NIST 800-53 REV 5 • PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
PE-13 — Fire Protection
Employ and maintain fire detection and suppression systems that are supported by an independent energy source.
CMMC Practice Mapping
No direct CMMC mapping
NIST 800-171 Mapping
No direct NIST 800-171 mapping
Related Controls
Supplemental Guidance
The provision of fire detection and suppression systems applies primarily to organizational facilities that contain concentrations of system resources, including data centers, server rooms, and mainframe computer rooms. Fire detection and suppression systems that may require an independent energy source include sprinkler systems and smoke detectors. An independent energy source is an energy source, such as a microgrid, that is separate, or can be separated, from the energy sources providing power for the other parts of the facility.
Practitioner Notes
Your facility needs fire detection and suppression systems that work even when the main power is out. An independent energy source (battery backup or generator) ensures your fire protection systems keep running during a power failure.
Example 1: Install a fire alarm system with battery backup that meets NFPA 72 standards. Include smoke detectors, heat detectors, and manual pull stations throughout the facility. Test the system semi-annually and have it professionally inspected annually.
Example 2: In the server room, install a clean-agent fire suppression system (FM-200, Novec 1230, or Inergen) that extinguishes fires without damaging electronics. Water sprinklers can destroy your IT equipment, so clean-agent systems are strongly preferred for server rooms and data closets.