What happens to IT room ventilation when a clean agent is discharged?

• A. It is shut down.
• B. It continues to operate normally.
• C. It is converted to a negative pressure system.
• D. It is partially reduced.

Answer: (A)

Shutting down the IT room ventilation is done to keep the space isolated so the discharged clean agent can flood the room effectively. Total flooding clean agent systems rely on maintaining a high concentration of agent long enough to suppress the fire, and any air movement would dilute that concentration or push the agent into adjacent areas. By interlocking and closing the HVAC serving the IT room, you prevent dilution and loss of agent, ensuring the suppression works as designed. Keeping the ventilation on or attempting to use negative pressure would work against the goal, either diluting the agent or causing it to escape to other zones.