Intelligent Data Centres Issue 02 | Page 69

THE EDGE n a world full of tech giants, Blockchain, cryptocurrencies and cloud computing we are living in the era of the data revolution, where data and information are coined as the new gold and data centres are the proverbial treasure chests in which its stored. I With data centres predicted to use 20% of all the world’s electricity by 2025 and emit up to 5.5% of all carbon emissions, data centre operators and clients are conscious of the need and responsibility to minimise this as much as possible. Within the past year, we have seen a number of major data centre users committing to powering their facilities on 100% renewable energy. This is no easy feat as while data centres are required to operate 24/7, many renewable energy sources do not. Achieving these lofty goals requires precision engineering and commissioning to ensure that systems are integrated in harmony and operating as efficiently as possible. maintainability, environmental, comfort and energy performance criteria and verifies that these been achieved and sustained. Experience shows that projects can often turn out to be more complex than originally thought, particularly when it comes to the integrated performance of the building and its engineering services. There is also evidence that where design or construction personnel adopt responsibility for commissioning process activities, design and construction tasks often get prioritised over commissioning works. A high-quality commissioning management specialist can bring an independence and an inter-disciplinary perspective to the commissioning process that would otherwise be absent. The commissioning process can be introduced to new or existing facilities, ensuring engineering services are set to work to the specified performance requirements and deliver a facility that really works for individuals, businesses, society and the environment. To achieve this, the commissioning specialist should work closely with the designers from the earliest stages of preparation and design. Research has shown that energy consumed by the engineering services involved in cooling a data centre can be over 40% of the total energy consumption and it stands to reason that this figure will be even higher in the Middle East. There are many variables that affect how a facility and its engineering services perform. The commissioning quality assurance and planning process provides a clear definition of the desired functionality, usability, controllability, www.intelligentdatacentres.com THE COMMISSIONING SPECIALIST SHOULD WORK CLOSELY WITH THE DESIGNERS FROM THE EARLIEST STAGES OF PREPARATION AND DESIGN. Commissioning-focused design reviews The purpose of design reviews in the commissioning process is not to find mistakes. It is to evaluate the design team’s process for achieving the outcomes needed by the client, stakeholders and building operators. The commissioning manager will undertake reviews based the specific client performance outcomes, such as cooling loads, system resilience or redundancy, power quality, access control, maintainability, operator usability and operating requirements. Use and benefits of BIM Building information modelling (BIM) is an essential process for designing data centres with their complex engineering requirements and can add value in the following areas: Mark Rawlings, Commissioning Project Manager at AESG • • Detailing for pre-fabrication for speed of delivery, improved quality and off-site commissioning Issue 02 69