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reconstruct through a managed vacation and migration of IT processing . However , the original design and financial plans for these sites were often authored with the structural and architectural elements having a life expectancy of 60 years . There is also a significant embodied carbon penalty to pay in demolition and rebuilding . A substantial amount of the construction work involves the use of energy dense concrete and steel to such an extent that refurbishing an existing
Simon Harris , Head of Critical Infrastructure at BCS ( Business Critical Solutions ) facility can save in the order of 70 % -80 % of the carbon cost of a new build .
In many cases , an upgrade and refresh to critical infrastructure could liberate trapped electrical capacity for deployment to serve higher density and growing IT loads , for example through UPS replacement or cooling solution changes . These types of interventions will be more easily accommodated in Tier III facilities having two concurrently maintainable power and cooling paths , although the work will require careful planning and right-first-time execution . Nevertheless , such a solution overcomes the power availability challenges and takes the facility down a path towards better PUE performance .
Other considerations
At BCS our experience shows that there are some key project success factors :
1 . Clarity of brief
Within existing facilities , it is easy to allow the scope of the project to expand as operational stakeholders have their say and more facts and shortcomings about the facility come to light . The brief points the way in preventing budget and programme pressures being realised by focusing on scope that enhances or protects asset performance and value .
• Surveys and validation of record information
It is often wrongly assumed that record information is accurate and up to date . These should be checked and recommissioned if necessary .
• Budget setting and consideration of the detail of the project
Broad-brush cost estimates based upon historic norms are usually inappropriate and likely to give misleading answers . Consideration needs to be given to the project specifics and prevailing working constraints .
• Recognition of working constraints
Operational procedures at data centre sites often prevent uninterrupted working and change freezes are not uncommon . Projects tend to have extended execution times compared to new construction .
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