This standard establishes minimum requirements for fire protection of electronic data processing equipment (henceforth referred to as EDP equipment) in order to minimize risks to Government of Canada property and operations, and to protect and conserve the Government's financial position.
This standard applies to:
This chapter replaces chapter 7-3 of PMM Volume 12.
This standard describes the fire protection engineering requirements for EDP equipment that is:
(See appendix A)
This standard applies to:
Certain terms used in this standard are defined.
administrative official (agent administratif) - means the official designated by the department or agency responsible for the administration of the property
alarm signal (signal d'alarme) - means an audible signal transmitted throughout a zone or zones or throughout a building to advise occupants that a fire emergency exists
alert signal (signal d'alerte) - means an audible signal to advise designated persons of a fire emergency
annunciator (annonciateur) - means a device to indicate visually a signal received from the fire alarm system or the fire detection system
combustible (combustible) - means that a material fails to meet the acceptance criteria of CAN4-S114 "Standard Method of Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials"
computer room (salle des ordinateurs) - means a room in which EDP equipment is located
electronic data processing (EDP) equipment (matériel de traitement électronique de l'information (TEI)) - means computer equipment along with all peripherals, supports, memories, programs or other associated equipment electronically interconnected with it
essential (essentiel) - as determined by the Administrative Official, means vital to the operations of the department and agency. (See appendix A-1.3)
fire alarm system (réseau avertisseur d'incendie) - means a combination of devices designed to warn the building occupants of an emergency condition
fire compartment (compartiment étanche au feu) - means an enclosed space in a building that is separated from all other parts of the building by enclosing construction providing a fire separation having a required fire-resistance rating
fire detector (détecteur d'incendie) - means a device which detects a fire condition and automatically initiates a signal and includes heat detectors and smoke detectors
fire-resistance rating (degré de résistance au feu) - means the time that a material or assembly of materials will resist the effects of fire as determined by the appropriate standard fire test prescribed in the NBC
fire separation (séparation coupe-feu) - means a construction assembly that acts as a barrier against the spread of fire
flame-resistant (difficilement inflammable) - means that such material conforms to CAN/ULC - S109, "Standard for Flame Tests of Flame-Resistant Fabrics and Films"
flame-spread rating (indice de propagation de la flamme) - means an index or classification indicating the extent of spread-of-flame on the surface of a material or an assembly of materials as determined by the appropriate standard fire test prescribed in the NBC
Government of Canada property (propriétés du gouvernement du Canada) - means real or personal property under the administration and control of a federal government department or agency, including property leased to the government
Halon 1301 system (réseau d'extincteurs au Halon 1301) - means a fire suppression system consisting of containers of Halon 1301 gas as the extinguishing medium and shall include total flood systems and local application systems
local application system (réseau à projection locale) - means a fixed fire suppression system consisting of containers of Halon 1301 gas as the extinguishing medium so arranged to discharge the Halon gas directly on the burning material
non-combustible (incombustible) - means that a material meeting the acceptance criteria of CAN4-S114, "Standard Method of Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Material"
records (documents) - means media for the storage of information and includes paper records, punch cards, plastic or metal-base tapes, microfilm or other photographic media, magnetic discs, optical discs, memory drums and cores or other means of maintaining or storing information
smoke detector (détecteur de fumée) - means a fire detector designed to operate when the concentration of airborne products of combustion exceeds a predetermined level
smoke developed classification (indice de dégagement des fumées) - means an index or classification indicating the level of smoke developed by a material or assembly of materials as determined by the appropriate standard for test prescribed in the NBC
total flood system (réseau à saturation) - means a fixed fire suppression system consisting of containers of Halon 1301 gas as the extinguishing medium so arranged to discharge the Halon gas into an enclosed space or room
EDP equipment shall be protected by one of the following levels of protection according to the value of each unit or units which are in very close proximity to each other:
(See appendix C - Summary of requirements)
Note:
This Subsection applies only to EDP equipment requiring Level 2 and Level 3 protection.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers with a minimum rating of 5-B,C shall be provided in the computer room such that all EDP equipment is within 9 m travel distance of the extinguisher.
Note:
This subsection applies only to EDP equipment requiring Level 2 and Level 3 protection.
Note:
This subsection applies only to EDP equipment requiring Level 2 and Level 3 protection.
(See appendix A)
Note:
This subsection applies only to EDP equipment requiring Level 3 protection.
The general emergency procedures to be followed shall be in accordance with the requirements of chapter 3-1, Standard for fire safety planning and fire emergency organization.
