Minkels introduced its Drop Away Panels in 2016 to increase fire safety in data centres. Bas Jacobs, Product Manager Minkels: “Drop Away Panels are specifically designed roof panels for aisle containment. In case of fire in the data centre, the Drop Away Panels automatically soften and drop down so that they won’t be an obstacle before the sprinklers are activated.”
The Drop Away Panels have been available worldwide for some time. The greatest demand for the Drop Away Panels currently comes from the United States and the United Kingdom where insurance contracts for data centre buildings demand that sprinkler and water mist systems are used. It is expected that the regulations for data centre buildings will soon be tightened up in countries such as Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Jacobs: “Standardisation in the field of data centre security is already being tightened considerably (e.g. the renewed European data centre standard, EN 50600).Therefore, we expect a boost in the demand for Drop Away Panels.”
Minkels is fully prepared for this demand since FM Approvals has certified the panels as ‘FM Approved’. Jacobs: “This means that the panels meet 'FM Global' insurance requirements. FM Approvals – the testing arm of international insurance carrier FM Global – rigorously tests products at the FM Global Research Campus, home to state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories. Products with the ‘FM Approved’ markmeet the highest standards for safety and property loss prevention. Minkels is the only data centre supplier in Europe that has received FM Approval in class 4651 (Suspended Plastic Ceilings). Minkels is enormously pleased with the certification. It is a confirmation of our commitment to quality and safety in the data centre.”
