Data centers can be some of the most important buildings a company invests in. They house and protect sensitive data from customers and crucial information about your business. While the data housed inside a data center is incredibly valuable, building a data center can often be similar to any other type of building construction.
Data centers do have specific considerations to keep in mind. Instead of only protecting occupants, data centers have the additional task of safely collecting, processing, storing, and sharing data. These mission critical network systems have to always be running and poor construction decisions can make that difficult.
1. Be Extra Picky About Site Selection
Most elements of a data center can be upgraded or replaced, however the physical site of the data center can not. Be picky here. Ensuring that a good site is selected will prevent expensive issues down the line. A good site for a data center has a low risk of natural disaster and can be easily protected from theft or other crime. Building a data center deep in the desert may limit natural disasters, floods, and crime, for instance, but you will also want access to stable utilities. Also consider options to expand in the future when selecting the site for your data center.
2. Be Aware of Infrastructure Needs
A data center has different infrastructure needs than many other types of buildings. Ensure that the data center’s location will have the infrastructure it needs to operate properly. Power needs for a data center are much greater than most other commercial buildings so make sure the grid can stably support your data center. To ensure uninterrupted power, you’ll need to think through various backup power options to decide what makes the most economic sense for your site.
3. A Warehouse with Climate Control is a Necessity
Data centers generate a great deal of heat and are sensitive to humidity. If humidity is too low, static shocks can destroy equipment. If humidity is too high, condensation can form and cause severe damage. Climate control is an absolute necessity and must be carefully thought out. In addition to having climate control equipment, the installation will be key. The ductwork needs to be designed to allow cool air to pass through the server racks in order to pull the heat off of the servers before returning back to the climate control system. To keep the size of your air handling equipment reasonable, ensure that the building construction has sufficient insulation and a tight vapor barrier.
4. Stay Modular
Modular designs allow a data center to ramp up and down as needed. By emphasizing a modular design from the start, the data center will be able to operate more profitably by matching the data center’s abilities closely to the customers’ demands. Modular design will also help you plan and budget for the future as your operation grows.
5. Fully Understand and Implement Fire Protection Systems
The equipment in data centers produces a lot of heat. Fire protection is an absolute necessity, but all fire protection is not created equal. Be familiar with the different types of fire protection that are on the market. The last thing you want to do is install water- based sprinkler systems in a brand new data center. The data may be saved from the fire, but won’t last too long once covered in water.
Many dry agent fire protection systems exist that can mitigate a fire while saving data. Look into incorporating systems like the Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus (VESDA) into your building’s fire protection plan. Spending more on fire protection can save you the heartache of replacing water logged servers and other components.
6. Overestimate Floor Space Needs
When planning out a data center, it can be easy to cram things together on paper. Overestimate the floor space needs so that the data center stays functional and people and machines are able to work in the data center. Cramming heat generating equipment too close together also makes it harder for the climate control system to properly cool everything. Solicit opinions from those that will be working in the data center as well. They often have insights that can be hard to see otherwise. Adding in a bit more space will pay off in the long run.
7. Install Emergency Backup Power Systems
Even though the power grid may be extremely stable, the power may still go out. Without power, a data center won’t be able to do too much. Backup power systems will keep your data center operational even if the lights go out. Calculate the loads on the data center in conjunction with the amount of time the data center should be able to operate on backup power. Ensure that equipment and fuel stores are installed to meet those requirements. Also make sure to implement a maintenance schedule from day one that will keep all equipment in good working order.
8. Expand Power Usage Efficiency with Automated Software
Data centers can be very power hungry operations. It is easy to optimize power usage by implementing advanced software and controls that are available on the market. Automated software can give insights into the different areas and ways power is being consumed within the data center. Many types of automated software can take components offline when not needed and ramp them up when they are needed. Turning off unneeded equipment not only saves money from power not being used, but also saves money by lightening the load on the climate control system.
Construct a Modern Data Center with Allied Steel Buildings
Building a modern data center is straightforward when you partner with experts to help you along the way. Allied Steel Buildings can lend their expertise to help your facility build a brand new modern data center. Contact us today to learn more about how Allied Steel Buildings can help your business.