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Water Mitigation in Data Centers PDF
Water Mitigation in Data Centers PDF
Table 1: Site Selection Guide for Tier ratings. Source: TIA 942 Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for
Data Centers
should be above the water table and to
determine if utility maintenance holes can the second leading contributor to insulated bus
cause water ingress based on their location. failure. This is important to note as humidity in
the presence of contaminants can also increase
These standards and guidelines highlight the partial discharge.23
importance of a water mitigation strategy for
data centers. Placing data centers in low risk Table 2. Contributing causes of switchgear bus
areas is a great approach to risk mitigation due failure. (Source: Paoletti, G., & Baier, M. 2002)22
to natural disasters, but even under less
onerous conditions, water can be a threat that
data center owners, designers and operators
must contend with to mitigate risk of
downtime.
While typical duct designs can ensure proper Even if proper site selection is achieved, will it
slope to direct water away from buildings and be enough for the future? Climate change
equipment, and vaults can be located above the seems to be changing the rules and could
water table, moisture can still be present inside potentially be the biggest threat to
vaults or ducts leading to and away from infrastructure. For example, in the UK,
generators, switchgear, load banks and increased frequency of coastal, fluvial or pluvial
transformers. This moisture can cause long- flooding is expected to damage key ICT assets
term damage by facilitating insulation such as cables, masts, pylons, data centers,
breakdown. Using cables optimized for these telephone exchanges, base stations or switching
environments (e.g. TR-XLPE or LC) can reduce centers30 and increased flooding from all
the risk, but not all cables failures are due to a sources is the most significant risk to
breakdown in cable insulation. Splices, infrastructure.31 One of the most striking
terminations and joints are also a potential assessments highlighting the potential impact
weak link as poor workmanship can lead to of climate change in the UK is a report by AEA
water ingress. The effects of water might not compiled for DEFRA, the UK’s Department of
be immediate, and longer term, water in and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The
around power distribution ducts and equipment report, Adapting the ICT Sector to the impacts
can lead to premature cable failure. of Climate Change, provides information related
to underground and above ground
infrastructure.32 The following points Sea level rise combined with coastal
summarize some of the potential impacts of storms has increase the risk of erosion,
flooding: storm surge damage, and flooding for
coastal communities
Elements of infrastructure below Sea level is expected to increase 1 to 4
ground are vulnerable to flooding, rising feet over this century
water tables, water ingress
Above Ground – risks from Coastal communities are at the greatest risk of
precipitation, unstable ground, and storm surges and rising sea levels. Combined
humidity tide levels and rising sea levels is already
Flooding of conduits, increased risk of contributing to chronic flooding in many US
flooding low-lying areas, access holes cities. Although it’s uncertain to know exactly
and underground facilities how much sea level will rise in the future,
moderate projections for sea rise predict nearly
In the US, the report Climate Change Impacts in 490 communities in the U.S. will face chronic
the United States: The Third National Climate inundation by the end of the century.34
Assessment, U.S. Global Change Research Additional scenarios show the number as 668
Program reports similar information.33 communities affected (Table 3).
Some of the key findings from the report are: Although most of the communities are small,
larger cities will be affected such as Boston,
Infrastructure is being damaged by sea New York, Miami, San Mateo and Newark. Of
level rise, heavy downpours and course, data centers are already located in
extreme heat; damages are projected these cities and undoubtedly, some could be at
to increase with continued climate risk of flooding.
change
Over the past century, global average A recent paper, Lights Out: Climate Change Risk
sea level has risen by 8 inches to Internet Infrastructure predicts that in 2030,
Since 1992, sea level rise has been with a 1ft rise in sea level, 235 data centers will
almost twice the rate observed over the be affected, as well as 771 POPs, 53 landing
last century stations, and 42 IXPs.29
Figure 6. Unsealed ducts quickly fill with water and debris Figure 7. Silicone and foam used to stop water ingress
In this scenario, ducts, vaults and maintenance Mechanical sealing solutions that are purpose
holes fill with water and debris, where cables built for sealing underground ducts provide the
and equipment can be exposed to high levels of highest level of protection. These solutions are
water and humidity. This is the highest risk typically a compressed rubber solution with
scenario and is very common when tight tolerances that, when compressed,
construction specifications do not include provide a water-tight seal that will contain a
details for sealing ducts and building entries. high level of water pressure for long term
reliability (Figure 8). These solutions are
In many cases, after a problem with water designed for life of building duration or
ingress has been discovered, some type of maintenance schedule.
maintenance procedure is established to solve
the problem.
Even in less severe weather conditions, ducts
can be a source of humidity which can effect
short and long-term operational reliability of
fiber and power systems.
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