In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about smoke detectors in IT closets.
Q: Do information technology (IT) closets require a smoke detector no matter the size?
A: If the IT closet is in the healthcare occupancy (hospital), and under normal circumstances, there is no Life Safety Code requirement to have a smoke detector in the IT closet, regardless of the size.
However, there may be other requirements that may necessitate a smoke detector in an IT closet, such as compensating measures for an equivalency or to meet the requirement for a fully smoke-detected building required for delayed egress locks.