A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is not a new way to protect your data center against power failure. The UPS has stood the test of time, adapting and advancing to meet modern needs, because it is one of the best ways to invest in your data center’s ability to maintain uptime and continue operations as normal. If you have not yet invested in a UPS system for your data center, we highly advise that you consult an experienced UPS installer to get a system installed as soon as possible. Once a UPS system is installed, the next most important thing you can do is ensure that it is routinely maintained. Proper UPS maintenance is one of the best ways to ensure that if you do have a power failure, your data center is protected from downtime. 

5 Critical UPS Maintenance Tips

1. Create a UPS Maintenance Schedule & Checklist

UPS maintenance is not something that can only be done all at once, once or twice per year. Routine maintenance on a consistent schedule protects against deteriorating or failed UPS components going unnoticed until it is too late. Certain components may only need hands-on maintenance once or twice per year but other components of your UPS system may need quarterly maintenance. Create a detailed schedule outlining what specific areas need to be inspected, cleaned, or otherwise maintained. 

Then, using the UPS maintenance schedule as a guide, create a checklist of what exactly needs to be performed so that there is complete transparency of who is assigned to a particular task and what all needs to be done to complete that task. This step will lead us to our next step and why it is important.

2.  Don’t Neglect Visual Inspection

In a data-driven industry, it can be easy to simply want to look at and rely on the data to determine how a UPS system is functioning. But, when it comes to UPS maintenance, a visual inspection should never be neglected!  TechTarget elaborates on comprehensive visual UPS inspection, “Periodic visual inspections are some of the most important steps you can take to keep your UPSes healthy. You can perform a partial visual inspection and look at the unit’s exterior, but a fully comprehensive inspection includes an internal component examination. Doing so, however, can expose you to dangerous electrical currents. Such inspection should, therefore, only be performed by qualified individuals, such as an electrical engineer, facility electrician or a third party. For a partial visual inspection, look for any buildup of dust or dirt. Dust can clog device vents and cause them to overheat. The inspection should also include a battery assessment. Look out for any signs of corrosion, leakage or swelling, as these are indicators that the batteries need replacement. It is also a good idea to check the alternating current input and output capacitors, as well as the direct current filter capacitors. The capacitors should be clean and not show any signs of cracking or swelling. During a visual UPS maintenance inspection, don’t only use your eyes. You should also listen for unusual sounds and pay attention to abnormal smells; either could indicate the presence of a hardware problem.”

3. Keep Records of Performed Maintenance

Utilizing the checklists, keep detailed records of not only what tasks were completed, but how they were completed, if anything was noticed on visual inspection that should be monitored, when maintenance happened, etc. This will help in the future if there are ever power failures or other problems and more information about your UPS system’s history is needed.

4. Watch Your UPS Batteries Closely

When a UPS system fails during a power emergency, it is most often because you have a problem with your UPS battery. Routine maintenance will help you stay on top of your UPS battery health and functionality. The goal of maintenance is to keep an eye on any changes happening to a battery, how well it discharges, and ultimately collect the data to help anticipate when it might fail so that you can pre-emptively change it. It is a delicate balance because you want to maximize your investment in your UPS system and use it for as long as possible but you also don’t want to push it and risk failure, as Data Center Knowledge points out, “UPS batteries are normally able to provide several years of service, “operating reliably even through repeated charging and occasional use while supporting critical loads,” according to the report. But just like any battery, they have a regular lifecycle. ‘The key challenge is to know when your batteries are nearing the end of their life expectancy and to be able to replace them before you get into a situation — such as a complete power outage — where they fail to protect the load,’ Vertiv explains.”

While a UPS battery comes with an expected lifespan, that does not mean that it can predict when it will fail. Battery lifespan is determined by testing a battery under perfect conditions – perfect temperature, perfect humidity, etc. But, as we all know, batteries never exist in a vacuum and no data center is perfect. Batteries are subjected to inconsistent temperatures, humidity, moisture, and other factors the may shorten the lifespan of a battery. Because of this, a visual inspection of batteries should be performed routinely to see if there are any visible problems. Additionally, batteries should be tested to make sure they can discharge at full capacity when needed.  

5.  When in Doubt, Invest in a Professional UPS Maintenance Service

Your UPS system is your primary protection for your critical facility against unexpected power failure. For this reason, it is essential that your UPS system is routinely maintained. But, not all data centers and mission-critical facilities can or want to oversee UPS maintenance. When this is the case, it is important that a UPS maintenance service provider is hired so that important UPS maintenance does not get neglected. Whether you have weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual professional UPS maintenance, having another set of eyes that specializes in UPS systems can be extremely helpful in protecting your data center against UPS failure.

The majority of the world depends on computers for at least one aspect of their daily life. And, beyond the individual, businesses and governments depend on computers to remain operable. One of the most common problems any computer room might face is overheating. Whether a computer room is large or small, keeping equipment cool and safe from the myriad of problems that could arise with overheating should be a top priority. Because of this, computer room air conditioning and/or handler maintenance and repair are critically important.

Is My CRAC/CRAH Setup Correctly?

Many people that struggle to maintain an ideal temperature and/or think their equipment may be operating in too much heat often wonder if their CRAC/CRAH was even set up correctly in the first place. The answer is – maybe, but maybe not. Depending on who installed it, and when it was installed, your CRAC system may never have been correctly installed. Or, your CRAC/CRAH system is simply no longer adequate to meet your demand. But, either way, it must be addressed. 

