Data Centers in the Time of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
We’ve reached an interesting juncture in our history, where freely mingling comes with awareness of a higher risk of catching a nasty bug that could not only make us sick but endanger our lives and those around us. As we restrict our movement and renew higher hygienic standards, how are we able to go about […]
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Web Conferencing & Virtual Meetings
Perhaps you are working from home today as well as the next couple of weeks. The risk of meeting in person has grown, but business must still move forward. In most office settings the tools already exist to support this via video and web conferencing. Web conferencing has revolutionized how we can conduct business. Also […]
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Generators and Fuel Sources
Most generators supporting data centers tend to use diesel as the fuel source, as the fuel can be stored on site to be controlled and replenished. The amount of filtering of the fuel can vary, as the diesel that is filled into a truck might seem reliably clean, but the truck tank or fuel lines […]
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Modernizing a Data Center for 2020
A path to modernize the infrastructure of a data center facility As 2020 begins, we have likely noticed that the many components of the data center infrastructure have aged past their warranties and software management tools no longer echo the reality of the actual systems. Along with this the ongoing operations & maintenance (O&M) grows […]
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Security & HVAC
We are about to begin a new decade and in so consultants will be more responsible for designing the controls systems to be safe and secure. ASHRAE released the latest in the Handbook series, HVAC Applications, in 2019 with updates to chapter 59 on HVAC security. Now this isn’t to be read as a comprehensive […]
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ASHRAE 90.4 Update
In most jurisdictions ASHRAE 90.1 is used as the building energy standard to be followed as part of their building codes. Data centers were often exempt from 90.1 until 2010 when they were specifically noted to be included. There was push back, as some provisions of 90.1 were deemed too prescriptive, so in 2012 there […]
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Early Warning Signs of Power Equipment Trouble
There are quite a lot of components that go into a data center, with their operations expected to be reliable 24/7. Arguably the most important are those providing the power to the IT equipment as well as the other supporting systems that keep the data center cool, secure, and operational. Preventative maintenance and a good […]
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NFPA 855 & Energy Storage
The rise of battery storage systems has increased significantly as solar photovoltaic and other systems seek a way to capture power during peaks to use at other times. In turn there have been a fire safety concerns that then led NFPA to generate the new standard, 855. The National Fire Protection Association has released the […]
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Metal Roofing for Improved Efficiency
Every year there are millions of square feet of data center space constructed but also millions of square feet that are renovated. Over the course of 20-30 years, the interior spaces of a data center may be revised two, three or more times to meet the modern needs. Along with this, whether the building is […]
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Air Energy Recovery
Data center managers are always on the lookout for a means to reduce the heat that their facilities generate to operate more efficiently. During the winter seasons is often brought up to use the warmer air from the data center return stream to heat other spaces, as it seems like an obvious way to save […]
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