Howdy,
Summary: have you ever been asked to de-activate the fire suppression system in a client data centre ?
Long version:
This is for anyone whose role takes them into client data centres. Systems administrators (like me) and perhaps hardware people.
Over the years, I have regularly worked in physical data centres. For example when building servers, doing small hardware changes or escorting third party engineers. Sometimes, entering a data centre involves extra security procedures, such as entering a PIN or similar. All very reasonable. However, a recent client expected me to do something else, in addition. That is: to disable the fire suppression system before entering the DC, and to re-enable it after leaving. The staff showed me how to do it, and it was a routine procedure for them. (By "fire suppression system", I mean the in-built sprinklers or gas flood system that actually puts out the fire).
How odd. I cannot guess why staff were deactivating the fire protection. It isn't something I have come across before, and isn't a widespread practice, according to Google. I think their motivation was personal safety but when I asked, nobody could explain why they were doing it, including staff engineers, my manager and even the manager in charge of the data centre.
It seems to carry several serious risks, not least being that if you forget to re-enable it, and the DC later burned down, your insurer is unlikely to pay out after they learn that you de-activated the sprinklers. Even if they did pay, a £10 million policy from QDOS (like mine) is not going to cover the cost of a whole DC. I politely told the client that, for these and other reasons, I would not be deactivating their fire suppression system.
I'm not looking to start a discussion on flood/sprinkler systems. I know they come in many forms, and can be dangerous for humans. I'm just asking if you have come across this practice ? And if so, did you consider the risks?
Summary: have you ever been asked to de-activate the fire suppression system in a client data centre ?
Long version:
This is for anyone whose role takes them into client data centres. Systems administrators (like me) and perhaps hardware people.
Over the years, I have regularly worked in physical data centres. For example when building servers, doing small hardware changes or escorting third party engineers. Sometimes, entering a data centre involves extra security procedures, such as entering a PIN or similar. All very reasonable. However, a recent client expected me to do something else, in addition. That is: to disable the fire suppression system before entering the DC, and to re-enable it after leaving. The staff showed me how to do it, and it was a routine procedure for them. (By "fire suppression system", I mean the in-built sprinklers or gas flood system that actually puts out the fire).
How odd. I cannot guess why staff were deactivating the fire protection. It isn't something I have come across before, and isn't a widespread practice, according to Google. I think their motivation was personal safety but when I asked, nobody could explain why they were doing it, including staff engineers, my manager and even the manager in charge of the data centre.
It seems to carry several serious risks, not least being that if you forget to re-enable it, and the DC later burned down, your insurer is unlikely to pay out after they learn that you de-activated the sprinklers. Even if they did pay, a £10 million policy from QDOS (like mine) is not going to cover the cost of a whole DC. I politely told the client that, for these and other reasons, I would not be deactivating their fire suppression system.
I'm not looking to start a discussion on flood/sprinkler systems. I know they come in many forms, and can be dangerous for humans. I'm just asking if you have come across this practice ? And if so, did you consider the risks?
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