Fire suppression that’s made for data centers
Approved by
Designed for modern risks
Data centers are constantly evolving. Things like higher rack densities, complex airflow management and integrated battery backup systems all create new challenges when it comes to keeping the world’s data safe from fire.
HI-FOG® is made to handle high-density data center designs, multi-tier cable trays, lithium-ion battery risks, and high-value equipment protection, and to ensure business continuity when it matters most. High-pressure water mist’s unique properties traps heat and combustion gases within the fine water mist spray, cooling the fire fast and reducing heat spread across ceilings or to adjacent areas, which prevents unnecessary activations and limits the area of impact. This behavior contains heat at the fire source, reducing unnecessary activation of surrounding heads and limiting the overall impact of the fire event.
Business continuity, protected
HI-FOG® suppresses fire using fine water mist droplets that cool the flames with much less water than traditional systems. Because less heat spreads beyond the fire zone, it also helps protect equipment nearby.
By using even up to 90% less water than other water based suppression systems, HI-FOG® helps minimize fire-related disruption, reduce cleanup time and costs, and support a faster return to operation. Its localized discharge limits the affected area, while clean water delivered through 316L stainless steel pipework helps protect sensitive equipment.
False system activations, minimized
The HI-FOG® high-pressure water mist system FM approved single and double interlock pre-action valve setups are not only compact to install but also reduce the risk of false activations waiting on heat to activate the heat sensitive bulbs installed within the sensitive areas and also the 3rd party detection system to operate the water mist, improving operational resilience.
Our high-pressure water mist system pulls heat down, reducing ceiling-level heat spread that can trigger remote heads in traditional systems.
Correct bulb-temperature selection and pre-action system designs, together with detection system, reduce the risk of false discharges and uncontrolled water spread in sensitive areas within the data center.
- False discharges reduced to near zero
- Enables intervention in early-stage events
- Suppression as the final line of defense
- Improved operational confidence
- Safe for onsite personnel to access and assess any alarms
Total building protection, delivered
A single HI-FOG® system can protect multiple data center spaces, including data halls, server rooms, battery rooms, electrical rooms, generator enclosures, loading bays, offices and support spaces all from one single pump and tank set up. This simplifies design, installation and lifecycle maintenance while giving you room to scale for future business needs.
Proven performance and FM Approvals
HI-FOG® was the first high-pressure water mist system to receive FM Approval for protecting data processing equipment rooms, halls and subfloors. Because of increasing high-power densities, lithium-ion battery risks and multi-tier cable tray configurations, modern FM classifications now require systems to be able to perform against Hazard Category 2 (HC-2) and Hazard Category 3 (HC-3) scenarios. Our system is performance-verified through full-scale fire testing aligned with today’s requirements.
Bulb temperature
HI-FOG is FM Approved at both 57°C and 68°C for HC-2 and HC-3 applications, with 68°C uniquely available from Marioff as the only FM Approved water mist system on the market at this temperature.
In mission-critical data centers, many operators prefer 68°C because the higher bulb temperature helps reduce the risk of false activations, unwanted discharge, and avoidable downtime. That matters in critical environments, particularly as FM’s latest data center outage analysis identifies fire suppression as a cause of 1% of reported outages. The result is stronger operational resilience, reduced recovery time, and better support for uptime and business continuity.
Air velocities
We have the first water mist system to achieve FM Approval for white space protection in data centers, including approved operation at horizontal air velocities up to 1.2 m/s (4 ft/sec) and upward air velocities through perforated floors up to 1.0 m/s (3.0 ft/sec).
To support operators designing for more demanding environments, Marioff has also simulated performance at air velocities up to 4.5 m/s, demonstrating the potential to maintain effective protection while reducing activations, limiting water discharge, minimizing collateral damage, and supporting faster recovery.
Lithium-ion battery fire protection
Battery backup systems add new fire dynamics that require rapid cooling and control. HI-FOG® is designed to quickly suppress fires outside battery modules and to quickly cool adjacent battery racks to help prevent thermal runaway. It also reduces smoke and spread, and lowers gas concentrations, allowing for safer intervention. All of this makes our system an excellent fire suppression system for modern data center Lithium-ion battery fire protection.
Fire suppression that’s sustainable
The HI-FOG® high-pressure water mist system protects data centers from fire while supporting more sustainable operations. It uses even up to 90% less water than other water based suppression systems, reducing both water consumption and storage requirements.
The system’s compact design enables smaller mechanical rooms, helping reduce material use and free up valuable space. HI-FOG® systems are built using high-grade 316L stainless steel, supporting long service life and reliable performance over time.
Many systems have remained in operation for decades, supported by robust design and lifecycle service programs.
Why water mist?
- Uses even up to 90% less water than other water based suppression systems
- Reduces post-fire cleanup time and costs
- Faster return to operation
- Limited discharge area during fire events
- Clean water discharge from 316L grade stainless steel pipework
Explore success stories of data center fire protection
FAQ — Data center fire protection
The best fire protection system for data centers is one that suppresses fire rapidly, minimizes equipment damage, and supports business continuity—such as high-pressure water mist systems like HI-FOG®.
