N10-009 Question 186
Single answerEnvironmental factors: Humidity, Fire suppression, TemperatureA company has experienced two environmental incidents in its small server room over the last year. During the winter, static discharge damaged a switch after the room air became very dry. More recently, a portable water-based fire extinguisher was used on energized rack equipment, causing additional damage. The IT manager is upgrading the room to better protect network equipment while keeping costs reasonable. Which solution best addresses both issues?
- A
Lower the room temperature as much as possible and keep a standard water sprinkler system as the primary fire suppression method
- B
Increase humidity to a recommended operating range and install a clean-agent fire suppression system designed for electronic equipment
- C
Seal the room to trap moisture and replace all extinguishers with foam-based units for better coverage
- D
Add more rack-mounted fans and place additional Class A water extinguishers near the network racks
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The best answer is to control humidity and use fire suppression appropriate for electronic equipment. In network and server rooms, environmental controls must address temperature, humidity, and fire safety together. Air that is too dry increases the chance of electrostatic discharge, which can damage switches, routers, and other components. At the same time, suppression methods that rely on water can damage energized equipment and are not the preferred protection for IT spaces. Industry best practices for data centers and network rooms commonly recommend maintaining temperature and humidity within manufacturer-supported ranges and using clean-agent fire suppression systems for areas with sensitive electronics. Guidance from organizations such as ASHRAE for data processing environments and common manufacturer documentation for network/server hardware support managing both temperature and humidity to reduce ESD, condensation, and overheating risks.
- A. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Lowering temperature alone does not solve low-humidity static buildup, and making the room excessively cold can create condensation risks if conditions fluctuate. In addition, standard water-based sprinklers or water extinguishers are not appropriate as the preferred suppression method for energized electronic equipment because they can damage network hardware and present electrical hazards.
- B. Correct.
This is correct. Maintaining humidity within an appropriate operating range helps reduce electrostatic discharge (ESD) risk caused by overly dry air. A clean-agent fire suppression system, such as FM-200 or similar systems used for electronic environments, suppresses fire without leaving conductive residue and is commonly recommended for rooms housing network and server equipment. This directly addresses both the static issue and the damage caused by using water on energized equipment.
- C. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Sealing the room to trap moisture is not a best practice because it can lead to poor ventilation and potentially excessive humidity, which increases the risk of corrosion and condensation. Foam-based extinguishers are generally intended for certain flammable liquid fires and are not the preferred choice for protecting sensitive energized IT equipment.
- D. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Additional fans may improve airflow and temperature distribution, but they do not address low humidity and may actually worsen dry-air conditions in some environments. Class A water extinguishers are intended for ordinary combustibles such as paper and wood, not energized electronic equipment, so placing them near racks would repeat the same mistake that caused recent damage.