Data/IT Closet Ceiling

[dooleybob41]

I'm attempting to determine if a Data/IT Closet in a Hospital is required to have a ceiling. The walls of the closet I'm concerned about do not go up to the structure above as is the case in most data/it closets I've seen. If a ceiling is required, I'd appreciate knowing in which code the requirement is to be found.

 

[JBI]

Not nearly enough information is being provided to properly answer the question.
Year edition of the Code?
State or local modifications to the published Code?
Is the space 'accessory' as that term is defined/used in the Code?
Is it a mixed use?
Separated or non-separated?
What do the plans indicate?
What specifically are you concerned about?

 

[cda]

YES

More than likely the hospital has a fire sprinkler system


NFPA 13

 

[Builder Bob]

Also may be more of a Health and Environmental issue for the hospital - and as for NFPA 13, it depends upon the design and installation of the type of sprinkler head.

 

[cda]

Yes

If the walls do not go to the deck,

Heat and smoke can travel in that void area. There maybe a sprinkler at the deck,,,

But it may not activate

Add the ceiling and require the sprinkler below the ceiling

 

[north star]

@ ~ @

Yes, the Data \ I.T. Closet needs a ceiling......Keeping those
Servers cooled is a big deal, and a ceiling helps to keep the
space cooled.

@ ~ @

 

[Francis Vineyard]

I don't know if a specific section that would require finished wall to the underside of the deck, but best practice (in addition to the engineered HVAC with insulation) would be to provide a finished surface with sealed joints to prevent accumulation of the dust.

Typically these rooms would have a dry chemical extinguishing system.

 

[JBI]

NFPA 13 sprinkler heads in a data/IT room?
Not sure the IT folks are going to want that...Probably dry chem as Francis noted, or possibly a CO2 system.

 

[Francis Vineyard]

CO2, not dry chem.

Thanks J!

 

[cda]

Data/IT """"""""""" Closet """"""""""

Ok if the post reads correctly and depending on how you read the sentence

It is the closet he is asking about, and hopefully not where they store the Main frames, as some politicians do.

 

[Paul Sweet]

I'm not familiar with hospitals, but in college buildings we are recommending running the surrounding walls up to the deck, firestopping them at the deck, and not installing a ceiling. Use sidewall sprinkler heads so there are no pipes over the equipment.

I have been in very few IT closets where all the panels in a drop ceiling are in place and intact.

 

[cda]

I'm not familiar with hospitals, but in college buildings we are recommending running the surrounding walls up to the deck, firestopping them at the deck, and not installing a ceiling. Use sidewall sprinkler heads so there are no pipes over the equipment.

I have been in very few IT closets where all the panels in a drop ceiling are in place and intact.

A few IT people give them all a bad name

 

[steveray]

If you don't put a 13 head in it, you likely don't have a 13 building.....

 

[Francis Vineyard]

I recall having inspected a server closet (couple of weeks ago) and the ceiling was the underside of the floor, but the wall sheathing was continuous and a dedicated HVAC unit overhead.

On the second topic (not what the OP asked) CO2 systems are approved as an alternative.

[F] 904.2 Where required. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems installed as an alternative to the required automatic sprinkler systems of Section 903 shall be approved by the fire code official.

Automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall not be considered alternatives for the purposes of exceptions or reductions allowed by other requirements of this code.

 

[Sleepy]

I'm not aware of any code requirement to have a ceiling in Data/IT closets but we do have some clients that insist on ceilings any way. The issues for Data/IT closets typically are to provide a path for the large number of cables entering the closet, usually a higher level of security than other spaces, fire protection, cooling, and infection control (if in a hospital). All of those might impact the choice to have a ceiling.

Alternative (non-water) fire protection for data rooms is somewhat controversial. Some folks feel that those systems can damage electronic equipment more than water does. I've never seen an alternative system used in a data/IT closet, although we have used them in full-on data center rooms. The data folks usually request exotic systems but a good fire protection engineer can provide advice leading to an informed decision.

 

[cda]

The ceiling is more of a NFPA 13 issue