SERVICE & MAINTENANCE
Scheduled maintenance will cover routine check- ups as previously mentioned along with detailed inspections that will flag up any issues before they become a fundamental problem. The schedule will be dictated by the manufacturer’s recommendations or the best practices in the industry for the category level of the data centre. But the customer may well have their own itemised own check list for added security. Predictive maintenance is a relatively new but
increasingly popular strategy where smart tools are used that gather and monitors data from various points of HVAC equipment to prevent it from failing but also monitors and keeps costs under control. The data empowers data centre operators and facilities managers to make more informed decisions.
Condition based maintenance is exactly that, it focuses on data and various formulas that will enable a judgement to be made on the chiller or AHUs condition and the likelihood of component failure. Similar equipment can be expected to operate the same, but no two data centres environments are the same and other factors can come into play which may alter operation and performance. Not every piece of equipment requires the same level of maintenance. Each piece of kit may
have a different lifespan for example. Some data centres may focus on a seasonal plan depending on location and geoclimatic conditions or may require daily or weekly attention of particular systems. A good PPM is the strongest defence. A checklist will take stock of your system’s unique needs and create customised solutions that work for your data centre. Key areas to attend to in any data centre and can include: Q Robust documentation of tasks and tracking Q Identifying any potential issues with equip- ment
Q Leak checking, excessive vibration, signs of corrosion and noises, checking for clogged filters
Q Detailed audit trails Q Lubricating and cleaning equipment and replacing components when necessary Q Awareness of battery failures.
The list is by no means exhaustive. Strong testing protocols should also be in place with regular Black Building testing (where a complete failure is implemented to test functionality but also fast restart) to ensure business continuity and uptime of chillers and AHUs. Protocols should also ensure health and safety procedures are in place and documented.
Improvements cannot be made if there are no measurements to benchmark.
Improvements cannot be made if there are no
measurements to benchmark. Data centres are complex facilities and their maintenance muti-faceted. Technological changes have a significant impact on data centres. Size, scope need to be monitored and factored in alongside improving air flows and ensuring servers are kept cool. Due to the substantial amounts of data businesses use and rely on, costs can be vast if shutdowns occur and not just financially. There aren’t many services that can pay for themselves, but regular HVAC maintenance does. Reductions in the overall cost of ownership, reductions in energy consumed, increased longevity of equipment, and minimising equipment failure provide financial benefits and security for customers whilst giving providers a competitive edge in an industry that has high-demand.
Download the ACR News app today
www.acr-news.com • May 2023 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
