• • • DATA CENTRE MANAGEMENT • • •


ensure that a system is easy to both maintain and develop moving forwards.


It’s for this reason that working very closely with M&E contractors from both a digital and an on-site perspective is so important. Clear communication and collaboration, information sharing, dialogue, regular meetings, and shared responsibility with a project’s M&E contractor enables manufacturers like RMS Cable Management to create practical and cost effective solutions.


Companies with experience in modular and prefabricated manufacture, modern methods of construction (MMC) and design for manufacturing (DFM) can help ease the pressures and challenges faced by main contractors and enables all parties to value each other’s position in the supply chain. Most modern construction projects now require digital models to provide open and sharable information. 3D computer aided design (CAD) software can be used to create modular cable management solutions. Taking building information modelling (BIM) and/or Revit files, extracting the M&E layers and working with contractors can help develop the best solutions for their cable management needs.


Safe and secure


Labelling, identification and floorplan schematics are all part of one complete cable management system. Diligence is required throughout all project stages, from planning to handover, to ensure a specification compliant installation. Often this will involve input from installation teams, project engineers, project managers and, sometimes, end users.


The proliferation of data centres and, in particular, colocation facilities, is driving the need


for easy and foolproof identification of cable containment hardware for individual clients. Colour coding cable trunking, tray, ladder, basket and electrical metallic tubing (EMT) based containment is a tried and tested method of facilitating this. In addition, when it comes to EMT, not only is experience with cutting, joining and bending pipes necessary, there is an additional catalogue of essential components required to cater for the navigation of fibre optic cables. Working with a manufacturer that has a comprehensive set of simple, adaptable products to complement standard EMT pipes is therefore advisable. Cable management systems also play a role in protecting data. A system needs to prevent accidental and malicious damage from point of entry to point of use, and modern EMT systems provide this through secure, robust, thick-walled steel pipes, coupled with tamperproof transit box units to load, pull, inspect and maintain cables. They allow end to end navigation through walls, ceilings, floors, both externally and internally, and can be manufactured from steel, using tamper proof screws to secure access hatches.


Green for go Regulations applying to noise, smoke and fumes, hot-works and everyday working conditions all contribute to the challenges faced on-site. Likewise, every organisation is being challenged to be more sustainable. On-site production methods often create excess materials, as well as waste from installation processes.


Modular and prefabricated cable management solutions can reduce a carbon footprint, as the delivered product contains less packaging than


separate components and they also minimise material waste by up to 20% versus on-site production. Leading cable management companies that take sustainability seriously will also have defined recycling policies to ensure that all waste packaging and other materials are segregated and recycled appropriately. This all adds up to offer greater carbon certainty for construction projects and manufacturers should be able to provide embodied carbon calculations for prefabricated modules.


Making a difference


Good cable management can make a massive difference to the efficacy and long-term management of a data centre and should never be underestimated. When considered against typical installation and implementation project costs, reduced waste and packaging, savings on on-site contractors and the benefits of guaranteed quality, it’s no wonder modular and prefabricated cable management are here to stay.


electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • FEBRUARY 2023 25


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