3 ms·

why?

notatoad 5y ago
the two most likely scenarios where "environmental conditions" prevent access to a DC are fire or cooling failure. aws says it's not a fire, so probably the temperature rose above their allowable safety threshold for access. that's not good for computers either
- derefr 5y ago
  It could have just been that someone pulled a fire alarm when there wasn't a fire, and then they had to wait for the Halon to disperse.
  - ta988 5y ago
    Do we have any idea how long it would take? I would have expected the venting systems to get that out pretty quickly.
  - ta988 5y ago
    Other question, are there Halon detectors that tell you when it is safe? Or just like in MRI/NMR rooms simple oxygen meters.
    - Someone 5y ago
      Nitpick: it’s unlikely this uses Halon. https://fireandsafetycentre.co.uk/blogs/extinguisher-types/halon-fire-extinguishers https://fireandsafetycentre.co.uk/blogs/extinguisher-types/h...: “The EU ban on the use of Halon in fire extinguishers actually came into force in October 2000 and was implemented in the UK in 2003, as a result of scientific research linking Halon and other CFC’s to Ozone depletion. The ban in practice is not total. Existing owners and users of Halon 1211 portable fire extinguishers may be able to claim exemption to the EU ban for certain “Critical Uses”. Broadly speaking this includes limited applications within the aircraft industry, military / armed forces, petrochemical industry and some specific marine applications“ Chances are this facility was built after 2000. I think that makes it extremely unlikely it can claim exemption. See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Protocol https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Protocol, which says “The Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol have each been ratified by 196 nations and the European Union, making them the first universally ratified treaties in United Nations history”
      - MaxBarraclough 5y ago
        From the linked article, they're presumably using either CO2 or 'FE-36' then?
      - ta988 5y ago
        I didn't know that, thanks next time I buy extiguishers for electronics I'll pay more attention.
- midasuni 5y ago
  We had a “halon” discharge in a data centre a few years ago. The pressure wave knocked out a whole rack of disks.
  - aequitas 5y ago
    Like screaming at your disk?

why?

the two most likely scenarios where "environmental conditions" prevent access to a DC are fire or cooling failure. aws says it's not a fire, so probably the temperature rose above their allowable safety threshold for access. that's not good for computers either

derefr 5y ago
It could have just been that someone pulled a fire alarm when there wasn't a fire, and then they had to wait for the Halon to disperse.
- ta988 5y ago
  Do we have any idea how long it would take? I would have expected the venting systems to get that out pretty quickly.
- ta988 5y ago
  Other question, are there Halon detectors that tell you when it is safe? Or just like in MRI/NMR rooms simple oxygen meters.
  - Someone 5y ago
    Nitpick: it’s unlikely this uses Halon. https://fireandsafetycentre.co.uk/blogs/extinguisher-types/halon-fire-extinguishers https://fireandsafetycentre.co.uk/blogs/extinguisher-types/h...: “The EU ban on the use of Halon in fire extinguishers actually came into force in October 2000 and was implemented in the UK in 2003, as a result of scientific research linking Halon and other CFC’s to Ozone depletion. The ban in practice is not total. Existing owners and users of Halon 1211 portable fire extinguishers may be able to claim exemption to the EU ban for certain “Critical Uses”. Broadly speaking this includes limited applications within the aircraft industry, military / armed forces, petrochemical industry and some specific marine applications“ Chances are this facility was built after 2000. I think that makes it extremely unlikely it can claim exemption. See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Protocol https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Protocol, which says “The Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol have each been ratified by 196 nations and the European Union, making them the first universally ratified treaties in United Nations history”
    - MaxBarraclough 5y ago
      From the linked article, they're presumably using either CO2 or 'FE-36' then?
    - ta988 5y ago
      I didn't know that, thanks next time I buy extiguishers for electronics I'll pay more attention.
midasuni 5y ago
We had a “halon” discharge in a data centre a few years ago. The pressure wave knocked out a whole rack of disks.
- aequitas 5y ago
  Like screaming at your disk?