The reality is, data centers and computer rooms are massive consumers of energy and therefore there are multiple ways a CRAC can be set up depending on your facility, capabilities, and needs.  TechTarget provides a helpful overview of CRAC setups, “There are a variety of ways that the CRAC units can be situated. One CRAC setup that has been successful is the process of cooling air and having it dispensed through an elevated floor. The air rises through the perforated sections, forming cold aisles. The cold air flows through the racks where it picks up heat before exiting from the rear of the racks. The warm exit air forms hot aisles behind the racks, and the hot air returns to the CRAC intakes, which are positioned above the floor.”  

Importance of Computer Room A/C Maintenance and Repair

Even the most experienced IT personnel may not fully understand or have the ability to properly maintain and repair your computer room A/C (CRAC). It is general practice to try to maximize the efficiency of the space available to you by getting as much equipment into the smallest space possible. This type of high-density computing makes sense because the more concentrated your equipment is, the easier it is to direct the proper amount of cooling or hot air extraction exactly where you need it – in theory. But, in practice, getting as much equipment in the smallest amount of space is a great way to reduce the space you use but also then concentrates all the heat generated by that equipment into a smaller space which could lead to overheating, damaged equipment, downtime, and is a major safety hazard.

Without proper routine maintenance and repair, these issues can easily be overlooked until it is too late. Rather than waiting until you have already reached that point, it is far better to work with an experienced CRAC maintenance and repair company so that your computer room’s A/C is consistently repaired and maintained, optimizing energy-efficiency and uptime. An experienced CRAX maintenance and repair company should provide outstanding service including troubleshooting, quality parts mechanical systems support, field service reports, and more on a consistent schedule such as quarterly, semi-annually, or on a frequency that best meets your needs. An experienced and knowledgeable CRAC maintenance and repair service will also improve your efficiency through the elimination of “hot spots” by properly placing air returns, perforated tiles, and sensor protection in optimal locations based on your unique space.

CRAC vs. CRAH

Though until now, we have only addressed CRAC system maintenance and repair, it is important to note that there is an alternative to CRAC – CRAH. When talking about managing computer room air, there are two primary methods of protecting from overheating – cooling the air or removing the hot air. CRAH stands for “computer room air handler” and is a tool used in hot air removal, also known as “hot air rejection.”

CRAH systems work extremely well and are very energy efficient, as VXCHNG points out, ‘A computer room air conditioner (CRAC) unit isn’t all that different from a conventional AC unit that uses a compressor to keep refrigerant cold. They operate by blowing air over a cooling coil that’s filled with refrigerant. Relatively inefficient, they generally run at a constant level and don’t allow for precision cooling controls.

Computer room air handlers (CRAHs), on the other hand, use a chilled water plant that supplies the cooling coil with cold water. Air is cooled when it passes over this coil. While the basic principle is similar to a CRAC unit, the big difference is the absence of a compressor, which means the CRAH consumes much less energy overall.” And, while this is certainly true, because of how CRAH systems function, they are much better suited for and operate more efficiently in cooler climates.

Routine CRAC/CRAH Maintenence Benefits

One of the biggest advantages to routine CRAC/CRAH maintenance and repair is the minimization of downtime. While there is a multitude of benefits, this is arguably the biggest reason for consistent maintenance and repair. You may think, “But, what about protecting equipment or improving safety?” Well, the reality is, while those are also incredibly important, most data centers or businesses are primarily motivated by avoiding downtime because of how exponentially fast the cost of downtime can rise. Beyond the obvious frustration of inoperability, you may lose customers, experience costly data breaches, and much more if your computer room’s air is not properly managed. If you are unsure whether or not you are adequately maintaining your CRAC/CRAH, get a consultato8n, and hire a trustworthy company to keep your CRAC/CRAH regularly maintained and correctly repaired as needed.

Can Your Data Center Infrastructure Keep Up with Modern Demand?

What is a data center if it is not agile, fast, and scalable? A dinosaur. Unfortunately, when the world of tech develops at a breakneck pace, as it has been, data centers must do more than adding some server racks to stay functional, they must find ways to adapt and modernize data center infrastructure in order to meet today’s technological and marketplace demands.

Prior to the pandemic, our world was already making a shift towards digitizing everything in business and the general economy. The pandemic accelerated that at lightning speed and many data centers were unprepared for such a rapid shift. It is clear that over the next few years and decades, more and more will continue to shift to the digital space, there is no going back, so data centers are faced with the question – do you want to move and start fresh or modernize data center infrastructure in your existing space.  

Why Are Most Data Centers in Need of an Infrastructure Upgrade?

Data centers often struggle to meet modern demand because of things like siloed infrastructure and lack of modern infrastructure management systems and tools in place. Old hardware may not be able to successfully integrate with infrastructure management software if there even is such software in place.  

When data centers rely on old, inefficient, and inconsistent manual processes, the risk of a problem occurring is much higher, as Data Center Dynamics explains, “Aging data centers must either be modernized or have its IT outsourced to cloud service and colocation providers to minimize the risk of business disruption. Remaining sites that delay modernizing also fail to benefit from recent technological advances. These improvements make data center management simpler, more efficient, and less expensive to operate today…It will optimize costs by focusing spending on process improvements, hardware upgrades, and replacements that have the biggest impact on reducing critical incidents and failures that can cause downtime of the IT systems and applications. And new business requirements may mean the infrastructure needed today may be much less than what you needed when it was first built.

