Data Centre – Condition based Challenges and Maintenance

Maintenance tests for mission-critical facilities assess, analyse, and enhance the reliability of building systems. The challenges associated with operating and maintaining Data Centres, Mobile Switching Centres, and similar properties encompass fire and life safety, structural integrity, electrical systems, rotating equipment, controls, communications, and security. An annual test programme addresses concerns related to critical assets.

Physical Infrastructure Challenges for a Mission-Critical Technology Property

Most physical infrastructure components are in serviceable condition, aged 5 to 30 years. VRLA battery banks may require overhauling within five years. In contrast, construction structures, drainage and water piping networks, pumps, cooling system equipment, electrical power distribution systems, and electronic surveillance and controls can function effectively for 10 to 30 years. Age-related wear and operational degradation of these systems or elemental deterioration are significant concerns for mission-critical technology properties. The selection of non-destructive condition tests supported by analytics plays an essential role in optimising maintenance costs and enhancing the reliability of the property.

COMMON CONDITION SURVEYS APPLICABLE FOR BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURES ARE
 THERMOGRAPHY
 POWER QUALITY
 ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD
 ACOUSTIC EMISSION MONITORING
 VIBRATION MONITORING

1. Locational of Data Centres –

• • Requirements
    • Risk assessment to address concerns from environmental degradation
  • Risks with location of the property are –
    • Inadequate Environment Impact Assessment-related information is available from the Property Management team.
    • Frequent failure of electronic components due to contaminated indoor air.
  • Maintenance tests
    • Indoor and outdoor air and ground water quality tests can reveal contamination and necessary corrective actions.

2. Construction structures –

• Requirements
  •  The load-bearing capacity of floors, ceilings and roof structures must meet the minimum requirements of the equipment point and distributed load, including expansion and safety margin.
  • Interior and exterior walls must be resistant to climatic risk elements.
  • Interior construction must provide for adequate airtightness and watertightness.
• Challenges
  • Mobile Switching Centers and Data Centers housed in old legacy buildings are usually repurposed from regular office usage.
  • Critical information like building structural design data is missing.
  • Information on maximum bearable load by construction is missing.
  • Information on seismic zones, floodplains, etc, and topographical disasters are unavailable with the Facility Management team.
  • Technical space has expanded over the past years with minimal or no inputs on the structural integrity of the building.
  • Cracks and spalding concrete are visible in the building’s exterior and interior.
  • Mold formation and water and air ingress were noticed.
• Maintenance Tests for construction structures
  • Rebound Hammer Test
  • Concrete core cutting and Compression test
  • Half Cell Potential Test
  • Ultrasonic test
  • Rebar scanning test
  • Thermography
  • Air and water infiltration test
  • Roof flood test
  • Acoustic emission and Eddy current tests for underground and overground storage tanks.

3. Rotating equipment (Fans, blowers, compressors, pumps)

• Requirements
  • Reliability and availability of equipment and systems
• Challenges
  • The expansion or decommissioning of technical space within the building often fails to take adequate design considerations for water pumping and ventilation systems.
  • Repetitive failures of rotating equipment.
  • The Energy Metering system is often not installed for the water pumping and ventilation fans.
  • Fans and Pumping equipment contribute 15% of total Data Center Energy consumption.
• Maintenance tests
  • Acoustic emissions test
  • Vibration test
  • Wear and Oil analysis
  • Thermography for pipework

4. Air-conditioning and ventilation systems

• Requirements
  • Resistant to fire hazards
  • Reliability and availability of system and standalone equipment
  • Control and extraction of smoke
• Challenges
  • Smoke extraction fans require periodic testing
  • Controls of interconnected building systems with fire alarm systems require periodic testing.
  • Compliances with building codes
• Maintenance tests
  • Acoustic emissions test
  • Vibration test
  • Noise analysis
  • Stairwell smoke extraction system test
  • Interconnected systems response test – Fire alarms, Lifts, Ventilation fans

5. Electrical power distribution

• Requirements
  • Resistant to fire hazards
  • Reliability and availability of system and standalone equipment
• Challenges
  • Absence of adequate metering system
  • Inadequate information on construction design details
  • Uncontrolled change management process over long tenure of operations
• Maintenance Tests
  • Insulation resistance test
  • Short circuit and load flow studies
  • Harmonics, load stability analysis
  • Protection system testing, calibration and coordination
  • Thermography