Battery Rooms Draw New Fire-Safety Scrutiny at Data Centers

Data-center battery rooms are facing closer fire-safety attention after a South Korean incident prompted inspections of 178 facilities, while a separate Oregon fire highlighted the risks around uninterruptible power supply equipment. Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and battery-energy-storage systems help maintain electricity during grid disruptions. Lithium-ion batteries offer high energy density in compact spaces, but damaged, overcharged or internally shorted cells can enter thermal runaway. Thermal runaway can generate extreme heat, release gases and ignite nearby cells. Temperatures can exceed 1,000 F (538 C) during the process, although that figure is not tied to a specific incident.

Source: TokenPost