When you combine that with the likely efficiency gains that modern infrastructure and their management tools bring, the real total cost of ownership of a newly modernized facility is often less than you expected.”

Data Centers Must Re-Evaluate Their Current Infrastructure

Unless you are the exception to the general rule, it is unlikely that your data center’s infrastructure was designed with today’s demand in mind. Though we have been talking about scalability for decades, being able to fully anticipate where we are at now would have been incredibly difficult. So, assuming that you are the rule and not the exception, you need to evaluate your data center’s infrastructure as soon as possible.  

The sheer volume and size of data being transmitted at a lightning pace (as customers expect and demand), requires a data center infrastructure strategy. It is critical that your data center can reliably and efficiently meet the demands of today while remaining agile enough to scale rapidly. Investing in modern data center infrastructure management systems (DCIMs) that can help monitor, manage, and optimize your infrastructure will provide tremendous ROI in the long run. 

Modern DCIM software and support technology is more equipped to systematically track your legacy equipment maintenance needs, monitor when performance appears to be decreasing, and help keep you on track to replace old equipment before it fails on you when you need it most. As any data center manager knows, whether you have a few racks or rows upon rows of equipment racks, easy monitoring and tracking is essential for efficiency and performance.

With a better idea of what infrastructure you are working with and how it is performing, you will be able to determine what equipment needs to be replaced right away and what can wait if you are trying to cut costs. This is cost-effective and sets up your data center for success in a competitive marketplace. At some point, your data center’s legacy equipment will become obsolete or simply more costly to maintain than it is worth. With a robust DCIM system in place, this will be easier to determine and will ultimately help your data center become more energy-efficient. 

Updating Data Center Security Infrastructure

Cyber attacks are more prevalent than ever before. Businesses and individuals are all under the constant threat of having sensitive information stolen. The sophistication of malware today, compared to that of even 3 years ago, is dramatically improved. These security threats must be addressed by data centers or they are severely exposed to a cyberattack or other security issue. And, because security is an important component of remaining compliant, all data centers should be focusing on investing in modern infrastructure that improves security.   Schneider Electric elaborates on what security strategies should be considered as you modernize data center infrastructure, “Customer data must be protected through a technology ecosystem that ensures a cyber and physically secure environment. Software as a Service (SaaS) based asset management products such as Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure IT are popular for providing the needed asset visibility. Data center staff members simply view their smart phones for easy access to all the devices on the network. Alarms are bundled according to relevance, and are sent out every 5 minutes. From a dashboard, administrators can dive into any device or alarm and can immediately start troubleshooting if required.”

Don’t Delay Modernizing Your Data Center

Though we know that many IT budgets have been slashed and obtaining the funds to update infrastructure can be challenging, updating your data center infrastructure should be a top priority. Every data center is different and the types of legacy equipment you have, along with your budget, may influence your approach to modernization, but it should not delay it. Whether you begin by phasing out legacy equipment or undertake a complete infrastructure overhaul, infrastructure should be updated and a DCIM system should be implemented that can help you effectively and efficiently equip your data center to meet modern demands.

PDU Maintenance & Repair

There are many important components of a successful data center. But, without power, none of them will matter much. Power distribution in a data center is one of the most important things any data center manager should be monitoring to ensure that there is always a steady and reliable stream of power that facilitates maximal uptime. Every data has a power distribution unit, also known as a PDU, that tells power where it needs to go, when it needs to go, and what amount needs to go. Needless to say, it is incredibly important and it is for that reason that proper PDU maintenance is essential for any data center.

For optimal data center security and efficiency, a reliable PDU subsystem is critical. There is, of course, no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to implementing the ‘perfect’ PDU for a data center. This is because every data center is unique and the optimal PDU system will depend on your location, your facility size, your infrastructure, and more.

If your facility does not yet have a consistent PDU maintenance and repair schedule, it is likely your PDU has been neglected. And, that is the best-case scenario. The worst-case scenario is that you find out your PDU is in disrepair when it is already too late and a power failure occurs.

Data Center PDU Maintenance & Repair Best Practices

There are many components of a PDU so it is important to understand your PDU well for proper maintenance to be effectively carried out.  TestGuy further elaborates on this point, “PDU’s typically consist of a main input circuit breaker, an isolation output transformer, a monitoring/operation control panel, an integrated communication server, and a subfeed breaker system. The unit provides power distribution, voltage transformation, metering, status monitoring, and load profiling housed in a single, free-standing cabinet…Periodic inspections of the PDU should be made to determine if components, wiring, and connections exhibit evidence of overheating. Particular attention should be given to bolted connections to ensure efficient current paths…System function tests prove the correct interaction of all sensing, processing, and action devices. Consult the manufacturers literature for the specific device under test for the correct operational checks procedure.”

Preventive PDU maintenance inspections and repair should be consistently scheduled, well-documented, and should meet or exceed manufacturer specifications to be thorough. Maintenance is ideally completed by a specialist that is qualified and capable of not only maintenance but also identifying what potential repairs or replacements may be necessary. This is vitally important because it is often less expensive to replace things that are still functional but show signs they could fail any time than to wait and risk downtime which could be exponentially more expensive.

Essential Elements of Effective Data Center PDU Maintenance & Repair

Manufacturer maintenance specifications should serve as a baseline benchmark to meet. Truly effective PDU maintenance often requires more than meeting minimum requirements. Manufacturer recommendations are based on having tested their components in optimal conditions at all times which, as we know, is impossible to maintain in a real data center setting. PDU maintenance must be adjusted to account for your data center environment and the conditions of PDU use.

