Data Centre Design
At KIPO, we focus on helping and advising organisations, in particular end users and data centre providers, to meet the challenges imposed by high density requirements and resilient solutions demanded by today’s businesses. Our service encompasses professional advice and management across a very broad spectrum of project content from initial appraisals and scheme analysis, through to concept and detailed design, to supporting a full professional team or Client’s FM department.
We are highly skilled in the detailed planning logistics for implementing works in such environments. We understand the nature of data centre services operations, business continuity, and how resilience services engineering should be utilised.
Important considerations for data centre design
Tier level and redundancy
Target market and data hall power density for future clients
Day one white space and its associated plant space
Final day white space and its associated plant space
Modular growth of the data centre
Power availability in the area
Reducing Build costs and scalability
Critical power generation strategy
Critical UPS strategy
Critical cooling strategy
Security
Modern technical expertise
National and International Projects
The international projects range in scope from due diligence surveys on potential developments, the production of Employers Requirements and Engineering Standards for local design development, through to full detailed design packages.
For both UK based and International projects, clients, other team members and contractors alike have informed us that the information we produce is amongst the highest level provided in the industry. This benefits the project by reducing uncertainty, requests for further details, avoiding delays and provides the client with a more thoroughly conceived and implemented project, together with useful and comprehensive documentation.
Client-Led Solutions
We tailor our services to suit particular Client’s needs, and can offer the following:
Site selection and due diligence - a critical aspect, including full gap analysis and weighted scoring techniques.
Detailed brief and studies - each facility brings with it a set of circumstances that are particular and have to be addressed. Therefore, whilst in principle the engineering solutions are usually straightforward to establish, these need to be considered in the full context of the site.
Concept and outline scheme design - this develops the brief further and importantly documents growth/ flexibility and future proofing.
Production of a client’s requirements document - if the client’s preference is to undertake a contractor’s design and construct contract, we have extensive experience in this regard.
Full design and implementation - we provide a coordinated approach with very comprehensive design drawings, including REVIT if required, schedules and specifications. We can establish operating costs, as well as deal with the usual tender process, risk mitigation and early procurement for long lead items.
Production of accurate training manuals and operate seminars - to brief operational FM teams on new facilities.
Sustainability - increasing in importance, for which we can undertake LEED/ BREEAM assessments. Similarly, we encourage sustainable solutions and these are increasingly incorporated into our designs.
Client monitoring - Here we form part of the client team to comprehensively oversee a professional team or D&C team for the project. We provide a full technical audit and have good capability on cost planning and programme experience.
Acceptance, testing and IST - we can prepare completely or contribute significantly to the planning and documentation process that is vital to any successful data centre project.
Other services we provide
Review of an existing data centre facility and its ability to satisfy a tenants or multi tenants requirements
Review systems resilience and access any Single Points of Failure (SPoF)
Assess property Tier rating against the Uptime Institute definition, TIA or Green Grid Maturity Model
Evaluate systems ability to have concurrent maintenance performed
Condition survey of existing plant with assessment of remaining life expectancy
Electrical fault analysis and protection discrimination studies
System capacity planning and ability to be expanded/ future proofed
CFD and mechanical system thermal analysis
Maintenance audits and Business risk of engineering support services
Probable risk analysis
Evaluation of control and monitoring systems and logistics to upgrade/ replace in live environment (BMS, PMS and EMS)
Energy audits on how the facilities operational efficiency can be improved
Sustainability evaluation and recommendations for improvement (BREEAM, LEED etc.)
Production of PUE, WUE and CUE calculation tools