11 April 2025
Secure I.T. Environments Ltd (SITE) has successfully completed a crucial fire suppression upgrade for the Isle of Wight (IoW) Council’s primary data centre and communications room located at County Hall in Newport. As part of the project, SITE has also secured a four-year maintenance contract for the newly installed suppression system.
The upgrade project for the council’s 221m³ data centre involved a comprehensive design phase, followed by the decommissioning of the existing fire suppression system and the installation of the new system. Completed within a two-week period in a live data centre environment, the upgrade fully replaced the gas suppression system, including control panels, cylinders, piping, smoke detection, audible alarms, a VESDA (Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus) early warning system, and remote monitoring capabilities.
In alignment with the IoW Council’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint, SITE implemented the FK-5-1-12 clean agent solution for the fire suppression upgrade. This environmentally friendly solution is stored as a liquid under pressure, vaporizing upon release to extinguish fires without leaving any residue. Notably, it has a zero ozone depletion potential and a global warming potential of less than one, making it a sustainable choice for data centre operations.
“SITE secured this opportunity following a competitive tender process, demonstrating the best value for the Council. They conveyed the confidence to deliver the most appropriate design and installation in our live data centre environment, and they did not disappoint, completing the project on schedule,” said David Watts, Principal Officer for Corporate Property Maintenance and Project Lead at IoW Council.
“Fire suppression systems are often overlooked as a critical upgrade area. When they need to perform, it’s essential that they act swiftly to extinguish fires and alert staff. Regular maintenance, testing, and planning for the end of system life are crucial for all aspects of data centre operations,” said Chris Wellfair, Projects Director at Secure I.T. Environments.
