tele21
FIRE PROTECTION IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Keep Your Information Safe and Secure

CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS BUILT TO CODE

The mission of a telecommunications space is to house and support information technology equipment, computers, servers, hard drives, and network equipment. These spaces are specialized, expensive, and important to the ongoing mission of the business or organization. Sometimes the data being processed in these spaces is irreplaceable. A fire in a telco facility can be excessively costly, interrupting delivery of service, and costing millions of dollars. Fire protection strategies in telecommunications should all be centered around limiting the risk and eliminating downtime due to a fire.

Like data centers, telecom facilities rely on sensitive computing equipment, they are often tightly packed, cooling is a concern, cables and network equipment are always live with electricity, and a fire would be catastrophic. Risk is accentuated when buildings are unmanned. Many are located in remote areas. In some cases, the buildings sole purpose is to house telco network equipment and fire suppression equipment is not required by the AHJ.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESOURCES

Code Requirement Reference Guide

Use this quick reference guide to help you create a gameplan for protecting your data center.

Download Now!

Monitoring Brochure

Learn how ORR can keep watch over your Data Center systems while you remain in control with our mobile app.

Download the PDF

The data center experience

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS:

ORR's superior solutions utilizing a combination of technologies specific to your telecommunications needs and requirements. We offer a range of solutions for alarm, detection, suppression and services.  

3M NOVEC 1230 Clean Agent - 3M NOVEC 1230 is a fire protection fluid used in clean agent fire extinguishing systems. It is stored as a liquid, but during activation comes out into the telecommunications center as a gas. It is safe for use in occupied spaces, safe for electronics, extinguishes fires when they are small, leaves no residue on surfaces, and is environmentally sustainable.

How it works: The system is designed to detect smoke early and initiate a rapid response. Once triggered, it releases a fire-suppressing agent stored in pressurized containers, distributing it through a network of steel piping and nozzles. The agent floods the protected area as a gas, reaching and extinguishing fires wherever they occur. Its flexible installation makes it ideal for complex environments, including intricate telecommunications centers.

Vesda - Air sampling smoke detection is uniquely designed to detect particles of combustion at four field programmable levels, beginning with the earliest, incipient stage; where smoke is invisible to the human eye.

How it works: A fan continuously draws air from the protected area into the detection chamber. Inside, particles in the air pass through a laser beam, where a photodetector measures the light scattered by each particle. The system counts these individual particles to assess smoke concentration levels. A built-in particle size discriminator filters out larger particles—such as dust—to prevent them from skewing the results. Unlike conventional high-sensitivity smoke detectors, this system relies on precise particle concentration. By analyzing both the size and number of particles, it can distinguish actual combustion particles from dust and other airborne contaminants that often cause nuisance alarms in traditional spot detectors.

Fire Alarm System Upgrades - Telecom buildings that have been in place for more than 15 years may have a problem. Many fire alarm systems are near the end of their useful life after 15 years if they haven't been upgraded. Advances in panel technology means that many manufacturers have ended ongoing support for their older models. Without an upgrade to a newer fire alarm panel a facility can be without protection if the panel fails because no parts are available to fix it.

How it works: Begin by identifying the make and model of your facility’s fire alarm panel, then research whether the manufacturer still supports the product. If it is outdated or no longer supported, develop a replacement plan that includes budgeting for the cost of new equipment. As part of the upgrade, consider replacing fire detectors and notification appliances if required by code or necessitated by changes to the panel. Additionally, upgrade your off-site communicator to a modern technology such as radio, cellular, or IP communication to ensure reliable system monitoring and compliance with current standards.

CONNECT WITH OUR BROADBAND TEAM

Jim O'Connell

National Business Development Manager

Jim O’Connell serves as the National Business Development Manager for ORR Protection, where he leads strategic initiatives in the telecommunications sector. With a career spanning several decades in specialized fire suppression, Jim brings a wealth of industry knowledge and hands-on expertise to his role.

His deep understanding of fire protection technologies and regulatory requirements positions him as a trusted advisor for clients operating in high-stakes environments. Whether it’s safeguarding data centers, central offices, switching stations, or other Mission Critical facilities, Jim delivers tailored fire protection solutions designed to ensure operational continuity, compliance, and safety.

 

Lee Kaiser

Vice President, Engineering and Training

Lee  is VP of Engineering and Technical Training for ORR Protection and is Chairperson of the technical committee for NFPA 75, Standard for the Protection of Information Technology Equipment. His career at ORR has been to provide technical and thought leadership in the protection of mission critical facilities.

Lee is a professional engineer in the discipline of fire protection engineering. He participates in industry committees for ORR and gives technical education sessions at conferences and seminars throughout the county. Connect with me on LinkedIn.

HOW CAN WE HELP?