A complete data center PDU maintenance inspection should include a visual inspection of all components (we mean all, including all hardware, switches, disconnects, bulbs, circuit breakers, displays, etc.) as well as cleaning off any dust. Dust gathers on equipment and diminishes its energy efficiency so keeping your PDU clean and dust-free is very important. Your PDUs experience a myriad of factors that may cause disturbances or simply create environments that are not ideal for operation. Humidity, temperature extremes, vibration, or and other things may jeopardize the electrical components in your data center PDU.

To properly, and more importantly, safely clean your PDU, you must de-energize electrical equipment because the power should be off before you begin. And, when you are finished and ready to turn electrical power back on, make sure all equipment is dry because the last thing you want to do is turn the power back on to electrical equipment when it is wet.

Additionally, you should look for any missing components or components that look a little ‘worse for the wear’ to determine if replacement or repair is necessary. Also, it is a good idea to check all monitoring, alarm, and operational components to see if they need calibration and to verify that they will continue to work properly. 

The Advantage of Using Professional PDU Maintenance & Repair Service

Additionally, there are more complex tests that should be run and that is where an experienced professional comes in because they will do things like infrared scanning of internal connection, verify proper circuit loading, and check the system for optimal load balancing between phases. This is important because these are common failure points for data center PDUs. It is also a good idea to inspect and test your grounding system because it is an essential safety component of your data center operations.

Don’t Forget to Document Your PDU Maintenance & Repair

A PDU maintenance schedule should be consistent and it should be documented well. Documentation shows what testing was last completed to help guide what may need to be done next time. It also takes extensive notes and even photos or videos of things so that proper preventive maintenance can take place or so that a need for replacement or repair can be determined.  

When you have consistent maintenance procedures and they are well-documented, it is much easier to prevent things from falling through the cracks or being overlooked until there is a power failure and it is too late. Further, good documentation helps ensure that whoever comes to perform maintenance next is able to do so in a consistent manner according to the needs of your unique data center. With professional data center PDU maintenance, you will be able to rest assured that your system inspections are performed to rigid parameters and the highest of quality that meets and exceeds manufacturer specifications. 

A data center is not very useful if it cannot maintain uptime. Maximizing uptime is easier said than done. But, make no mistake, to stay competitive in today’s marketplace, it must be done. While unplanned outages affect just about every data center, minimizing the frequency and duration of those outages must be prioritized by data center managers.  

What is Causing Data Center Outages?

It is a common mistake to believe that the majority of unplanned data center outages are fused by uncontrollable factors like weather-related problems. While outages do absolutely occur because of weather, there are other factors that often cause data center outages and those are often factors that can be addressed by better data center infrastructure management.

You cannot prevent data center outages from occurring in your facility if you do not first understand the cause of your outages. Every data center and its pain points are unique so it will require digging in a bit to look at what has historically caused outages, as well as where you anticipate vulnerability moving forward.

Human Error Commonly Causes Data Center Outages

Many studies have found that, commonly, data center outages were completely preventable. Considering that data center outages can cause significant financial loss as well as jeopardize data security, this is a major problem that can and should be addressed. Many of these human errors are seemingly small but can have significant consequences. Something as simple as labeling and properly protecting emergency power off buttons or not allowing food and drink near electronics can be the difference that prevents a data center outage.

One of the most common causes info data center outages, believe it or not, is human error! Human error could be the result of negligence or simply a mistake. There are various ways to prevent human error from occurring that are both cost-effective and efficient, making them easy to implement. It is vital that you properly train your employees and always correct an employee when there are deviations from established processes. Uptime Institute routinely collects information from data centers regarding downtime and their research shows human error to be a major preventable problem as well – but it is one that management must address with improved systems and procedures for staff to correct, “Some industry experts report numbers as high as 75%, but Uptime Institute generally reports about 70% based on the wealth of data we gather continuously…a quick survey of the issues suggests that management failure — not human error — is the main reason that outages persist. By under-investing in training, failing to enforce policies, allowing procedures to grow outdated, and underestimating the importance of qualified staff, management sets the stage for a cascade of circumstances that leads to downtime.”

Backup Power Failure is Another Common Cause of Data Center Outages

Your UPS system and any other backup power systems you have in place are susceptible t9 failure, particularly when not routinely maintained and tested. It also points to an important strategy some data centers have yet to take advantage of – redundant power supplies. Data centers grow over time and, in the case of the recent few years, very rapidly. When this happens, you may surpass your UPS’s capacity for support without even realizing it if you are not routinely maintaining and testing your backup power supply. It is critically important that you ensure your UPs can manage your current power demands (ideally with room to spare), ensuring that as you move forward you can scale as needed and be prepared to support your full IT load in the event of a power failure.

