EXPERT OPINION
Samuel Tumma , Head of Engineering at Aggreko Africa
that the solution meets specification criteria . At this stage , full load test documentation should be developed to cover quality auditing that includes method statements and schematics . Third place is pre-functional testing that verifies the functionality of the equipment and whether it has been correctly installed , wired , torqued and Megger tested before initial energisation .
The fifth step is individual system testing that takes each item – UPS module , generators , PDUs , bus-bar systems , et al – and individually tests it for full functionality . This includes burn-in tests for hardware using loadbanks or thermal imaging . Finally , integrated system testing wraps the entire system together to test the entire data centre ’ s performance at full load for all critical infrastructure . This layer of the process should be ensuring that varying loads , staged machinery failures and potential utility problems are applied to the data centre to ensure that it can handle it .
The power conundrum
While testing is always going to be a critical part of data centre maintenance and development , additional power sources and solutions should also be high on the priority list . Power solutions that can hold the data centre upright in the event of an unplanned – and in South Africa , planned – outage . Aggreko not only provides collaborative expertise in testing for data centre capability , but is the world ’ s largest hire company for temporary power and storage alongside precise temperature control .
Aggreko works with data centre providers to ensure that power is always on when needed and to support data centres with anything from seasonal changes in temperature to unplanned outages in power . The company tests all equipment constantly to ensure reliability and works closely with data centre providers to ensure that their systems are ready , no matter what .
In Mombasa , Kenya , for example , Aggreko worked with icolo . io to test all the equipment , including power generators , UPS systems and precision cooling to get its Tier 3 unit in Mombasa online . icolo . io designs , builds and operates state-of-theart carrier-neutral data centres . Aggreko ’ s loadbank service helped icolo . io test and commission the data centre and meet the Uptime Institute ’ s requirement for a Tier 3 facility . With our help , it was able to demonstrate the capability of the data centre and attract global customers with its unique offering .
Extra as a standard
For data centre contractors and operators , it makes sense to enlist testing and commissioning experts , such as those from Aggreko , because they can evaluate exactly what testing should be carried out and provide the correct level of equipment and expertise for carrying it out . For all stakeholders , using an outside consultant and outsourced equipment can generate even more cost savings thanks to the elimination of any capital expenditure on testing equipment .
Aggreko promises extra innovation , reassurance , expertise and flexibility to ensure your data centre is tested properly and eliminating the risk of downtime . We use the latest technology to stress-test your equipment – a task which can be performed remotely with the results sent through to your smart device . We always ensure resilience and consistency by delivering global standards for testing and providing the most extensive range of equipment .
We conduct robust testing of all power and cooling infrastructure – quickly and safely . With our mobile systems mean we can work around you and other trades on-site , reducing the risk of delays and maximising health and safety . ◊
TESTING PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO ANY WEAKNESSES INHERENT IN THE SYSTEM , FLAWS THAT MAY ONLY BE APPARENT WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE SYSTEM .
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