So I have a server in my room that was acting funny for the past few days. The power supply fan would get stuck and I would have to push it to get it running again. Anyways, I know this is against fire code I’m sure, but I had papers, manuals, and a blanket sitting on top of it and the power supply got very hot and something inside caught on fire. (My guess the paper on the coils. These power supply’s for servers are much bigger than what’s in your desktop PC) Caught the papers on fire and the blanket was smoldering. it smelled AWFUL. There wasn’t much damage in the closet. just some minor smoke damage. Had servpro come today and they cleaned it up. the smell is gone now for the most part except in the closet. but they said it will go away soon. So for now I’m just using glade plugins 
I’m sure the damage wouldn’t have been bad if I were gone as the blanket was just smoldering. But you never know. I’m surprised on how much smoke there was in my room before the I3 detector picked it up! Guess I may put one in the closet since that’s where the servers are. Anyways, what a close call! SMOKE DETECTORS WORK PEOPLE. and I literally JUST installed this system! Glad I did! I’m sure a standard battery powered smoke alarm would have worked just as well though.
Guess the video isn’t working. Ill re upload
OOCH! God forbid that could have been worse…
That’s what I’m thinking! Good thing I caught it.
Also, that video is a dead link
Haha yes, i’ll re upload in the morning
You are so lucky that the fire didn’t spread or else it could be much worse.
Yeah I am. it probably wouldn’t have spread much since it was contained in a fire rated server cabinet
Um, I think you should educate your self a bit on this topic. Unless whatever was on fire was fully contained and lacked oxygen the fire can spread. Computer racks are typically open primarily for easy access and airflow. Remember also that cords are combustable which is a secondary way for the fire to spread into the wall, in addition to debris that has fallen to the floor.
What about the design you have makes you think that it would not have spread?
Fire rated materials are only measured to contain the fire for a certain amount of time, it doesn’t mean the fire can’t spread after the material fails after that time.
Wow, i have a server room aswell, also my closet…
Yes you are correct. however it is just my theory that it would not have spread due to where it was inside the case and how it was positioned into the rack. Lets just hope I don’t have to test my theory again.
I’ve installed a Fenwal Ion detector above the racks so hopefully it’ll help keep it safer.
This probably sounds stupid, but would it help to put a fan in the closet, aimed at the server? Also, to leave the closet door open?
Yes…it would help…TO SPREAD THE FIRE!!! :twisted: ’
I think he means to keep things cool and prevent the fire from starting.
I don’t have a server room, but then again, my closet is an absolute MESS so I doubt anything could fit in there.
Yes.
A refrigerant powered fan, aka, a portable air conditioner, would be better. But yes, that is a good point about the fire spreading.
It wasn’t really a overheating problem, Just an old power supply that reached the end of its life.
Oh, good, then. If it was an overheating problem, your hard drive wouldn’t stand a chance if it got that hot, lol. 
How does a computer overheat anyway? Does it have to do with running too many programs on it? I know that when I run multiple tabs or programs on my Mac, it starts to heat up and the fan kicks in.