Modern data centers typically require a solution that:
- Suppresses fire rapidly
- Minimizes damage to sensitive equipment
- Supports business continuity
- Complies with FM and insurer requirements
- Addresses lithium-ion battery risks
- Scales with future expansion
- All areas can be protected with centralized equipment
High-pressure fire suppression works by discharging fine water droplets that cool, displace oxygen locally, and block heat radiation at the fire source. In a fire event, high-pressure water mist:
- Cools the flame and hot gases
- Displaces oxygen locally at the fire seat
- Blocks radiant heat
- Entrains heat downward within the spray
This enables effective fire suppression using substantially less water than other water based suppression systems.
Yes, when properly designed and approved for the hazard, high-pressure water mist is safe for sensitive IT equipment due to its low water volume and fine droplet size.
Because the droplets are microscopic, and the total water discharge is low, potential water exposure to equipment is greatly reduced compared to traditional sprinklers. Additional benefits include:
- Non-harmful water discharge from stainless steel pipework
- Limited activation area
- Reduced post-fire cleanup
High-pressure water mist systems like HI-FOG® can use even up to 90% less water than traditional sprinkler systems, depending on the application and design.
Lower water usage:
- Reduces potential water damage
- Minimizes cleanup time and cost
- Enables faster return to operation
- Reduces water storage tank size
Actual savings depend on the specific project configuration.
Yes, water mist systems can protect lithium-ion battery environments when properly engineered and approved for the hazard.
The HI-FOG® high-pressure water mist system is designed to:
- Rapidly suppress fires external to battery modules
- Cool adjacent batteries to help prevent thermal runaway propagation
- Reduce smoke spread
- Absorb harmful gases
- Improve conditions for first responders
System selection should always be based on a project-specific risk assessment. But here are some of the key ways in which HI-FOG® compares to gas alternatives.
HI-FOG® water mist
- No room integrity requirement
- Protects all data center spaces with one pump unit and tank
- Lower recharge complexity
- Limited discharge area
- Scales with facility expansion
Gas systems
- Require tight room integrity
- May require cylinder replacement after discharge
- Requires replacement bottles every ~10 years
- Can affect the entire protected volume
- May create high noise levels during discharge
Water mist is a strong choice when data centers prioritize business continuity, reduced damage risk, and system scalability. It is particularly suitable when:
- Minimizing downtime is critical
- Water damage must be limited
- Lithium-ion battery risks are present
- Mechanical room space is constrained
- Future expansion is expected
All whilst not compromising on safety or reliability. A fire protection specialist should evaluate each facility individually.
Traditional sprinklers are still widely used, but many modern data centers choose water mist when business continuity is a priority. Compared to traditional sprinklers, high-pressure water mist typically offers:
- Significantly lower water discharge
- Reduced collateral damage risk
- Smaller and lighter pipework
- Less corrosion issues in pipework
- Potentially fewer head activations in certain fire scenarios
- Compact water storage requirements
- No need for dedicated valve storage rooms
Modern FM Global guidance classifies data hall design hazards primarily under:
- Hazard Category 2 (HC-2)
- Hazard Category 3 (HC-3)
These classifications address higher fire loads, multi-tier cable trays, and lithium-ion battery risks.
Marioff’s HI-FOG® high-pressure water mist system is FM Approved and performance-verified through full-scale fire testing aligned with applicable standards.
High-pressure water mist system systems like HI-FOG® use FM Approved single interlock and double interlock pre-action valve technology reduces the risk of accidental discharge. It also:
- Keeps pipes dry under normal conditions
- Requires confirmed fire detection
- Releases water only when a sprinkler activates from heat
- Allows investigation of early alarm
- Does not require nitrogen air monitoring systems
- Can be wall mounted and does not require to be installed in a valve storage room, freeing up space within the data center
No. High-pressure water mist systems don’t require the same level of room integrity testing as total flooding gas systems. This can help:
- Simplify construction
- Reduce commissioning complexity
- Reduce construction costs
- Lower lifecycle costs
Talk to a Marioff data center fire protection specialist
Protect your facility with a solution designed for modern data center risks.
Comprehensive lifetime services
We’ll support you over the complete lifecycle of the HI-FOG fire suppression system, from initial design to lifelong maintenance. Dedicated Marioff teams are at your service around the world. Our subsidiaries and dedicated partner companies have strong local presence and deep knowledge of the conditions their customers operate in. We’ll help you maintain your HI-FOG system so that it performs as it was designed throughout its lifetime.
Pre-action fire suppression systems
HI-FOG water mist systems can be optimized to offer fire protection for a variety of locations with different system types. The pre-action systems provide peace of mind as they will not activate unless there actually is a fire. This minimizes the risk of any unnecessary water damage to valuable artifacts, at cultural heritage buildings as with data centers.
Familiarize yourself with the technology of pre-action fire suppression system
Fire protection for Office Buildings
The Marioff HI-FOG fire suppression system is well suited also for office space, where full coverage can be challenging, and the layout continues to evolve over the years