration calculation, new cylinders, nozzles and piping, with an addressable releasing panel and cross-zoned detection.
• Room sealing: correction of the leaks found in the integrity test to guarantee the agent hold time.
• Maintenance: preventive and predictive plan with semi-annual inspections and an annual integrity test.

Execution

1. Assessment and technical report with the real condition of the system and the non-conformities against the current code.
2. Engineering of the new system and a work schedule based on maintenance windows.
3. Removal and installation without shutting down operations, with temporary protection during the transition.
4. Acceptance tests: room integrity test, functional test of the panel and a documented discharge simulation.

Results

• System compliant with NFPA 2001 and accepted by the insurer.
• Agent hold time above the required minimum after sealing the room.
• Active maintenance contract with technical reports after every visit.

“Maintaining a system we did not install starts with telling the truth about its condition.” — HWDE Engineering