GRASS-MERKUR GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1971 as a data center for a logistics network in Hanover. At that time, mainframes, punch cards, and dot matrix printers were still in use. Today, the security data center is certified according to ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, and TISAX for outstanding data security and availability, and meets the highest requirements for building and infrastructure security as well as economic efficiency and sustainability (ISO 14001, ISO 50001).
The company has extensive expertise in handling complex IT tasks and designs and operates IT services for a large number of customers. With its own data center, GRASS-MERKUR has set another milestone, as it is now home to the Cloud Exchange HAN-CIX. This is part of the German interconnection ecosystem of DE-CIX. The direct connection to the main node of DE-CIX in Frankfurt offers fast and secure data exchange and thus plays a significant role in the German interconnection ecosystem.
GRASS-MERKUR uses more than 2,500 m2 of IT space for customer racks and meets the highest security and availability requirements. This ensures that the servers and, therefore, the customers' data are protected in the best possible way. This applies to physical security and data protection as well as protection against cyberattacks. A state-of-the-art fire protection solution also protects the data center from mechanical risks.
RISK ANALYSIS
The high power load and number of electrical components pose a significant risk. Short circuits and overheating can lead to fires. The building infrastructure, with its extensive cabling and raised floors, requires the highest safety measures. The high air exchange rate of the recirculating air cooling system would facilitate the rapid spread of fire.
The operating and monitoring concepts implemented in the GRASS-MERKUR data center in accordance with ISO 27001 ensure that risks posed by fire loads (e.g., combustible materials) are avoided and incidents are detected immediately. The oxygen-reduced atmosphere prevents open fires from occurring.
PROTECTION GOALS
SOLUTION
To achieve the defined protection goals, GRASS-MERKUR relies on holistic fire protection with fire detection, fire prevention, and fire extinguishing. These measures make it possible to avoid the necessary shutdown of the power supply in the event of a fire, because even in the event of detection, the power supply to the IT systems is ensured – there is no shutdown.
The highly sensitive TITANUS® systems for very early fire detection are used in the data center. By continuously sampling the air, the smoke detector detects even the smallest smoke particles, enabling countermeasures to be taken quickly as soon as a fire breaks out, thus protecting the IT equipment from major damage. Fire pattern recognition protects against false alarms.
The OxyReduct® oxygen reduction system is used to prevent open fires. It prevents fires by specifically reducing the oxygen concentration below the ignition threshold of the materials. Depending on the area, the oxygen level is 14% or 17%. These values allow access to the protected area at any time, for example for maintenance work or to investigate and rectify the cause of a detection report.
If the aspirating smoke detector detects a fire starting, the FirExting® N2 gas extinguishing system is also activated. It releases nitrogen, a highly effective extinguishing gas, into the protected area, rapidly reducing the oxygen content and quickly eliminating the causes of smoke detection without leaving any residue. This ensures a continuous power supply even in the event of detection, allowing IT operations to continue.
To maintain the reduced oxygen content of, for example, 14%, the OxyReduct® system generates additional nitrogen from the ambient air and feeds it into the protected area. This maintains an extinguishing concentration until the possible causes of the fault can be definitively clarified.
More impressions from the data center of GRASS-MERKUR
CUSTOMER BENEFITS
Secure environment ensures stable processes without business interruptions 24/7
Early detection and OxyReduct® reliably protect systems from fire risks
Planning and installation of protection technology are coordinated and provided from a single source
Certified security strengthens trust and makes the data center site attractive
CUSTOMER VOICE
“Our data center is a secure home for sensitive data and demanding services. The Cloud Exchange HAN-CIX, with its direct connection to the DE-CIX internet node, expands the range of services we offer our customers and represents a milestone for our company. At the same time, it strengthens the digitalization of companies in the metropolitan region. For this operation, we need a data center environment that is available at all times. This is exactly where WAGNER's fire protection comes in. WAGNER's oxygen reduction system meets our high requirements and gives us the security to offer our services reliably.”
We offer customised fire protection solutions that are specially tailored to your requirements and applications.
