A fire in the server room
A cable overheats. Smoke rises. The servers will be lost in minutes.
It is too late to prevent the fire. A corrective control limits the damage and helps make sure it does not happen again. This lesson is about the tools and the plan.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Corrective control | A control that limits damage after an incident and stops it happening again. | |
| Reactive | Acts after something has happened. | |
| Fire suppression | Equipment that puts a fire out. | sprinklers, extinguishers |
| Sprinkler | A ceiling nozzle that sprays water when it is hot. | |
| Extinguisher | A hand-held can that puts out a small fire. | |
| Gas suppression | A system that fills a room with a gas that stops a fire. | |
| Standard operating procedure | Written steps for a task, the same way each time. | SOP |
| Server | A computer that gives data or services to other computers. |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can name the corrective controls for fire and explain why a written procedure is one of them.
Starter: what you already know
Have a go
Starter: what you already know
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Cycle 1: put the fire out
Sprinklers spray water. They work well in an office. In a server room, water damages the equipment, so most server rooms use something else.
Extinguishers are for small fires. Use the right type. Carbon dioxide is safe on electrical fires. Never use water on electrical equipment.
Gas suppression floods the room with gas. An inert gas system lowers the oxygen. A chemical gas system stops the fire burning. Neither leaves water on the servers.
Fire tools compared
| Tool | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinkler | Offices and corridors | Water damages servers |
| Extinguisher | A small fire, if it is safe to try | Use the right type for the fire |
| Inert gas system | Server rooms | People must leave when the alarm sounds |
| Chemical gas system | Server rooms and cabinets | Needs a sealed room and regular checks |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check: fire tools
Have a go
Check: fire tools
4 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.