Data Center Security Issues May Also Lead to Power Outages

With ever-evolving, constantly unique, and difficult to detect threats, cybersecurity is more important than ever before. Data centers are an obvious target for cyber attacks so it is no wonder that they can be a common cause of unplanned outages. DDoS (distributed denial of service) are commonly used methods to attack data center systems which is why having DDoS security solutions in place can help defend against some of the most sophisticated of attacks. Data Center Knowledge explains the complexity of cyber attacks against power systems and how catastrophically they can impact a data center if proper protection, as well as systems and procedures, are not in place prior to an attack, “’The majority of power equipment in the data center can be remotely controlled and configured,’ Bob Pruett, security field solutions executive at SHI International…told Data Center Knowledge in an interview. ‘So, a malicious bad actor could take control of these devices and interrupt the power to a data center or a specific device on your network’…Some of these control systems could fall into the category of the Internet of Things…Attacks against IoT devices increased by 100 percent last year, according to a report by San Francisco-based cybersecurity vendor Darktrace…In most types of attacks, cybersecurity teams can isolate traffic or even entire compromised systems. But industrial controls are a special case…If the devices and computers controlling a data center’s power supply have been compromised, taking them down could turn off power to the entire facility…There’s another reason to be particularly careful about protecting access to power systems. Attackers who get control over a data center’s power supply can shut down a data center – but they can also cause a power surge that destroys equipment.”

There are many reasons a data center could experience a power outage and the aforementioned factors are certainly not the only ones posing a risk to data centers. For this reason, it is imperative that data center managers implement robust DCIM strategies that are consistent and adhered to by all staff. In doing so, you drastically reduce the risk your data center will experience a costly and concerning power outage, thereby maximizing uptime, protecting sensitive information, and saving significant money in the long run.

After the last year, we now know more than ever before, how important reliable power is in a healthcare setting. COVID-19 has put a strain on all healthcare settings like never before.  Reliable power can be life or death in a hospital setting and is imperative for keeping vaccines cold and viable to be administered. Many healthcare providers have already experienced power outages that left them scrambling for a way to salvage their vaccine supply so as to not waste important vaccines that people need.  

Reliable Power is More Important in Healthcare Than Ever Before

The Verge illuminates the need for reliable power in healthcare settings, “A public health emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic amplifies the risks of power outages. Hospitals, public health departments, and other health care facilities are already stretched thin. Many doctors aren’t used to treating patients with limited power and may have to navigate it on the fly when they’re already strapped for resources. Shelters for people without power, like warming centers in Texas, could risk spreading COVID-19 even though they’re critical to keep people from freezing. And any facility storing COVID-19 vaccines has to devote attention to the freezers keeping them safe in addition to managing power to their health records or their oxygen supply. Doses are still limited, and any vial lost because it warmed up too quickly means fewer people can be protected from COVID-19. The stakes of a power outage for health care are always high. But when the system is already unstable and run ragged by one emergency, a second stressor compounds the pressure to keep the lights on and the freezers running.”

Healthcare Facilities Must Prepare for Any Scenario That Could Lead to a Loss of Power

As we have all seen, none of us can predict the future or what catastrophic events may jeopardize our ability to provide necessary healthcare.  But, we can prepare as best as possible and one of the most essential preparations should be ensuring that there is a reliable power supply in any healthcare setting.  In some cases (or maybe even most), this will mean having redundant power supplies such as generators and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).

Making a Financial Investment in Your Hospital to Prevent Potential Future Loss

After a challenging financial year for all businesses and certainly the healthcare industry, the cost of ensuring redundant and reliable power may seem too high to undertake at this time.  However, most facilities that evaluate the cost of downtime (the average cost of downtime in healthcare tends to be thousands of dollars every minute) is far more than the cost of investing in a reliable uninterruptible power supply. And obviously, the financial consequences are not the only concern when discussing downtime in healthcare settings.  It diminishes healthcare provider’s ability to provide the care their patients need in an effective and safe way.

Determining What Type of Redundant UPS System Your Healthcare Facility Needs

Unless you have assessed your healthcare facility’s power needs in the last year, it is time to reassess.  This has always been a good rule of thumb but with COVID-19, we now have a completely new perspective on what types of demands healthcare facilities may face and can factor in the experience of the last year when determining power needs.  The assessment itself should be conducted by a professional that understands your healthcare facility’s power equipment and how to best manage your current needs while anticipating future needs that may arise so that you can scale your power supply to meet demand rapidly.  This will empower your healthcare facility to minimize or eliminate downtime altogether, saving significant money and potentially lives in the event of an emergency.

Assessing a Healthcare Facility’s Power Supply and Needs

Some of the things that will be assessed in a healthcare facility include the type of backup power supply currently being used and whether or not it can meet current and future demands, the age of the facility and its equipment, the condition of power equipment, whether or not the facility has redundant power supplies in place, and whether or nor your healthcare facility meets current code requirements as outlined by the government. 

With a healthy grasp of the things being assessed, the next step will be to consider what continuous reliable power supply you need as well as a redundant UPS.  Meeting the minimum requirements of your healthcare facility’s power needs is great but that won’t last long.  Things change at a moment’s notice and so you want to have the ability to scale your power supply as needed.  Ideally, your current power needs should only be 70-80% of what your current supply is capable of. Additionally, once the assessment is complete, it is easier to determine ways that power can be saved and your facility can become more energy efficient which has the potential to create huge savings depending on the size of your facility.

Redundancy is the Name of the Game for Healthcare Facility Power Supplies

We all need a little insurance in life to protect us against the unlikely but potentially devastating circumstances of an unforeseen incident.  Healthcare facilities are no different.  They should never rely on only one type of backup power.  Rather, there should be a multi-layered approach to healthcare backup power supply and they should be set up in a way that, if one supply goes down, the backup supply automatically kicks in to minimize downtime and the potentially catastrophic results it can have in a healthcare setting. 

