Lee Kaiser and Kevin McGrath of DLB Associates talk Data Centers and Liquid Cooled Fire Protection

Описание: Artificial Intelligence and other high performance computing needs are driving the need for faster and more powerful computer servers. Liquid cooled server technology is needed to grow beyond what air cooled servers can deliver. Liquid cooled computing installations are outpacing the guidance NFPA 75, Standard for Electronic Computing Systems includes. Further, questions exist about the physical properties of coolants used and the effect of extremely dense power delivery to these electronics. In a race to catch up with data center installations this presentation seeks to review the current status of liquid cooled servers, the re protection implications of this technology, identify the gaps in codes, and where more knowledge is needed.

Kevin McGrath, PE – DLB Associates
Fire Protection Engineer

Kevin McGrath is a Fire Protection Specialist at DLB Associates with over a decade of experience in fire protection engineering. He specializes in fire protection systems for data centers and energy storage systems (ESS), ensuring compliance with NFPA, FM Global, and UL standards. His expertise includes fire sprinkler, standpipe, and alarm system design, with a strong focus on protecting mission-critical facilities. He earned his degree in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of New Haven and is a licensed Fire Protection Engineer in New York and Maine. As a member of the New England Chapter of SFPE, he is committed to advancing fire safety for high-tech infrastructure. Beyond his engineering career, he has extensive hands-on experience in emergency response. He served as a volunteer firefighter throughout college and later worked as an EMT in Lowell, MA. He continues to volunteer as a firefighter in Eliot, Maine. His combined background in engineering and emergency response provides a unique perspective on fire safety challenges, bridging technical design with real-world application.

Lee Kaiser, PE – ORR Protection

Lee Kaiser, PE is Vice President of Engineering and Training for ORR Protection in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a frequent speaker on the topic of mission critical fire protection, is the Chair of NFPA 75 Technical Committee on Electronic Computer Systems and a principal member of NFPA 200, 418 and NFPA 915. He is chair of the Fire Suppression Systems Association Technical Committee and on the FSSA Board of Directors.