Data centres have quietly become part of the foundation of daily life, powering everything from business operations to essential cloud services.

According to the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the data centre industry in the UK already generates an estimated £4.6 billion in revenues a year. In September 2024, the UK government designated data centres as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), placing them on an equal footing with the country’s water and energy services.

Given their critical economic and social role, protecting data centres against fire hazards is a national priority and a key consideration for data centre managers and owners. One of the most effective ways to mitigate fire risks in these facilities is by using Mineral Insulated Copper-Clad (MICC) cables, which offer true fire survival performance alongside other important safety benefits.

Why Cable Fire Safety is a Priority Concern for Data Centres

Fire survival cables play a vital role in keeping a data centre’s essential systems operational in the event of a fire, including fire detection and alarm systems, emergency lighting, sprinkler and fire suppression systems, backup power, and communication networks.

By preventing electrical failures in these critical systems, MICC fire survival cables - often referred to as the ‘building’s heart’ - support a coordinated and effective response to fire incidents, reducing the risk of partial or total, data centre shutdown. Ultimately, this can help to protect both assets and lives.

What are the Fire-Survival Properties of MICC Cables?

Traditional ‘soft skin’ (plastic-insulated) cabling systems are fire-resistant rather than true fire survival cables, which can lead to system failures putting data centres’ critical systems at risk.

In contrast, MICC cables, also known as pyro cables, are specifically designed to withstand extreme temperatures and maintain circuit integrity during fires. Their construction, consisting of a copper sheath and a mineral insulation core, eliminates the need for organic materials that can burn or release toxic gases.

The key fire-survival properties, and additional benefits, of MICC cables include:

1. High-temperature endurance: MICC cables are a non-ageing product that do not rely on plastics, polymers, resins, or tapes for fire protection. The copper sheath has a melting point of 1,085°C, while the magnesium oxide insulation withstands temperatures up to 2,852°C.
2. Non-combustible materials: Unlike polymeric fire-resistant cables, MICC cables contain zero plastics components.
3. Zero toxic smoke or gas emission: In the event of a fire, MICC cables do not release harmful toxic smoke or gases, helping to maintain air quality and visibility in evacuation scenarios. Toxic smoke and gases can often ignite aiding the spread of a fire.
4. Waterproof and rodent-proof: The copper sheath makes MICC cables impervious to water and resistant to rodent damage.
5. Long lifespan and durability: With a robust copper construction, MICC cables are resistant to corrosion, mechanical damage, and environmental factors, making them a long-term fire safety solution.
6. Environmental credentials: MICC cables are made entirely from recyclable, non-toxic materials (copper and magnesium oxide), which makes it a more sustainable option than plastic insulated cables. As the data centre sector grows, addressing its environmental impact is an increasing concern.
7. Reduced electromagnetic interference: The specification of a ‘twisted’ MICC cable offers further advantages for data centres. These cables’ conductor wires are twisted together, reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) and minimising crosstalk. This ensures cleaner signal transmission, enhancing data integrity and reliability.

Meeting Stringent Fire Safety Regulations

With the UK government designating data centres as Critical National Infrastructure, compliance with fire safety regulations is, of course, non-negotiable. Regulatory bodies,

including the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), all call for the use of fire-resistant cabling in high-risk environments.

MICC cables not only meet but exceed these regulatory requirements, as detailed in our white paper, ‘Expecting the Unexpected: specifying safety-critical circuit cables for fire survival’. By investing in MICC cables, data centres can ensure compliance with safety standards while significantly reducing fire-related risks through a durable, long-term solution.

Future-Proofing Data Centres with MICC Fire Survival Cables

As data centres continue to consolidate their status as essential national digital infrastructure, investing in MICC cables is a strategic move that enhances fire safety, ensures operational continuity, and safeguards valuable data assets. By integrating MICC cables into data centres’ infrastructure, data centre managers and owners can not only comply with evolving safety regulations but also adapt a more sustainable solution, helping to reduce these facilities’ impact on the environment. · You can explore more about Wrexham Mineral Cables MICC cables here.