Is there a requirement for power in a data center to be automatically secured if the sprinkler system discharges? Or just that there be an EPO button by the exits?

Well ... what is the relevant code?

You won't find such a requirement in the NEC. By way of illustration, for kitchen range hoods, the requirement is spelled out in NFPA standards 17A and 96.

From a technical viewpoint, the trigger mechanisms for nearly all but the smallest systems have microswitches at the trip mechanism. It's probably just as easy to ti in here, than to have a separate push button.

I couldn't think of anything like that in NEC, and I couldn't find anything in IFC either. I figured that if there was a requirement, someone here would certainly know it off the top of their head and save me hours of searching! It's unfortunately far easier to find an applicable requirement than to verify that there is no requirement.

ICC and NEC apply here.

Steve, I'd at least scroll through the NFPA catalog, just to see if they have a standard specific to such rooms. While such a standard might not be 'code,' it's a good place to start.

To my knowledge there is no requirement for EPO.
Local Authorities will and do require a button EPO at a minimum,Around here (Massachusetts).

Pre-Action sprinkler: most common in Data rms is in NFPA13,also NFPA 76 (Telecom).Can find no code for Data centers,specific.

NFPA-13 8.5.10 requires sprinklers in electrical equipment rooms (but all the equipment can be NEMA3, which makes this seem rather pointless), and 21.15.2.1 requires IT areas be valved separately from other areas. I found no other requirements in NFPA 13.

NFPA 76 6.5 requires a means to disconnect power be identified, but not that it be automatic. 6.6.1 requires ventilation be automatically dampered when smoke is detected. (Not upon sprinkler activation.) 10.6 requires that depowering occur only after the investigation determines that depowering will mitigate the event.

Well, THAT surprised me! I didn't find a requirement that says I have to put a shunt trip on a data center, but I *did* find a piece of code that specifically prohibits it!

NFPA 110 & 111 are silent on this matter.

Eh, curse my luck, it's a UFC Requirement specific to DoD ADP areas, communication centers, command and control systems, and other mission critical systems.

http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/DOD/UFC/ufc_3_600_01.pdf

The computer room disconnect is in 645.10
It has to close the HVAC dampers but it doesn't need to be activated by the fire suppression system.
The controls need to be grouped at "the principle exit doors". Usually you have a halon trip, a halon abort and an EPO all under plastic bubbles. The sequence for the halon is a klaxon goes off and x number of seconds later the halon dumps. You have those seconds to decide if this is really a fire or if you want to save the $100,000 worth of halon (the 1996 price, it is probably $300k now) for another day.
I have been in a halon dump, no fun. (think tornado) I also cleaned up after another one.
They might use dry pipe sprinklers in computer rooms now but I never saw it much in the 20th century. Wet pipe is definitely not recommended. (leaks) AEC/DOE used to have a CO2 system in their Germantown Md computer room. There was some talk that OSHA made then pull it out.

I am surprised that DoD wants shunt trips on "mission critical systems". When I was in the military, mission critical systems had "battle override" that shunted out overcurrent devices. The thought was we will keep fighting until this thing burns up.

Yeah, there's always contention over EPO buttons, too! Surprise-surprise that operators don't like a giant red "push here to kill the mission" button right out in the open where anyone can push it. There's enough weasel words in 645.4 that they frequently get their way, too. Some might consider the lack of fire-rated walls a violation... others, the excuse they need to ignore other codes they don't like.

DoD instructions, MIL-HDBKs and the like are like NFPA, though, in that they're living documents that can be changed; easier, really, because there's no set time limit, they can be revised at any time, and there's usually only one person that needs convincing and an email from them is just as good as an official revision. It's just a matter of finding the person (or office) who's responsible for it and giving them a call.

The "anyone can push it" concern is why these things are usually under a bubble cover.
In a big data center an unscheduled power off can cost $100,000 in data damage, lost productivity and lost revenue.
It might take over an hour to get things going again and longer than that to recover any lost data. Of course some may be lost forever.

I know somebody that pushed an uncovered EPO thinking that it was the release button for a maglock door in a data center.

All the door exit buttons are red (as was the EPO switch).

The EPO had a tag above it indicating EPO SWITCH.

The person was our new CEO on a tour of the building and she got to the exit door ahead of the VP giving the tour and was going to unlock the door for him as they left the area and pushed the wrong red button.

The Premises Department had a work order generated within the hour to change all the EPO's to a covered switch.

Apples to Apples. No Automatic shunt required for water based systems in Data centers..

Yes DOD and such fall under different specs,unique to the application. Dictated by such specs.

As far as 'wet' sprinklers in electric rms etc. all over the place here,no shunts. Continuous bone of contention between the authorities (bldg,elec,Fire,Elev....etc.).

Yes, I have pushed the wrong button during a test. Not paying attention, Pushed the EPO instead of the abort! (Raytheon). They we're not happy.

We just need to specify NEMA 3R equipment racks and put a lock on the cover of the EPO switch and everyone's happy, right?

...sure, the spirit of the law is torn and shredded, and all that money on sprinklers and EPO buttons is wasted on systems just rendered completely ineffective and that will not save the building in a fire or a person if he/she is being shocked, but it's the letter of the law that counts in court, right?

As a side note, I'm frequently surprised that we will put big gaudily marked covers on EPOs to prevent inadvertant trip, yet leave all those breaker handles sticking out from the face of the switchgear where anyone can bump them and pretty much do the same thing.

Switch gear should only be accessible to 'Authorized persons' Not the general public. Besides,It takes more than a bump to open those breakers.

3R equipment? No, That's why you go with the Pre-Action sprinklers, Double interlocked. (2 alarms needed- 1-heat detector and low air- before water flows) First alarm,Occupants evacuate as required by law,The fire dept arrives and the 'trained pros take over.
Heats in Data centers are usually 135Df (rate of rise),Sprinkler heads are at 165Df (fixed).

I recommend a Gas system as first defense,Then the sprinkler will not activate until after discharge of the gas (Plus it keeps me working)

Locks on EPO, Never saw that, kinda defeats the purpose.

Off topic a little bit. But when we are working with a clean agent system, both of us check to make sure the system is disarmed and when we are done, both of us make sure the system is armed. I have been known to make sure it is disarmed, my helper does and then I may check again.