The data center’s role has evolved over time from a repository of mainframe computers in a client-owned and managed facility to one where computing resources are distributed across a variety of architectures. The stakes are high, and challenges are manifold for data center infrastructure managers – maximum uptime, highest energy efficiency, full scalability and utmost security and safety.

As a result, data center safety can influence every aspect, including other factors like network security, and deserves a seat at the  prioritization table. Safety is prioritized mainly because data center facilities are finely engineered advanced facilities; the concrete and metals can create a false sense of security. So, safety is often secondary to capacity and scale.

But within data centers are a wide range of sophisticated, high-powered electrical and mechanical equipment that can pose a serious threat of physical injury to workers and the building itself if not optimally managed.

The critical instruments present in any data center include backup batteries, generators, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), large or small. Failure in any of these instruments can cause severe impacts on the data center’s performance in the long run and reputation.

Three Steps To Get Past Risk Tolerance

While data center personnel already have their share of operational problems, prioritizing safety is also an essential part of the construction process.

Since construction workers need to work at different sites for different projects, they get familiar with the risks of their jobs- heights or unstable positioning of the equipment, amongst many others, and can get overconfident or risk-tolerant.

Fortunately, with the growth of data centers, these problems are coming into the limelight, and larger firms are allocating the necessary resources to adhere to the safety measures. The foremost industry leaders include hyper-scale data centers, multinational IT corporations, and industry visionaries. The ROI of formal safety programs primarily drives the renewed interest in the safety cost allocation; for instance, some companies save as much as $15 million through the potential litigation costs alone.

Datacenter is one of the few businesses where any interruptions can be unimaginably expensive. For instance, server downtime costs an average of $7,300 per minute in lost revenue. And to put into perspective, data center fires can easily put entire enterprises out of business.

According to statistics, fire is responsible for 6% of data center infrastructure failures, and over 70% of enterprises that experience a severe fire disaster are compelled to close their doors within three years, Siemens says.

Hence, taking into account these metrics, the larger firms now  recognize that employee safety and happiness directly relate to employee productivity and retention alongside sustaining the business. As a result, the quality of work increases and helps reinforce the security best practices across the company.

1. Making Data Center Safety A Movement

Like most business practices, data center safety too starts at the top and slowly permeates across the entire organization until eventually becoming a natural part of the company culture.

How does this step begin?

It most commonly begins with creating and defining your safety program and designating an environmental, health, or safety manager who will oversee and push for the implementation of the safety guidelines and processes. Because in a place as sensitive as data centers, safety cannot be a part-time affair.

It also heavily depends on the company’s culture and how well the company can integrate these guidelines and promote them across the entire organization.

The EHS program (including a team that works with them) has to understand the different operational elements of the facility and compare them with the set safety guidelines and corporate policies to bridge the gap.

From there, they need to strategize a data center safety plan, seek executive sponsorship for funding and formulate a rollout strategy including:

• Promoting the EHS program and reasons for the rollout

• Delivering periodic training for all employees, contractors, and partners

• Having fixed guidelines and expectations

• Creating feedback and incident reporting provisions

• Scheduled policy reviews for continuous improvement

2. Assessing And Documenting The Risk

As the old saying goes, you can’t know where you are going unless you’ve been there. This happens to be aptly true in data center construction and operations, which poses hidden safety risks from electrical, mechanical, or hazardous materials in every nook and corner.

Thorough documentation of every risk associated with particular functions or departments is vital for creating measures that control or mitigate the risks.

This step involves testing systems and equipment to assess their condition and health and re-evaluating the current testing and maintenance processes to ensure they have no risk associated with themselves.

Experts say, if a worker discovers any safety gaps before beginning a project, they must minimize or eradicate those gaps before proceeding.

3. Review And Revamp

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is already part of the regular operating procedure for the data center operators. After any breakdown or interruption, the teams devote time and effort to assess the cause and necessary steps to secure the problem for the future.

The same step should be taken when the safety of the data centers is concerned. Whenever an event arises- an employee reporting that they are feeling uncomfortable or risk is involved, or an actual safety issue- data center teams should put equal effort in mitigating the case. This must be done with the correct set of guidelines governing the health and safety of the employees.

In addition, there should be a detailed Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to understand the issue better and devise a plan to address it in the most optimized manner to update the guidelines and procedures in the safety plan.

Walter Leclerc, Director, Environmental Occupational Health and Safety with Digital Realty — one of the US’s foremost data management firms — suggests focusing on the eight components he claims are the most essential:

• risk assessment

• equipment-specific lockout/tagout procedures,

• electrical work

• working at height

• hot work

• lifting and handling

• sensor technology and digitalization and

• contractor management

How Datacenter Safety Transforms Culture

Datacenter developers and operators have realized that safety procedures are not counterproductive, do not slow down processes but instead are profitable and effective for the well-being of employees, and are the right thing to do.

Over time, they will realize that implementing safety into the data center lifestyle will help transform the business culture into one that drives efficiency, productivity, profitability, and work quality while mitigating the risk of injury to the employees and brand name.

How Can Mechartes Help?

As mentioned above, undertaking comprehensive risk assessment and root-cause analysis is key to data center safety.

At Mechartes, we focus on providing accurate simulation results with a professional approach using advanced engineering tools so that your insight is the best you can get. In addition, we provide  Data Center Validation Services, including the pre-design stage, design stage, and construction stage.

Our specialty includes Data Center Architecture and Engineering. The different stages we design, and the specific technologies we use are:

• Pre-Design Stage: We use External Flow CFD analysis for the chiller and generator yards present in the Data Center sites. We carefully assess the wind directions and weather conditions to judge the perfect placement of the chiller and generator units.

• Design Stage: We use CFD Analysis to validate and optimize the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) design of the following areas per specific project requirements: Data Hall, Generator room, and DRUPS room.

• Construction Stage: Stress analysis is used to analyze the existing piping networks as it helps diagnose the design’s compatibility with its weight, pressure, and thermal stress. We provide support and design suggestions for the most effective strategy based on the detailed stress analysis report.

We’re not your average simulation partner. For expert consultation on designing and adhering to the data center standard safety structures, check out our Data Center Architecture & Engineering offerings.

We cater to clients at every stage of growth — from beginners to advanced-tier three designs of data centers for mega users. Get in touch with us for more. details.