A senator recommends reviewing the standards for urban "data centers" and points out the need to strengthen laws controlling reserve fuel storage areas.
On 6 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Sunthorn Pruksapipat, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection of the Senate under the Committee on Political Development, Public Participation, Human Rights, Liberties, and Consumer Protection, urged government agencies to close legal loopholes and elevate safety standards for storing reserve fuel to match those of gas stations. This aims to prioritize the safety of lives, property, and public welfare amid the growth of digital infrastructure in Bangkok.
Regarding the storage of reserve fuel for data center projects, Senator Sunthorn Pruksapipat noted that such projects stockpile large amounts of fuel. Although they comply with the legal limit of no more than 500,000 liters, a key concern is the building control standards.
"If the fuel stock reaches over 400,000 liters, that’s about the size of a gas station. Normally, gas station regulations require controls over construction and surrounding areas, but these buildings are not regulated similarly; they are simply registered as warehouses for goods storage," he said. Senator Sunthorn stated.
Furthermore, to clarify public misunderstandings following online comparisons that data centers have safety levels equivalent to department stores or five-star hotels, Senator Sunthorn Pruksapipat explained from the perspective of an architect and former department store worker that the structural designs differ significantly. Highlighting this concern aims to prompt relevant agencies to urgently review legal provisions and implement stricter regulations so that technological business development can progress alongside sustainable community safety and welfare.
"As an architect, I know that water tanks are designed underground from the start, similar to gas stations, and the fuel amounts are not as large as those in data centers. Data centers keep reserves for about 2–3 hours of power outage, while data centers store fuel for up to 2 days. That’s a difference of about 10 times. It’s like having a small oil depot in the middle of a community, filled with electronic systems and wiring. Since electrical fires are a leading cause of fire, having both large electrical systems and fuel storage is very concerning." Senator Sunthorn Pruksapipat concluded.