The effect upon continuity of operations for each EDP equipment should be determined and when necessary arrangements made for the use of alternative facilities, including the transportation of personnel, data and supplies.
To ensure that the fire safety plan described in 7.3 is effective, the designated personnel shall receive regular training on the necessary actions to be taken in the event of a fire emergency. have been promulgated on the provision of clothing.
The requirements of this standard are intended for certain types of EDP equipment. The word "essential" as defined in this standard is intended to assist the administrative official to determine the strategic importance of the EDP equipment whose loss would paralyse the operation.
The strategic importance of a particular EDP equipment can be evaluated by assessing the function of the equipment and the degree of operational dependence upon such equipment.
There are several major areas where judgement is required in the application of this standard:
The extent of application of this standard to existing computer room to remove an unacceptable risk should be based on judgment and the merits of each case.
Consideration should be given to extending sprinkler protection to the suite in which the computer room is located in order to minimize exposure hazards.
Assessments conducted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the U.S. suggest that Halon gas emissions could contribute to possible depletion of the stratospheric ozone. The stratospheric ozone layer protects humans from exposure to damaging ultraviolet radiation, the depletion of this ozone layer would lead to adverse health and environmental effects.
In March 1985, Canada signed the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer. In September 1987, Canada signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The Protocol establishes an international framework for reducing emissions of specified ozone depleting substances, namely certain types of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Halons.
As a result, consideration should be given to evaluating all existing Halon systems as to their need and viability. Alternative means of fire suppression systems should be used unless a gaseous system such as Halon is absolutely necessary.
Non-recoverable total flooding tests of Halon gas should be avoided where possible. Alternate test agent/method may be used in lieu of Halon gas.
This standard refers to the following codes and standards which are not found in this volume:
Records Storage
Sprinkler Systems
These standards may be obtained from the Fire Commissioner of Canada, Labour Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0J2, or from Offices of Labour Canada. As they are revised, they will be published in this volume.
Treasury Board Manual
Materiel, Services and Risk Management volume
Fire Protection, Investigation and Reporting (Part III, chapter 5)
This volume may be purchased from the Canada Communication Group - Publishing, 45 Sacré-Coeur Blvd., Hull, Québec, K1A 0S9.
CSA C22.1 - Canadian Electrical Code, Part I
CSA C22.2 0.3 - Test Methods for Electrical Wires and Cables
Canadian Standards Association publications may be purchased from Canadian Standards Association, 178 Rexdale Blvd., Rexdale, Ontario, M9W 1R3.
National Building Code of Canada
National Fire Code of Canada
These publications may be purchased from the Secretary, Associate Committee on the National Building Code, National Research Council, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0R6.
NFPA No. 12A - Halon 1301 Fire Extinguishing Systems
National Fire Protection Association publications may be purchased from the National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Mass. 02269 or from FIPRECAN, 7-1590 Liverpool Court, Ottawa, Ontario, K1B 4L2.
CAN4-S109 - Standard for Flame Tests of Flame Resistant Fabrics and Films
CAN4-S111 - Standard Method of Fire Tests for Air Filter Units
CAN4-S114 - Standard Method of Test for Noncombustibility of Building Materials
Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada publications may be purchased from the Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada, 7 Crouse Road, Scarborough, Ontario, M1R 3A9.
Protection requirements | Level of protection | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Level 0 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |
NBC & NFC requirements | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
1. General | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
2. Classifications | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
3.1 Location | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
3.2 Building construction | No | No | Yes* | Yes* |
4.1 Room construction | No | In part* | Yes | Yes |
4.2 Raised floor | No | No | Yes | Yes |
4.3 Computer equipment | No | No | Yes | Yes |
4.4 Occupancy | No | No | Yes | Yes |
4.5 Records | No | No | Yes | Yes |
5.1 Electrical system | No | In part* | Yes | Yes |
5.2 HVAC system | No | No | Yes | Yes |
6.1 Extinguishers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
6.2 Alarm systems | No | No | Yes | Yes |
6.3 Sprinkler system | No | No | Yes* | Yes* |
6.4 Halon system | No | No | No | Yes* |
6.5 Other safety measures | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
7. Fire safety planning | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Appendices | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
* : See text for details and exceptions
Yes : Requirements applicable
No: Requirements not applicable, see NBC or NFC for details
Note: This is ONLY a summary of the requirements and should NOT be used to substitute the requirements in the standard.