Reframing Data Center Fire Safety as a Socio-Technical Reliability System: A Systematic Review

Data centers are critical digital infrastructure supporting cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and global information services. Despite their high-reliability design, they remain vulnerable to fire incidents due to continuous operation, high electrical loads, dense power systems, and the increasing use of lithium-ion batteries. Although such events are rare, their consequences can be severe, including service disruption, equipment damage, financial loss, and risks to data integrity. This study presents a systematic literature review of fire safety risk management frameworks in data centers, following PRISMA guidelines. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025 were retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science, screened, and appraised using structured quality criteria. Twelve empirical studies were synthesized and benchmarked against NFPA 75 and NFPA 76 standards. The findings are organized into three domains: Strategic Management, Fire Risk, and Fire Preparedness. The results show a strong focus on technical prevention and electrical hazards, while organizational readiness, emergency response, and recovery remain underexplored. Benchmarking indicates that industry standards adopt a more comprehensive lifecycle approach than the academic literature. This study reframes data center fire safety as a socio-technical reliability system and highlights critical gaps, providing a foundation for future research and improved fire safety governance and resilience.