Fire Protection for the Paris Digital Park Data Centre Campus

Case History

Low-pressure water mist protection for PAR10 and PAR11

Located in La Courneuve, just north of central Paris, the Paris Digital Park is one of the largest digital infrastructure developments in Europe. The campus was developed and is operated by Digital Realty, a global provider of data centre, colocation and interconnection solutions.

The campus comprises four facilities – PAR8, PAR9, PAR10 and PAR11 – delivering a combined 76 MW of IT capacity across approximately 39,000 m² of white space. The PAR10 and PAR11 project was delivered by Mercury, who oversaw the construction and engineering works across the site.

Designed to support the rapid growth of cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital services, the facilities integrate high-density power infrastructure, advanced cooling technologies and resilient building systems to support mission-critical operations.

Within this development, the PAR10 and PAR11 buildings required a comprehensive fire protection strategy capable of protecting multiple operational areas while meeting the reliability standards expected in hyperscale data centres.

“Delivering hyperscale data centre infrastructure requires close coordination between engineering partners and specialist suppliers. For the PAR10 and PAR11 facilities at Digital Realty’s Paris Digital Park campus, the integration of reliable fire protection solutions was an important part of the overall project delivery. The collaboration with VID FIREKILL allowed the project team to implement a system aligned with the performance and resilience expectations of modern data centre environments.”

Working in collaboration with Mercury and the project team, VID FIREKILL implemented a low-pressure water mist fire protection technology providing integral protection across both facilities.

Fire Protection Requirements

Modern hyperscale data centers combine high-density IT environments with extensive mechanical and electrical infrastructure, creating a complex risk profile.

For the PAR10 and PAR11 facilities, the fire protection technology needed to:

• Provide protection across multiple risk environments within the buildings
• Support the reliability requirements typical of hyperscale digital infrastructure
• Integrate within dense mechanical and electrical installations
• Optimize technical space within highly engineered buildings
• Reduce installation complexity within a fast-paced construction program
• Align with recognized data center design standards, including FM Global hazard classifications (HC2 / HC3)

The solution therefore needed to combine rapid fire suppression capability with compact system architecture and high engineering flexibility.

The VID FIREKILL Solution

To address the fire protection requirements of PAR10 and PAR11, VID FIREKILL implemented a low-pressure water mist technology designed to provide integral protection across the facilities.

The system was engineered to cover all critical operational areas of the data center environment, including the data halls, technical rooms, generator areas and supporting infrastructure zones. By adopting a single water-mist technology across the different risk areas, the fire protection strategy could be implemented in a consistent and efficient way throughout the buildings.

Low-pressure water mist suppresses fire primarily through rapid cooling of the fire environment. The fine water droplets absorb heat and reduce the temperature of the combustion zone, helping control fire development while limiting potential impact on sensitive equipment and electrical infrastructure.

Across the two facilities, the installation includes approximately 7,000 nozzles and around 200 control valves, integrated within a compact pipe network designed to fit efficiently within the building’s mechanical and electrical infrastructure.

This approach allowed the project team to implement a fire protection solution capable of meeting the operational and engineering requirements of hyperscale data center facilities while supporting efficient installation and integration within the wider construction program.

“Data centres require fire protection systems that combine performance, reliability and engineering flexibility. For the PAR10 and PAR11 facilities, our low-pressure water mist technology provided a solution capable of protecting multiple risk areas while supporting efficient integration within the building infrastructure. Working together with Mercury on this project allowed us to contribute to the delivery of resilient fire protection for a major digital infrastructure development.”

Engineering Advantages for Hyperscale Data Centers

One of the key advantages of low-pressure water mist technology in large data center environments is its ability to optimize infrastructure space. The smaller pipe diameters typical of water mist systems allow the fire protection network to be integrated more easily within dense mechanical and electrical installations, helping reduce the spatial impact of the system within highly engineered facilities.

Another important factor is the reduction in water demand compared with traditional sprinkler systems. Because water mist uses significantly less water to control and suppress fire, the overall storage requirements can be reduced. This allows for more compact on-site water reserves and drainage systems while maintaining the level of protection required for critical infrastructure environments.

The system architecture also supports efficient installation within fast-paced construction programs. Smaller piping networks and optimized system layouts contribute to faster installation and commissioning, an important consideration in hyperscale data center projects where construction timelines are tightly coordinated across multiple engineering disciplines.

Water mist technology also provides advantages when protecting sensitive IT and electrical infrastructure. By rapidly cooling the fire environment and controlling heat release, the system helps limit potential impact on critical equipment while supporting the operational resilience expected in modern digital infrastructure.

Finally, the system design supports alignment with recognized data center fire protection standards, including FM Global hazard classifications commonly applied in hyperscale facilities. This ensures that the fire protection strategy is consistent with the risk profiles and engineering expectations associated with large-scale digital infrastructure projects.

Collaborative Project Delivery

The Paris Digital Park campus stands as a strong example of what can be achieved through close collaboration between engineering contractors, specialist suppliers and technology partners.

Mercury led the delivery of the campus with a multidisciplinary approach covering civil, structural, architectural, mechanical and electrical works, supported by a strong supply chain and local project partners.

Within this framework, VID FIREKILL contributed to the fire protection strategy for PAR10 and PAR11, supporting the delivery of a resilient fire protection solution aligned with the performance expectations of hyperscale data center infrastructure.

About Mercury

Mercury is the European leader in construction solutions. The company builds and manages complex engineering & construction projects for the world’s leading corporations. Headquartered in Ireland, Mercury operates across Europe, delivering large-scale projects across sectors including data centres, advanced technology, life sciences and semiconductor. With an integrated approach covering construction, mechanical and electrical engineering, Mercury supports clients in delivering highly resilient, mission-critical facilities.

About VID FIREKILL

VID FIREKILL is a Danish manufacturer specialising in advanced low-pressure water mist fire protection systems. The company designs and delivers engineered fire suppression solutions for a wide range of applications including data centres, buildings, tunnels, industrial facilities and marine environments. Through continuous testing, engineering development and collaboration with partners worldwide, VID FIREKILL provides fire protection technologies designed to meet high standards of safety, efficiency and environmental performance.