Maintaining Your Healthcare Facility’s UPS and Power Supply

Your healthcare facility’s power supply is not something that will only need to be assessed once, designed, deployed, and forgotten.  Your facility must have a power supply maintenance plan in place that is consistent, thorough, and well-documented. By doing so, you maximize the life of your power equipment which provides a better return on your initial investment in new equipment and also helps prevent many problems from arising in the first place.

All data centers want to be more energy efficient but finding practical and economical ways to improve energy efficiency can be challenging.  But, it is made even harder if a data center does not have a good grasp on their PUE.  PUE, or power usage effectiveness, is the data center industry standard for measuring a data center’s energy consumption.  Data centers have long been one of the largest energy consumers in the world so knowing your data center’s PUE and trying to improve energy efficiency is incredibly important. After all, the world needs data center to operate so a large degree of energy usage is understandable – but ideally a data center is not being wasteful with energy and is doing everything possible to maximize energy efficiency. Bloomberg offers a useful description of PUE and how it should be calculated, “PUE is a measure of a data center’s energy efficiency — the ratio of total energy used divided by energy consumed specifically for information technology activities. The theoretical ideal PUE is 1, where 100% of electricity consumption goes toward useful computation. All the other stuff — power transformers, uninterruptible power supplies, lighting and especially cooling — uses power but doesn’t compute, and as a result raises a data center’s PUE…A recent Uptime Institute survey of 1,600 data center owners and operators found that 2019’s average PUE is 1.67, and that “improvements in data center facility energy efficiency have flattened out and even deteriorated slightly in the past two years.” That PUE means that 60% of data center electricity consumption is going to IT, and the rest to cooling, lighting and so on.”

Assessing PUE & Improving Your DCIM

Most data centers that assess their PUE find that their data center could improve their energy efficiency.  Improving PUE is not a simple undertaking, though, because it requires financial investment and organizational improvements to infrastructure and DCIM.  And, it is vital that you not only focus on your current needs but look towards an evolving and future-proof DCIM.  For example, rack density is something that can rapidly increase to meet scaling demands.  This not only uses more energy to power equipment but for additional cooling as well.  Without an effective DCIM that includes consistent monitoring of rack density, it is easy to lose track of increases that may warrant a reorganization of racks fo improved efficiency. Also, if not consistently monitored and maintained, your data center may be using outdated equipment that actually consumes more energy than it should and more than the cost of replacing it.

Optimize Data Center Physical Layout to Improve Your PUE

The physical layout of your data center may have been designed long ago, and a lot of different equipment has probably come and gone since then.  With changes in rack density and cooling equipment, your old data center layout may no longer serve your current needs and may even be making your data center operate inefficiently. For example, is your data center layout optimized to maximize cooling efficiency? If not, you may be wasting energy on cooling that could be saved! There are various techniques that can be used to cool your infrastructure and some are better designed for certain scenarios than others.  

A Focused to Improving Data Center PUE

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), there are some aspects of a data center that are essential when calculating PUE and determining areas for improvement, “Studies show a wide range of PUE values for data centers, but the overall average tends to be around 1.8. Data centers focusing on efficiency typically achieve PUE values of 1.2 or less. PUE is the ratio of the total amount of power used by a computer data center facility to the power delivered to computing equipment.”

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) also shares areas of your data center on which you should stay focused:

Data center operators calculate instantaneous PUE using the following components:

• Lights and utility plugs that are associated with the data center and dedicated mechanical room. The crank-case heater for the emergency standby generator is also captured as light and plug load. 
• Cooling, which captures the power used by fans and pipe trace heaters associated with outdoor cooling equipment. The dedicated tower filter pump power is also captured as cooling load. 
• Pumps that move water in the data center Energy Recover Water loop and the Tower Water loops, and also capture power used by the boost pumps that circulate water through the fan walls. 
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), which captures fan walls, fan coils that support the data center electrical rooms, and the make-up air unit. 
• IT equipment, which captures power used by the IT equipment on the data center floor.

The Many Advantages of Improving Data Center PUE

Not only is it economically beneficial to improve energy efficiency, it helps data centers meet governmental regulations and requirements.  Additionally, many colocation partners today want to work with data centers that are committed to sustainable energy usage strategies. When determining what changes to make to your data center in an effort to improve your PUE, do not lose sight of the value of choosing renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydropower, or geothermal energy. Though it may seem like a large financial investment now, it will save you a lot in the long run, and may even attract more customers to your data center. Data centers will always use a lot of energy but the way that energy is sourced and whether or not it is used efficiently are what is most important. Fortunately, through a well-designed DCIM, consistent maintenance and monitoring, and making various improvements to your data center, you can improve your PUE.

Data centers of all sizes rely on a consistent power supply and therefore must employ some type of redundant power solution to ensure there is constant power for mission critical equipment.  Though redundant power solutions are commonplace, there are many different strategies that can be used to protect a data center from unplanned downtime. This means that a data center must determine which strategy is best for them based on a number of factors including data center size, risk tolerance, management capabilities, budget, risk tolerance, and more.  For the purposes of this discussion, we will be looking at two of the most common types of UPS systems: centralized and distributed. 

What is a Centralized UPS System?

A centralized UPS system consists of one large, often robust UPS system that is capable of supporting the full load necessary to maintain uptime. A centralized UPS system will often need a transformer because of their high voltage. Because of their size, centralized UPS systems tend to take up more physical space and be more costly up front which is why this type of backup power supply is more common in a large, enterprise-level application.

