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Secure IT infrastructures require special protective conditions! The requirements for structural fire protection are NOT sufficient for IT hardware! The standard structural fire protection acc. to EN 1363 (for standard buildings) and the IT fire protection acc. to EN 1047-2 are quite different.

According to the requirements of EN 1363 single building components are tested but not the complete product. 
A test of the complete product, the "type test", however, is definitely required within the scope of the best possible IT protection. The certified F90 fire resistance acc. to the general DIN standard for building structures fulfills the structurcal fire protection requirements but is not in compliance with the load values of IT systems.

For this reason the consideration of the limit values according to EN 1047-2  is a "must" for safeguarding the high availability requirements. Moreover the test according to EN 1363 requires the temperature measurement for 90 minutes only. The highest temperatures, however,  are measured during the following cooling period. The EN 1363 do not require the measurement of the relative humidity. In the event of a fire, however, there will be 870 litres water in a room, dimension  5 x 6 x 2,5 m!   

This huge amount of water will mainly cause the total loss or failure of IT. 

Differences between standard fire protection

Standard EN 1363 (DIN 4103) F90 test of building components EN 1047-2 (IT fire protection)
Standard for Building components Data security rooms
Type of test Tests of building components Type test
Duration of firing 90 minutes acc. to time/temperature curve 60 minutes acc. to time/temperature curve
Cooling curve No Yes
Duration of temperature measurements 90 minutes 24 hours
Max. temperature increase 140-180 K 50 K
Max. rel. humidity Not measured 85%
Impact test No Yes
Manufacturer's quality control Yes Yes
Quality control during installation No Yes
Registration No Yes

Maximum protection

with the IT fire protection test according to EN 1047-2.

  • IT related test of data security rooms for the ECB•certification according to EN 1047-2. 
  • Certification by competent and neutral institution. 
  • Type test of a complete data security room including door, slides, cable duct and support structure. 
A container open at the top with door
Preparation of test assemblies
Room that is flamed
1 hour's firing of the room
Room after the flaming. Attacked by fire, but not destroyed
After the firing: Visibly damaged but fully intact.

Risik factor: Relying on structural fire protection.

Increased requirements for IT fire protection.

Graphic describing the flaming with facts and figures

Conclusion: Fire protection acc. to EN 1363 (DIN 4102)

  • The limit values for temperatures are far above the admissable temperatures for IT hardware. 
  • No requirements for relative humidity. 
  • No type or system tests. 
  • The structural fire protection controls the protection of people and buildings. 
  • The requirements of structural fire protection are not sufficient for the IT! 

Additional risk factors in a fire

Since many years limestone is a standard building material of excellent properties. However, in a case of fire, limestone can be dangerous for IT infrastructures. The fire test of a limestone wall shows it clearly: 

 

Fire test of a limestone wall: 
  • 90 minutes' firing of a wall section according to time / temperature curve
  • Measuring of temperatures and humidities in a closed room 

Test result:

  • After 90 minutes dissipation of steam and condensed water 
  • After only 15 minutes the measuring curve shows a humidity of 100 % 
  • The temperature limit of 50 K (acc. to EN 1047-2) is exceeded after 20 minutes only! 

In case of a fire there will be approx. 870 litres water in a room of 5 x 6 x 2,5 m! This amount of water will destroy the IT. 

Diagram of the water content in concrete
Room size 5 x 6 x 2,5 m, ceiling 300 mm, side wall 200 mm = 43,437 kg concrete Residual moisture: 2% = 870 litres of water
Water content after 15 minutes in the test
After approx. 15 minutes: Development of hot water steam
Water content after 24 minutes in the test
After approx. 24 minutes: Water accumulation
Water content after 90 minutes in the test
After 90 minutes: Considerable water accumulation
Fire test of a limestone wall
Fire test of a limestone wall
Moisture of the sand-lime brick after 15 minutes
Test result: after 15 minutes the measuring curve shows a humidity of 100%

Increased security

Criteria of impact tests acc. to EN 1047-2

Exam container on the left, on the right a man with a long stick and a man in a forklift truck

Fire cases influences the material which becomes brittle and porous. The "impact test" simulates this effect. A wall section of 3 x 3 m of a data security room was examined and tested.

Procedure of impact test: 

  • 0-45th minute: Firing acc. to time / temperature curve up to 902°C.
  • 45-70th minute: Single impact with a 200 kg plumb weight from a height of 1,5 m (impact force approx. 3.000 Nm) at the fired side. 
  • 70-85th minute:  Switching on of burners and renewed firing at 840°C.

Our certification
partners

Image BAM - Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung
Image ECB-S

Ideally protected

Our patented security solutions comply with the quality assurance on the protection properties against all physical sources of danger.

Fire protection

According to ECB-S and EN 1047-2

Burglary protection

According to EN1627 (RC1, RC2, RC3, RC4, RC5)

Explosion protection

According to EN 13123-2 / 13124-2

Water and dust protection

According to EN 60529 (IP 56, IP 65)

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