Network Communications News (NCN) September 2016 | Page 15

hot topic
COLUMN

Multi-talented

Chris Wellfair at Secure IT Environments talks about the benefits of multi-storey data centres and offers up some points for those looking at a new data centre to consider .

There comes a time in every data centre ’ s life where it takes a look in the mirror and realises that it ’ s getting on a bit and maybe even struggling a bit with its waistline – something we all can ( or will ) relate to . As a business grows , and its use of digital technology increases , more servers are needed in the data centre , but there is a limit . Often the continued miniaturisation of tech counteracts this , but what do you do when you reach the physical limitations ?

Simply extending the data centre sounds obvious , but quite often , if the data centre is a room in a larger building that will mean displacing other staff , or perhaps even moving to a different part of the building . An incremental change may offer more space for five years , but is that making bigger problems further down the line ?
Modular data centres are now extremely popular . They are secure , energy efficient , and offer a way to quickly build a new data centre environment whether as a ‘ room in a room ’ configuration or as a free standing structure . This is great if you have the space to accommodate the footprint required , not just for the server rooms themselves , but also the plant equipment , storage , access and perimeter security .
Once you hit a point where a data centre needs to be a free standing structure , the space requirements are magnified . You may for example need to consider a new access road and paths , or plant acoustic screening if you are in a residential or conservation area . For clients that are based in city centres , or where either land is in short supply or priced at a premium , this can seriously restrict the development options of a data centre . That is not to say that one can ’ t be built , but will it have the spare capacity to serve the business in five years ?
This is where the multi-storey data centre can really be a saviour , addressing all of these issues by dramatically reducing the foot print requirements to those of a single freestanding room . Built correctly it is even possible to place plant equipment such as air conditioning condenser and generators on the roof surrounded by a parapet .
One misconception we often hear is that multi-storey data centres are less energy efficient than other data centres because rooms are stacked on top of each other and heat rises . However , if you think about this for a moment , it doesn ’ t make sense . If the correct approach is taken to cooling , heat is extracted directly from cabinets and the room beyond the building structure for processing . It doesn ’ t get the chance to rise in the way many think it will . That heat can also be used to good effect if there are offices in the structure that need heating , such as a network operations centre .
There are a number of considerations for those looking at exploring a multistorey data centre as a solution to their space woes . The first and probably most important is cost . As a general rule of thumb it costs approximately 25 per cent more to build a vertical data centre than if those rooms were set side by side . Of course you may make other savings , simply by the fact that you need less land , and can build in enough spare capacity that you don ’ t need to consider moving the data centre for 15 years . A vertical data centre has a much longer usable life .
The main additions to the cost are the additional requirements in construction related to ground works , and the reinforced steel structure to ensure it not only meets building regulations , but is equipped to deal with other risks such as fire and flood and even seismic events .
Your planning department will be able to help you assess any issues related to constructing your data centre . If there are previous applications that have set a precedent on the specifications of such constructions they will be able to share these with you . Also , there will be special considerations if you are in a conservation or residential area , not just external appearance , but sound levels at different heights and distances .
Your designer should be thinking of all these things and including them in any planning application . The more you can demonstrate you are thinking about the impact on the surrounding environment and residents / businesses the better .
Any issue can be overcome by working closely with planning ; they ’ re not the enemy they are often portrayed as . The same is true of building control who can be extremely helpful with finalising designs and highlighting potential headaches .
As with any multi-storey building the standards required for foundations are substantially higher spec than a single story data centre . Ground and site surveys will highlight any concerns , but you may be required to reroute sewer or other services , or have to consider a specific approach to the foundations in order to accommodate the composition of the ground .
A full risk assessment should also be conducted with respect to flooding , fire , and the location and type of other buildings . How do the crime rates in the area impact your security specification ? How far away from a railway track or busy road should the facility be ?
We ’ ve covered some of the main considerations to getting a project started but there are some things that clients don ’ t think about as costs in building a multi-storey data centre . One of these is how access to upper levels impacts the footprint of the build . For example , do you need a goods lift and what size / spec should it be ? How will staircases and walkways impact the data centre , and what about emergency exits on all levels , including the roof ? If a parapet is built to contain plant equipment , how will this be secured from theft ? And will adequate fire sensors and bells be in place , so that in the event of a fire workers on the roof are alerted to evacuate ? Rare maybe , but very possible .
A multi-storey data centre might be the only solution for some companies , if they do not want , or cannot afford , to move their whole IT operation ( or business ). But it can be a cost effective way to build a data centre with a much longer lifetime and capacity than a traditional build . They ’ re not just something for the likes of Google and Amazon to build , they are well within the reach of the rest of us , and with the right planning can be a huge success when a company is planning for the long term .
15