We’ve seen a huge increase in data centre development across the United Kingdom, driven by the ever-escalating demand for AI, cloud computing and data capacity. As these large scale projects continue to move from plans to brick and mortar at a rapid pace, integrating robust temporary fire protection during the construction phase has become a priority for HSE professionals.
The expansion of data centres
Data centres support essential services ranging from healthcare and finance to everyday communications. Acknowledging their strategic importance, the UK Government officially designated the sector as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) in September 2024. This designation is intended to accelerate investment and access to power, resulting in a construction boom across regions including London, the South East, the Midlands, and Scotland.
This rapid expansion fundamentally alters the workplace risk profile. Contractors and developers must secure increasingly complex sites while electrical infrastructure, battery systems and high-value hardware are installed. Crucially, this often happens before permanent fire detection and alarm systems are fully operational.
Escalating fire risks during construction
The HSE outlines in its HSG168: Fire safety in construction guidance that proactive risk assessment is essential for all construction phases. The dynamic nature of data centre development introduces specific, high-consequence hazards that require continuous management.
Hazardous systems and components
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems present a primary hazard. These units use large battery arrays to maintain operations during power failures. Risk factors such as overheating, poor ventilation, dust accumulation, electrical faults, and short circuits are prevalent during the fit-out stage.
Installation errors or a failure to follow strict site protocols can compound these dangers. Without comprehensive monitoring, the response to a thermal event can be severely delayed, putting workers at risk and causing significant project downtime long before a facility opens.
Flexible wireless solutions for early detection
To mitigate these hazards, project teams are adopting temporary wireless fire detection and evacuation systems. These devices operate without fixed cabling, allowing them to be repositioned easily as the site layout evolves.
Adam Jurka, Sales Manager at Ramtech UK, notes that “early detection is critical on complex construction projects, particularly outside standard working hours.” Systems like Ramtech’s REACT platform use wireless networks and cloud-based monitoring to escalate alerts directly to project managers via mobile devices beyond the immediate site. Combined with Ramtech’s WES temporary wireless fire and evacuation system, this ensures teams can respond immediately before an event escalates into a major emergency.
The current industry conversation rightly focuses on grid capacity, planning, and environmental impact. Fire resilience deserves equal attention. Safeguarding our digital economy relies heavily on protecting the physical infrastructure and the personnel behind it from the very first day of construction.
References
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Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. (2024). Data centres to be given massive boost and protections from cyber criminals and IT blackouts. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/news/data-centres-to-be-given-massive-boost-and-protections-from-cyber-criminals-and-it-blackouts
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Health and Safety Executive (HSE). (2022). HSG168: Fire safety in construction (3rd Edition). Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg168.htm
