have involved noncombustible buildings. In the cases
where vital magnetic media tapes were safeguarded and
the computer hardware was relatively uncomplicated,
rapid recovery was possible, often in a matter of days.
However, if a large computer configuration were
destroyed or if backup records were inadequate,
recovery could take many weeks or months.
Fire safety should be a key part of the AIS facility’s
security program. It should include the following
elements:
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Location, design, construction, and maintenance
of the AIS facility to minimize the exposure to
fire damage;
Measures to ensure prompt detection of and
response to a fire emergency;
Provision for quick human intervention and
adequate means to extinguish fires; and
Provision of adequate means and personnel to
limit damage and effect prompt recovery.
Facility Fire Exposure
The first factor to consider in evaluating the fire
safety of an AIS facility is what fire exposure results
from the nature of the occupancy (material) of adjacent
buildings and the AIS facility building. Generally
speaking, the degree of hazard associated with a given
occupancy (material) depends on the amount of
combustible materials, the ease with which they can be
ignited, and the likelihood of a source of ignition.
The second and third fire safety factors are the
design and construction of the building. Five basic
types of construction are described in table 4-5, with
their approximate destruction times.
Table 4-5.—Estimated Destruction Time by Fire for Selected
Construction Types
The actual performance of a building will depend
not only on the type of construction, but also on design
details, such as:
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Fire walls, which, in effect, divide a structure
into separate buildings with respect to fires;
Fire-rated partitions, which retard the spread of
a fire within a building;
Fire-rated stairwells, dampers, or shutters in
ducts; fire stops at the junction of floors, and
walls and similar measures to retard the spread
of smoke and fire within a building; and
Use of low-flame spread materials for floor,
wall, and ceiling finish to retard propagation of
flame.
Understand that this discussion is very simplified.
However, consideration of these factors as they apply
to an existing or projected AIS facility will help to
determine the amount of attention to pay to fire safety.
Seek the assistance of a qualified fire protection
engineer or local base fire personnel in evaluating the
inherent fire safety of the AIS facility and identifying
hazards.
The fourth factor in fire safety is the way in which
the building is operated. Keep in mind that the inherent
fire safety of a building can be rendered ineffective by
careless operation; for example:
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Fire doors propped open;
Undue accumulation of debris or trash;
Careless use of flammable fluids, welding
equipment, and cutting torches;
Substandard electric wiring;
Inadequate maintenance of safety controls on
ovens and boilers; or
Excessive concentration of flammable materials
(AIS facilities, for example, have a particular
hazard from the accumulation of lint from paper
operations).
The AIS security program should strive, in
coordination with the building maintenance staff, to
identify and eliminate dangerous conditions. NOTE:
This must be a continuing effort and a consideration in
the assignment of security management
responsibilities. The security inspection plan should
include verification of compliance with established
standards.
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