The data centre build from a Sudlows perspective

To give you more of a flavour for how the data centre build has progressed we asked Sudlows, our data centre design and build specialists about the more challenging aspects of the build. Taking part in our brief interview were Will Cocker, Sudlows Project Manager and Steve Haughton, Sudlows Zen Internet Site Manager.

Morning Will, how has the data centre build gone so far?

I would have to say the project, to date, has come together really well, helped all the more by the great team at Zen Internet. In fact, our only real challenge came when a strike in Belgium caused a slight delay to the delivery of the DRUPS (Diesel Rotary Uninterruptible Power Supply). However, being Sudlows, this was soon accommodated for by accelerating other areas of the programme to compensate for this slight delay. Fortunately, our experience within the data centre industry means that such random external events can often be anticipated, and with a slight programme realignment we can ensure that the project keeps moving forward and Zen were fully supported.

Thanks Will.

Steve, was any of the build technically challenging?

There have been 3 specific items on this project that have been technically challenging and have required that extra bit of attention and detail.

The DRUPS cabling route from the external concrete plinth to the new switch room
The installation of the new LV panel within the new switch room
The delivery and installation of the DRUPS themselves.

1. The routing of the DRUPS cables was particularly interesting for us as this involved routing from a cast concrete trench, through an existing path way, up the external face of the building, through the 600mm thick wall, into the raised access floor void, through an existing office area (where we had to install a structural support to hold the wall up!), through a 600mm deep solid concrete floor and then finally navigating through into the new switchroom.

The cables to and from the DRUPS are laid in a trench

Before the cables are installed, sand is poured into the trench to prevent damage

The lower section of the wall is removed to allow the containment through

Core drilling allows for the cables to enter the room from below

New structural wall bracket

DRUPS containment installed, ready for cables

DRUPS cables installed and being tied in

2. The installation of the new LV panel presented a small but interesting logistical challenge as the new panel was 2350mm tall and the smallest door casing along the access route to the new switch room was 2000mm. This meant that the panel had to enter the room on its back and stood up in its final resting place, this does not sound too hard until you consider some sections weighed above and beyond 600 kilograms!

LV panel delivery

The 1 Tonne HIAB crane is used to lift each section off the trailers

Each section is then righted, ready to be pushed in to final position

First section in place

All sections are coupled together, ready for cable termination

3. The DRUPS installation at the rear of the building involved closing the car park down to position a large crane to lift of 2 large 40 foot green containers containing the new UPS systems for the new data centre.

Crane positioning

First DRUPS arrives

Jibbing the DRUPS into position

Final adjustments

And how did you overcome these challenges?

These were all crucial milestones that required that little bit more attention, but were successfully achieved through careful design and planning and crucially spending the time to carefully access each task and all the possible outcomes.

Close contact with Zen, in the simplest form of daily meetings, also helped everyone involved to know the ins and outs of every task that was performed on the job and also build a solid relationship and ultimately achieve what Zen wanted for their data centre!

I’d like to thank Will & Steve for their time & input and also Christian Wray, Sudlows Marketing Manager, for helping to arrange these interviews.

If you are interested in our new Greater Manchester data centre, you can book a data centre tour.