[throw0101a]

> The problem with water in the same place with high power equipment […]

Most high-end UPSes have a relay where you can run an active-high or active-low emergency power off (EPO) signal. The EPO can either be a button that is pressed manually by the staff, automatically via fire suppression system, or both/either.

Schneider-APC white paper (PDF)

* https://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_File_Name=AS...

The EPO can also cut-off the HVAC so oxygen is no longer fed into the area, and smoke isn't (re-)circulated.

In the US, this is probably covered in NFPA 75, "Standard for the Fire Protection of Information Technology Equipment":

* https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-stand...

[gmueckl]

Such a switch doesn't make any remaining battery charge in the UPS go away magically. If the UPS housing gets breached (e.g. ingress of impure water or bending/melting from heat), you're back to square one.

[throw0101a]

Batteries can be held in a different room than the IT equipment and UPS inverters--up to 200m per the manual of the APC Galaxy VX.

So can have the more common water fire suppression in the day-to-day areas where people are more likely to be in, and have have non-water solutions. Water mist instead of 'traditional' sprinklers is also a thing in many places:

* https://res.mdpi.com/d_attachment/energies/energies-13-05117...