Special Hazards and Mitigation
A control room can, at times, be designated as an area of refuge, particularly in high risk facilities, such as a nuclear power station or a petrochemical facility, as an accidental fire can have severe repercussions to the surrounding environment. As is typical for all areas of refuge, occupants must be provided with guaranteed life support and guarantee of functionality of the items they are intended to control for the anticipated design-basis fire event.
It is not unusual to provide control rooms with gaseous fire suppression systems to safeguard its contents and occupants.
The primary equipment in control rooms is housed in multi-function cabinets. Since the control equipment is intended to control other items in the surrounding facility, it follows that these (often fire-resistance rated) service rooms require many penetrations. Due to routine equipment updates, penetrants, such as cables are subject to frequent changes. It follows that an operating control room maintenance program must include vigilant firestop maintenance for code compliance and for gaseous fire suppression systems to work as well. Gaseous suppressants must occupy the space that is to be protected for a minimum period of time to be sure a fire can be 100% extinguished. Openings in such spaces must, therefore, be kept to a minimum to prevent the escape of the suppression gas.
Due to the nature of the sensitive equipment inside control room cabinets, it is useful to ensure the use of "T-rated" firestops, that are massive and thick enough to absorb penetrant heat in an effort to reduce heat transmission to the inside of the control room. It is also not uncommon to place control rooms under positive air pressure to prevent smoke from entering.
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