NonStop S-Series Planning and Configuration Guide (G06.29+)

Site Planning and Preparation
HP NonStop S-Series Planning and Configuration Guide—523303-021
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. (Refer to Appendix A, Part
Numbers.) 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.