What is a Distributed UPS System?

A distributed UPS system has multiple smaller UPS systems that support various devices or equipment but do not support the entire load (and are not capable of doing so). They are often housed near critical equipment and then the power is distributed as needed.  These types of systems typically cost less than a large UPS system and can be scaled up or down as needed in the future. 

Advantages & Disadvantages of a Centralized UPS System

Centralized UPS systems do tend to cost more initially so if initial budget is an issue, it may not be an accessible option. However, there are a number of advantages to making the investment.  Centralized UPS systems streamline maintenance and repairs and reduce potential points of failure to one which is often advantageous. For large system applications, a centralized system is popular because it can support the entire anticipated load while keeping monitoring centralized for more effective management.  Larger UPS systems tend to have a longer service life and better energy efficiency which thereby lowers overall operating costs. It is also easier to monitor and manage the climate of one central UPS rather than a distributed network of UPS systems.

Though most data centers are trying to reduce their potential points of failure, there are drawbacks to only having a centralized UPS system to support your facility’s entire load.  First and foremost, if your UPS was chosen based on initial data center anticipated load predictions, those predictions may now be inaccurate depending on how your data center has scaled or changed equipment. Can your centralized UPS actually support your data center’s current full load? What about your full load n 6 months or 1 year? Data centers are scaling rapidly to meet demand and your centralized system may no longer actually support your needs. Additionally, as mentioned, centralized UPS systems have are more difficult and costly to install because they have a larger footprint and therefore take up more precious space in your facility – do you have that much space to spare or do you need it for other equipment?

Advantages & Disadvantages of a Distributed UPS System

Distributed UPS systems have become very popular because they require a lower initial investment and are easily scalable should your needs change. Because distributed UPS systems are smaller, they take up less valuable space in your facility, and are easier to install and deploy.  These types of systems tend to be most popular in small or medium-size applications. It is undeniable that one of the biggest advantages of a distributed UPS is how easily scalable it is, particularly in today’s data center climate where scaling is rapid and sometimes unpredictable but Data Center Knowledge points out that there are some other key advantages, “By grouping small loads and placing critical battery reserves close to the physical computing equipment, decentralized systems reduce the potential single point of failure to a smaller portion of the facility, improving resiliency amid increasing demand without burdening the entire site. Instead of relying on numerous AC-to-DC conversions, distributed DC power architecture directly connects the AC utility source to the cabinet, where smaller, more power-dense batteries and rectifiers are housed directly inside along with the networking equipment. This approach helps reduce the number of power conversion steps required to step down utility power to the needs of the servers and routers, helping improve efficiency, reliability, and scalability.”

Because distributed systems have more components there is a higher likelihood that one component or an entire system could fail, necessitating more monitoring and maintenance to prevent unplanned downtime. Additionally, because there is more than one battery, more battery replacements will be necessary. And, because the batteries are distributed, you will need to appropriately cool your separate UPS systems to maximize UPS performance and battery lifespan.

Centralized AND Distributed – Should You Combine UPS Configurations?

If you are uncertain which type of UPS configuration is ideal for your facility, you may be best served designing a combined UPS system configuration. Schneider Electric discusses a great example of when combining configurations is optimal, “Consider a hospital, for example. It may use a centralized UPS to protect critical loads such as emergency lighting, largely because it’s simpler to connect all the lighting circuits to the same UPS. But it’s common practice for each surgical or MRI room to have its own, dedicated UPS because these areas are so critical. You wouldn’t want to risk all of them being without power in the case of a centralized UPS failure.” Centralized and distributed UPS strategies can absolutely be used simultaneously for a more robust, redundant backup power supply for your mission-critical applications. Your faulty can be backed up by a large, centralized UPS system and you can simultaneously add a layer of protection by employing a distributed system for a specific set of equipment. Every data center is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all approach so carefully consider your needs, budget, and facility when determining what UPS system configuration is best for your facility. 

Designing and engineering a data center, computer room, or mission-critical facility is a complex process with multiple phases. It is a big undertaking and one that is best left to experienced professionals because decisions made now will greatly impact your functionality and scalability in the future. Every data center needs speed, efficiency, and scalability but you want to carefully examine the needs of your organization, consider what future needs may arise, and look for the most cost-effective way to achieve your desired outcome. 

Working with an experienced data center design and engineering company will prove invaluable because there are just so many factors to consider and complicated components that even technologically svavvy people may not realize. Further, you want to work with an experienced engineer so that you can avoid many of the common pitfalls of a data center build, as Data Center Frontier notes, “Building‌ ‌data‌ ‌centers‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌complex‌ ‌and‌ ‌time-consuming‌ ‌process, ‌‌often‌ ‌involving‌ ‌dozens‌ ‌of‌ ‌contractors‌ ‌and‌ ‌hundreds‌ ‌of‌ ‌moving‌ ‌parts. ‌‌Missed‌ ‌deadlines, ‌confusion‌ ‌over‌ ‌responsibilities, ‌‌and‌ ‌impractical‌ ‌schedules‌ ‌can‌ ‌have‌ ‌ripple‌ ‌effects‌ ‌that‌ ‌delay‌ ‌a data center construction‌ ‌project‌ ‌by‌ ‌months‌ ‌or‌ ‌more…Complex‌ ‌projects‌ ‌like‌ ‌data‌ ‌centers‌ ‌require‌ ‌thorough‌ ‌definition‌ ‌at‌ ‌the‌ ‌early‌ ‌stages, putting ‌the‌ ‌right‌ ‌people‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌right‌ ‌place,‌ ‌and‌ ‌creating‌ ‌the‌ ‌right‌ ‌channels‌ ‌for‌ ‌communication;‌ ‌except‌ ‌handling‌ ‌and‌ ‌enforcement of ‌commitments.‌ Getting this right from initial programming and design to final commissioning of the facility demands a program and project manager with a proven track record.

