This document discusses practical considerations for implementing prefabricated modular data centers. Some key differences from traditional data center deployment include shorter planning/design time, simplified permitting process, and modules arriving near fully assembled. Site preparation is also simpler, involving preparing the site with pipes and circuits before installing the prefabricated modules using cranes or forklifts. Proper placement, handling, and securing of the modules is discussed.
Practical Considerations for Implementing Prefabricated Data Centers
1. Practical Considerations for
Implementing Prefabricated
Data Centers
Schneider Electric
Data Center Science Center
White Paper 166
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
2. Implementing prefabricated modular data centers results in well-understood
benefits including speed of deployment, predictability,
scalability, and lifecycle cost. The process of deploying them –
from designing the data center, to preparing the site, to procuring
the equipment, to installation – is quite different than that of a
traditional data center. This paper presents practical
considerations, guidance, and results that a data center manager
should expect from such a deployment.
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
3. Introduction
Understand practical considerations of deploying
prefabricated modular data centers
Considerations
•• Project plan and design
• Site prep
• How equipment is procured
• How equipment is installed and commissioned
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
4. Prefab vs. Traditional Data Centers
Deployment process Prefabricated data center deployment Traditional data center deployment
• Engineering and specification performed at • Engineering and specification performed at
Plan / Design
system level
• Less than 12 weeks for planning/design
component level
• Generally 24 (or more) weeks for
planning/design
• Value of UL Listed or other agency listed
modules omitted from permitting costs
• Permitting costs include value of all systems
• documentation detailed
Site preparation
• Permitting documentation focus on
interconnections of modules
• Inspection of field-work only, not of
subsystems within modules
• Options placement
Permitting requires drawings at subsystem level
• Inspection of all field work, including traditional
subsystem interconnections
• Systems placed indoors except heat rejection
of indoor or outdoor and • Modules generally placed directly over
underground wiring/piping
generator
• Wiring/piping to building may require support
hardware or special structures
Procurement
• Modules generally designed to meet
transportation weight limits, arrive near fully
assembled
• Products arrive in different shipments, by
different vendors
• Construction trash is minimal
• Construction trash is significant
Installation
• Climate and outdoor conditions / landscape
impact placement / orientation when
installed outdoors
• Only outdoor cooling system and generator
must consider outdoor conditions / landscape
• Installed by forklifts and by hand, as separate
• Typically installed by truck crane products
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
5. Planning & Design Considerations
Classification as “personal property”
Prefab modules classified as “personal property” rather than
“site” or “building improvements”
• Modules booked and depreciated separate from building
• May be leased independent of other site assets
• May be moved from one regional data center to another while
maintaining its prior depreciation and value
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
6. Planning & Design Considerations
System-level design engineering
• Uses a system-level design approach
rather than designing from parts
• No need for architectural decisions
•• Reduces time spent understanding
requirements and developing design
• All components and controls implemented
and tested in factory as a complete system
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
7. Site Preparation Considerations
Site prep work is simplified
• Permits obtained
• Pipes and circuits laid
• Land/building readied for system
• Site inspection
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
8. Site Preparation Considerations
Permits and inspection
• Reduced time to develop construction drawings
and permit sets
• More efficient review and inspection
• Inspection focused on field-constructed aspects of
prefab data centers only
• Permitting costs don’t include value of facility
module
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
9. Site Preparation Considerations
Locating modules indoors vs. outdoors
• Weather-tight modules designed for outdoor use
• Saves money – outdoor square footage less expensive
• Must be near utilities, i.e., electricity, water, etc.
• Consider ease of installation, servicing and general housekeeping
• Modules installed indoors if:
• module is skid-mounted
• module enclosure is not weather rated
• need/desire to protect personnel from inclement
weather during operation and maintenance activities
• require added security of critical systems
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
10. Site Preparation Considerations
Foundations for modules
• Continuous concrete slab
• most common
• Multiple independent concrete slabs
• frequently used where surface water
drainage is an issue
• Piers or concrete columns
• module is skid-mounted
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
11. Site Preparation Considerations
Underground wire and piping interconnections
• Data center module power less complex, less
expensive if run underground
• Requires fewer support structures
• Can use less expensive materials
• Power facility module can be dropped over pre-installed
underground electrical conduits
• Simplifies weather sealing and conductor
terminations
• Cooling modules located adjacent to emergence
of underground chilled water piping
• p Simplifies or eliminates need for pp
support hardware
or special structures
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
12. Procurement Considerations
Simpler, faster than traditional data center
• Modules purchased from single vendor as single system or set of
systems
• Delivery challenges avoided
• Transportation regulations taken into account by prefab integrators
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
13. Procurement Considerations
Transportation
• Modules transported by truck
• regulations governing weights and
dimensions vary by state, country
• ISO containers a common form factor
• Module transport often contracted out
• Protective measures taken prior to
shipment
•• examples –– doors secured, loose
items tied down
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
14. Procurement Considerations
Packaging
• Minimal packaging
• reduces time and cost of packaging disposal
• Exception -- UPS
• batteries removed, packaged and restrained for safe transport
Traditional Prefabricated
Comparison of
trash volume
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
15. Procurement Considerations
Protection from the elements
• Modules not fully enclosed or weather
tight must be sealed for transport
• Common approaches
• hard exterior
• heavy duty shrink wrap
• Packaged modules arrive in cleaner
condition
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
16. Site Installation Considerations
Well-designed modules = faster, simpler installation
• Module location
• How to handle and place modules
• How to secure modules
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
17. Site Installation Considerations
Positioning and orientation
• Module placement outdoors significantly impacts
• reliability
• efficiency
• accessibility
• maintainability • Avoid
• too much sun exposure
• Stacked modules save space
overhanging objects
• high traffic areas
• obstructions
• poor drainage areas
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
18. Site Installation Considerations
Handling and placement
• Container handlers
• Overhead cranes
• Mobile cranes
• most economical choice for installation
•• saves time and expense
• To prevent damage
• minimize contact between lifting straps and modules
• level the load
• use professional crane company
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
19. Site Installation Considerations
Securing modules and seismic considerations
• Fix modules to location to withstand
horizontal and vertical forces
• example -- wind
• Address seismic requirements where they
exist
• concrete foundation
• foundation to module connection
• Refer to seismic planning guides offered by
data center manufacturers
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
20. Conclusion
● Prefab modules simplify data center planning
● Compressed schedule from concept to completion
● Unique aspects of prefab vs. traditional
● planning
● site preparation
● packaging
● delivery
● handling
● placement
● securing module
Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014
21. Resources
Accounting and Tax Benefits of Modular, Portable Data Center Infrastructure
White Paper 115
Data Center Projects: System Planning
White Paper 142
Containerized Power and Cooling Modules for Data Centers
White Paper 163
TCO Analysis of a Traditional Data Center vs. a Scalable, Containerized Data Center
White Paper 164
Types of Prefabricated Modular Data Centers
White p
Paper 165
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Prefabricated vs. Traditional Data Center Cost Calculator
TradeOff Tool 17
Data Center Design Planning Calculator
TradeOff Tool 8
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Schneider Electric – Data Center Science Center WP 166 Presentation – July 2014