Apparatus and method of fireproofing an open-framed housing

Abstract

An apparatus and method of fireproofing an open-framed housing. The fireproofing apparatus comprises sets of thermoplastic tubes 14 filled with a fluid extinguishant fluid that extend between vertical and horizontal structs 2,4,6,8,10 of the housing.

Description

This invention relates to an apparatus and method of fireproofing an open-framed housing such as, for example, a server rack or cabinet. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Computer servers are traditionally located on shelves in open framed housings or cabinets to allow ventilation across the electronic components. Access to server rooms is restricted and complex fire suppression, ventilation and cooling systems need to be installed to prevent electrical components overheating and causing a fire. The present invention seeks to provide a simple and effective method of fire-proofing an open framed housing or cabinet to immediately extinguish a fire and prevent it spreading. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an open-framed housing comprising horizontally orientated base struts connected to form a base frame, horizontally orientated top struts connected to form a ceiling frame, generally vertical extending side struts extending between said base and top struts; a first set of generally horizontal orientated parallelspaced thermoplastic tubes filled with a fluid extinguishant, extending between the top struts; and a second set of generally vertical orientated parallel-spaced thermoplastic tubes filled with a fluid extinguishant, extending from the base structs between side struts. Preferably, the housing further comprises shelving struts extending generally horizontally between the side struts on opposing sides of the housing; and a third set of generally horizontally orientated parallel-spaced thermoplastic tubes filled with fluid extinguishant, extending between the shelving struts . Preferably, the fluid extinguishant is a liquid. Alternatively, the fluid extinguishant is a gas. Preferably, the thermoplastic has a melting point of around 70°C. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of fire-proofing an open-framed housing, the housing comprising horizontally orientated base struts connected to form a base frame, horizontally orientated top struts connected to form a ceiling frame and generally vertical extending side struts extending between said base and top struts; the method comprising the steps of securing a first set of generally horizontal orientated parallel-spaced thermoplastic tubes filled with a fluid extinguishant, between the top struts; and securing a second set of generally vertical orientated parallelspaced thermoplastic tubes filled with a fluid extinguishant, upwardly from the base structs between side struts. Preferably, the housing further comprises shelving struts extending generally horizontally between the side struts on opposing side of the housing; and the method further comprising the step of securing a third set of generally horizontally orientated parallel-spaced thermoplastic tubes filled with fluid extinguishant between the shelving struts. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows an open framed housing or cabinet that has been fireproofed using the method claimed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The cabinet comprises an open framework. By "open-framed" it is meant that the cabinet does not have side or end walls. The cabinet has base struts 2 connected together to form a generally rectangular base frame 4. Side struts 6 upstand from each corner of the base 4. Top struts 8 connected together to provide a ceiling frame 10. The cabinet has a generally rectangular form but could take another shape. Shelving struts 12 are provided in the cabinet on which computer servers are placed. The cabinet may have multiple shelf layers. Typically, the base 4 has a length of approximately 998mm and a width of approximately 600mm. A cabinet having a simple open frame structure as described provides ventilation across the electrical equipment held in the cabinet. However, the lack of side and end walls prevents standard fireproofing techniques which would traditionally include incorporating fireproof panels or layers to fully enclose the cabinet contents and extinguish any fire therein. Consequently, fire safety for server cabinets and the like has, to date, focussed on complex ventilation and cooling systems. The present invention provides apparatus and a method of fireproofing an open framed cabinet of the type described above. The fire-proofing apparatus comprises a plurality of sealed thermoplastic tubes 14 filled with a fluid extinguishant fluid. In the event of a fire occuring within the cabinet, the tubes will initially soften at their hottest point and then burst at around 70 degrees centigrade to release the extinguishant fluid to extinguish the fire in that area. The fluid extinguishant may be a liquid extinguishant marketed by the applicant under the brand ENVIROBURST™, it may alternatively be a gaseous extinguishant, for example, one marketed as FE-25(RTM of Dupont Fluroproducts). The tubes 14 are provided in varying diameters and are strategically placed between the struts of the cabinet. A first set of horizontally orientated parallel-spaced tubes 14A, typically of 8mm diameter and 500mm length, extend laterally across the top struts 8 to prevent the spread of fire upwardly out of the top of the cabinet. For a cabinet of the size described, three tubes 14A would be required to adequately cover the area and prevent the spread of fire . A second set of horizontally orientated parallel-spaced tubes 14B extend across the shelving struts 12 to prevent fire at the lower part of the cabinet from spreading upwardly to the electronic equipment above, and / or to prevent fire at the higher part of the cabinet from spreading downwardly to the electronic equipment below. In other words, these tubes 14B, also typically 8mm diameter and 500mm length, prevent vertical spread of fire within the cabinet. For a cabinet of the size described, three tubes 14B would be required to adequately cover the area and prevent the spread of fire . A third set of vertically orientated parallel spaced tubes 14C extend on opposing sides of the cabinet, between the base struts 2 and the shelving struts 12. These tubes 14C, typically 12mm diameter and 800mm length, prevent the spread of fire from the front or back of the cabinet thereby stopping the spread of fire to other cabinets or equipment within the server room. For the size of cabinet described, there are typically two tubes 14C on each side of the cabinet. One tube 14C is around 160mm its neighbouring side strut 6 and the first and second tubes 14C are approximately 460mm apart. Tubes are not necessarily required at the sides of the upper part of the cabinet as the any fire in the upper area would be extinguished by the tubes 14A and 14B directing extinguishant onto the fire from above and below. It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of fire-proofed enclosures in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims .

Claims

1. An open-framed housing comprising:horizontally orientated base struts connected to form a base frame,horizontally orientated top struts connected to form a ceiling frame,generally vertical extending side struts extending between said base struts and said top struts;a first set of generally horizontal orientated parallel-spaced thermoplastic tubes filled with a fluid extinguishant, extending between the top struts; anda second set of generally vertical orientated parallel-spaced thermoplastic tubes filled with a fluid extinguishant, extending from the base structs between side struts .

2. An open-framed housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises:shelving struts extending generally horizontally between the side struts on opposing sides of the housing; and a third set of generally horizontally orientated parallel-spaced thermoplastic tubes filled with fluid extinguishant, extending between the shelving struts.

3. An open-framed housing according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fluid extinguishant is a liquid.

4. An open-framed housing according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fluid extinguishant is a gas.

5. An open-framed housing according to any preceding claim, wherein the thermoplastic has a melting point of around 70°C.6.A method of fire-proofing an open-framed housing, the housing comprising horizontally orientated base struts connected to form a base frame, horizontally orientated top struts connected to form a ceiling frame and generally vertical extending side struts extending between said base and top struts; the method comprising the steps of:securing a first set of generally horizontal orientated parallel-spaced thermoplastic tubes filled with a fluid extinguishant, between the top struts; andsecuring a second set of generally vertical orientated parallel-spaced thermoplastic tubes filled with a fluid extinguishant, upwardly from the base structs between side struts .7 . A method according to claim 6, wherein the housing further comprises shelving struts extending generally horizontally between the side struts on opposing side of the housing; and the method further comprising the step of securing a third set of generally horizontally orientated parallelspaced thermoplastic tubes filled with fluid extinguishant between the shelving struts.

Images