GB2420279A

GB2420279A - Environmentally controlled unit

Info

Publication number: GB2420279A
Application number: GB0425655A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Shaw
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-22
Filing date: 2004-11-22
Publication date: 2006-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2024-11-22
Also published as: GB2420279B; GB0425655D0

Abstract

An independent unit 10 for preventing the spread of fire to or from its contents comprising a sealed housing 11 provided with a securable door 14, said housing 11 being fire proof for a least a short time, insulated and provided with a self contained air conditioning device (16, fig.2) and a fire suppression system (17, fig.2)for automatically detecting, annunciating and flooding the housing 11 with a gaseous agent in the event of fire. The unit may be provided with feet or brake castors 22, internal lighting (18, fig.2), and/or control panels 19, 20, 21 for the control of the air conditioning (16, fig.2) and/or fire suppression system (17, fig.2). The door 14 may be glazed and may be provided with an electromagnetic door lock for access control. A fire proof sleeve (23, fig.2) may be provided for an electrical supply cable.

Description

ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTROLLED UNIT

The invention relates to an environmentally controlled unit for preventing the spread of fire from or to items located therein, which may be electrical equipment, in particular computer servers and other IT equipment, for safety and security, or valuable assets.

Many businesses rely heavily nowadays on computer systems networks which are driven by a central server on which are stored valuable data and crucial programmes. More often than not such servers are housed in a dedicated server room, often within the building in which the business or company is based. Such server rooms are usually lockable to provide security and protection from theft and tampering.

Such equipment generates a significant amount of heat during operation and so such server rooms have to be air conditioned to keep the equipment temperature under control.

Sometimes fire suppression systems are also installed in such server rooms which detect fires and flood the room with a gaseous agent to suppress any fires detected for a limited period, whilst it is brought under control. Typically, the room is pressurized with the gaseous agent, but allows for its release via apertures, door seals, ventilation etc. The typical retention period is 10 minutes. The construction of a fire proof room is often not possible in many buildings or is a prohibitively expensive use of real estate.

Equally there is often a need to isolate, from other parts of a building, electrical equipment which may generate a significant amount of heat and therefore present a greater fire risk.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an independent sealed fireproof unit for housing items such as electrical equipment and the like, as other valuable assets which has at least short term fire proofing and insulation to protect the contents from external fire and/or contain a fire within itself to prevent it spreading.

The invention therefore provides an independent unit for protecting items located therein comprising a fire proof housing provided with a securable door, said housing being provided with a self contained air conditioning device and fire suppression system for detecting and, annunciating flooding the housing with a gaseous agent in the event of fire.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fire proof unit according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a part cross sectional circle elevation of the unit of Figure 1 on the line Il-Il.

The unit 10 comprises a sealed housing 11 which is fire proofed and insulated. A suitable composite insulation panels forming the unit 10 comprises a bonded composite panel fixed into a channel section main frame via intumescent mastic. The panel preferably comprises external 1mm plastic coated sheets of mild steel between which is sandwiched a 25mm layer of calcium silicate board, such as superlux (TM) and a 50mm layer of calcium silicate board.

The shape and size of the housing 11 will be dependent on the nature of the items which it is protecting and the area in which it is to be located in normal use. The embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 show computer equipment in the form of two computer servers 12 with a monitor 13 which can be accessed via a fire resistant door 14. In some situations it is envisaged that the housing 11 is big enough to allow a person to enter the unit 10 to access or operate the equipment 12,13 or other items, or it may just allow access by hand through the door 14.

The glazing in the door 14 is optional, but provides a convenient method of inspection of the equipment 12,13 or other items whilst leaving the unit 10 sealed. Suitable glass for use in glazing the door 14 would be Pyrostop (TM) which can be formed into a multi pane screen using a system such as fine line system (TM) from Fenlock Hanson Limited.

The housing 11 may be provided optionally with a glazed or fire panel rear door and can be constructed in a modular format to allow expansion to the left or right.

Internally, the housing 11 can be provided with suitable shelving 15 or a framework to accept and support, and secure in position the equipment 12, 13 or the other items which it is to protect.

The unit 10 is provided with a sealed air handling (conditioning) unit 16 to control the temperature within the unit 10 and a gaseous fire suppression system 17, such as FM200, which will automatically detect and suppress a fire condition. Preferably the unit 10 also includes a lighting module 18.

The unit 10 preferably has an external control panel 19 which provides an access and climate control unit (which may be a single combined with 20 or two separate units) and a control unit 21 for the extinguishant release module and fire detection.

The access door 14 is controlled by an electromagnetic door lock to provide security for the enclosed equipment.

The unit 10 is preferably provided with braked castors 22 which would enable the unit 10 to be moved from one area to another, for example during a office re-organisation or move to a new building. Alternatively or additionally it may be provided with adjustable feet which raise the unit 10 of the ground to enable it to easily be lifted for relocation to another area.

The unit 10 has an insulated fire proof sleeve 23 which provides cable access to the unit 10 for powering electrical apparatus. The equipment 12, 13 or other contents may also be connected to a uninterruptible power supply (UPS) 24, which can be temporarily disconnected from the mains whilst the unit 10 is being moved.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An independent unit for preventing the spread of fire to or

from its contents comprising a sealed housing provided with a securable door, said housing being fire proof for a least a short time, insulated and provided with a self contained air conditioning device and a fire suppression system for detecting, annunciating and flooding the housing with a gaseous agent in the event of fire.
2. A unit as claimed in claim 1 in which the housing is provided with feet for raising the unit off the ground.
3. A unit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the unit is provided with castors.
4. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the housing is provided with internal lighting.
5. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the housing is provided with means for supporting and securing equipment to be protected.
6. A unit is claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the housing is provided with a door.
7. A unit as claimed 6 in which the door is glazed.
8. A unit which is provided with an insulated fire proof sleeve to enable at least one cable to enter the housing for connection with an electrical supply.
9. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which one or more control panels are provided externally for the control of air conditioning and/or fire suppression system.
10. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the door is provided with an electromagnetic door lock for access control.
11. A unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the housing is provided with means for connecting to a further one or more similar housing.

12. A unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS: 1. An independent mobile unit for preventing the spread of fire to or from its contents comprising a sealed housing provided with a securable door, said housing being fire proof for a period of time, insulated and provided with a self contained air conditioning device and a fire suppression system for detecting and annunciating a fire and flooding the housing with a gaseous agent in the event of fire.

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1 in which the housing is provided with feet for raising the unit off the ground.

3. A unit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the unit is provided with castors.

4. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the housing is provided with internal lighting.

5. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the housing is provided with means for supporting and securing equipment to be protected.

6. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the door is glazed.

7. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is provided with an insulated fire proof sleeve to enable at least one cable to enter the housing for connection with an electrical supply.

8. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which one or more control panels are provided externally for the control of air conditioning and/or fire suppression system.

S

9. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the door is provided with an electromagnetic door lock for access control.

10. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the housing is provided with means for connecting to a further one or more similar housing.