Fire Protection Considerations for the Liquid-Cooled Data Center
As liquid cooling technology becomes a go-to solution for handling increasing thermal loads in modern data centers, it brings new fire protection and safety challenges. How should industry codes evolve to meet this change? What do Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) and insurers need to know? And most importantly, does liquid cooling introduce new risks?
These questions will be tackled in a dynamic panel discussion at NFPA 2025, moderated by Lee Kaiser of ORR Protection.
🗓 Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
🕑 Time: 2–3 PM
📍 Location: South Pacific GH (North Convention Center, Level 0, Mandalay Bay)
🎤 Moderator: Lee Kaiser, VP of Engineering and Technical Training, ORR Protection
What’s the Discussion About?
This panel—“Fire Protection Considerations for the Liquid Cooled Data Center”—will address the critical intersection of innovation and safety, particularly as it relates to evolving codes like NFPA 75.
With a focus on the real-world concerns of:
- AHJs (Authorities Having Jurisdiction)
- Insurance providers
- Engineering consultants
The session will explore technical considerations and misconceptions around refrigerants, glycol mixtures, lithium-ion battery integration, concentrated power delivery, and leakage potential.
The takeaway? Liquid cooling doesn’t make data centers more dangerous, but it requires updated fire protection and emergency response strategies.
Meet the Experts
Moderator: Lee Kaiser, P.E. – ORR Protection
Lee is the Vice President of Engineering and Technical Training at ORR Protection and the Chairperson of the NFPA 75 technical committee. A professional fire protection engineer, Lee has dedicated his career to the technical advancement and safety of mission-critical facilities. He is a recognized educator in the field and frequently presents at national conferences and technical seminars.
Panelists:
Charlie Macaulay, P.E. – Microsoft
Currently Risk Manager for Insurability and Loss Control in Microsoft’s Cloud Operations and Innovation group, Charlie brings nearly four decades of experience in property loss control and fire protection. Previously Chief Engineer at Global Risk Consultants, Charlie has a sharp focus on data center property protection from operational and insurability standpoints.
Eric Cutler, P.E. – Meta
Eric is a fire protection engineer who specializes in hyperscale data center infrastructure. As a Mechanical Subject Matter Expert at Meta’s Sarpy Data Center, he brings field experience in complex systems design, construction, commissioning, and operation.
Alex Schieber, P.E. – Amazon Web Services
Alex is the Fire Protection Manager at AWS. He has a background in mechanical engineering and business administration. His dual experience in engineering and strategic management allows him to bring a holistic view to fire safety planning in global-scale infrastructure projects.
Kevin McGrath, P.E. – DLB Associates
Kevin McGrath is a licensed Fire Protection Engineer at DLB Associates. He specializes in designing and implementing fire protection and plumbing systems for mission-critical facilities. His expertise encompasses code compliance, system integration, and risk mitigation strategies tailored to complex infrastructure projects. At DLB Associates, Kevin contributes to developing innovative solutions that ensure safety and operational continuity in data centers and other high-stakes environments.
Why This Matters
Liquid cooling is not just a trend—it’s the future of efficient data center design. But it also introduces complexities that demand fresh perspectives and regulatory clarity. This panel brings together the thought leaders who are actively shaping those standards and solving these challenges in real time.
Whether you're a data center operator, consultant, AHJ, or facilities professional, this session will equip you with insights, tools, and connections to stay ahead of the curve.
👉 Attending NFPA 2025?
Don’t miss this expert panel. Bring your questions, challenge the assumptions, and leave with practical takeaways for safer, more innovative, and more compliant liquid-cooled data centers.
If you will be at NFPA, we invite you to attend our panel discussion and meet with our experts for follow-up conversations.
