NonStop S-Series Planning and Configuration Guide (G06.26+)
Site Planning and Preparation
HP NonStop S-Series Planning and Configuration Guide—523303-017
12-11
Fire and Safety Precautions
Fire and Safety Precautions
Proper precautions for fire prevention and safety in a computer room include:
•
Use noncombustible materials and supplies
•
Install smoke detectors and fire-extinguishing equipment
•
Install emergency power-off (EPO) equipment
•
Follow proper power and grounding guidelines
•
Develop proper emergency procedures 
Emergency Power-Off (EPO) Equipment
An emergency power-off (EPO) disconnect is required in the United States of America 
when the system is installed in a computer or data processing room designed to 
comply with the special construction and fire protection provisions of NFPA-75, 
Standard for the Protection of Electronic Computer/Data Processing Equipment, and 
article 645 of NFPA-70, National Electric Code. An EPO disconnect is generally not 
required for installations outside of the United States of America, unless specified 
otherwise by local authorities.
In computer-room environments in the United States of America, EPO equipment must 
meet certain requirements, including:
•
The EPO equipment must disconnect AC power to all computer equipment in the 
room and to all cooling and ventilation systems for the room. 
•
For equipment containing batteries capable of supplying more than 750 
voltamperes (VA) for more than 5 minutes, the internal equipment batteries must 
also be disconnected within 5 minutes of EPO activation. 
If you must comply with EPO requirements, the provider of your EPO alarm system 
must install an EPO switch near the primary exits and any other designated location. 
The fixed EPO wiring must be installed in conduit, metal raceway, or other means 
approved by local authorities, and it must have a junction box close enough to the 
computer equipment so that the equipment EPO cable can be connected. A 13-foot (4-
meter) cable is provided with each system enclosure. (The part number is listed in 
Cables and Cable Assemblies on page A-26.) The cable has a connector for 
attachment to the enclosure at one end and is unterminated at the other end. The 
installer must install the unterminated end to the EPO switch or junction box. 
Each system enclosure contains batteries supplying more than 750 VA for more than 5 
minutes. An EPO connector is located on each system enclosure, and a cable leads 
from each EPO connector to the EPO switch or EPO relay contactor. When the EPO 
switch is closed, it signals the system to start the emergency shutdown procedure, 
which disconnects the batteries in less than five minutes.
You can use an EPO switch with one pair of contacts for all enclosures or one with a 
separate pair of contacts for each enclosure. The EPO switch with one pair of contacts 
is the easiest and most economical solution.