4 Phases of Data Center Design and Engineering

Phase 1: Decisions 

During the first phase, it is time to look at your organization’s needs and establish clear criteria that will help support those needs. This stage is fully conceptual so now is the time to assess any existing shortcomings if you already have a data center as well as consider your construction site, budget, and timeline. All of these factors will help you make critical decisions about equipment, infrastructure, backup power, cooling equipment, and more. Decision-making can be tricky because it tends to involve a lot of stakeholders with different goals and priorities for which they must advocate. But, as mentioned, the decisions made now, and changes to decisions, can lead to going over budget, spending more money down the line, or delaying project completion.

Needless to say, Phase 1 is exceptionally important in the process of designing and engineering a data center. Your data center engineer should work with you, utilizing their knowledge and expertise to help you and your organization work together to establish key criteria, develop a conceptual plan, assess risk, and conduct a pre-construction site survey so that you can make well-informed, strategic decisions regarding your data center build.

Phase 2: Design 

With goals and a plan in place, it is time to design your data center. During this stage, you will work with your data center engineering team to integrate your business objectives and criteria into a design that accounts for your architecture, mechanical and electrical elements, and cooling needs.  It is important to make a design so that you can begin to choose vendors, get comprehensive cost estimates, and anticipate timelines but it is also important to have a flexible design approach because, as we know, things change at a moments notice and you want to remain adaptable to keep your data center build project moving forward.

Data Center Dynamics elaborates on the complicated process of designing and building a data center, “Every new building project has its challenges, especially data centers; anyone who has built a data center will be painfully aware of the risks involved. This is borne of the necessary integration of the building itself with a vast array of sensitive high-tech equipment: power systems, cooling systems, security systems, air flow structures, fire detection and fighting systems, facility management systems, etc. They all need to be dimensioned and installed in such a way as to interoperate optimally. Systems and space need to be tightly integrated into a highly tuned machine.In order to achieve this, there needs to be a high degree of coordination between civil works builders, equipment vendors, system integrators and general contractors. This, of course, can present significant challenges and the risks of running over budget and over time are high.”

Your design must take into account your spatial capacity and availability, electrical needs, and other mechanical criteria. Fortunately, when working with an experienced professional, you will see that there are existing data center designs that account for all of that and incorporate best practices based on existing data about data centers to help you design the best data center for your organization’s needs. Those existing designs can be adapted as needed but by using something that has been tested and used before, you can accelerate your data center build and provide you with a more predictable outcome.

Phase 3: Delivery

The delivery stage is the beginning of the construction all the way through the completion of construction. During this phase, all necessary city permits will be obtained, timeline and completion reports will be frequently updated and provided, subcontractors will be working and managed by your data center engineer, all equipment will be installed and tested, network integration will take place, and your data center will be inspected for optimal operation.

Phase 4: Maintenance

Once your data center build project is complete, the work does not exactly stop. To keep your data center running efficiently and effectively, there will be ongoing maintenance needs. Ideally, you will work with the company that you built your data center with because they have the most comprehensive knowledge of your data center’s design and infrastructure.

Work with an experienced data center design and engineering company that can guide you from the outset and help you design and bring to life a data center that meets and exceeds your expectations.

Do you know how long your data center could function in the event of a prolonged power outage? If you have never had comprehensive data center load bank testing completed, you probably do not. Data centers of all sizes are capable of handling a certain power load depending on what generator, UPS system, other data center hardware and infrastructure are present. When power equipment is purchased, there is a predetermined “nameplate” power KVA capacity. As we all know, data centers scale very quickly, and sometimes there is very little time to prepare to scale or there is an unanticipated power surge that could test the limits of those KVA capacities. Though resistive load banks are common for testing generator sets and power systems, they will not test the generator to its full KVA capacity at .8 Power Factor. Therefore, reactive load bank testing is best because it uses inductive or capacitive loading or a combination of the two, to deliver the necessary load. It is vitally important when installing, and annually thereafter, to test the full KVA capacity by using a reactive load bank. Load bank testing should be completed before ever installing and taking data center hardware live, at full system buildout, and again as systems begin to age to avoid unanticipated and costly downtime.

Data center load bank testing should take place over multiple hours and test the generator’s output at various loads. This will provide accurate measurements of whether the system is capable of supplying the necessary amount of power for various loads, if the system can function efficiently at various loads, if the generator can maintain a stable voltage throughout the test, and what the levels of oil and fuel pressure reached are.

Intelligent Data Centers points out just how essential effective load bank testing is, “Not carrying out appropriate testing can lead to stark consequences, as seen when an untested facility went unexpectedly offline as a UK bank was carrying out a significant IT migration in 2019. As this data centre had not been tested beforehand, quick fault-finding and remedial action was not possible. As a result, over 2 million customers could not access their accounts, with the bank incurring a fine of £370 million in ‘post-migratory charges’. If appropriate testing had been carried out during the construction of the facility, it can be argued that steps could have been taken to address this fault beforehand, with this situation avoided entirely…When considering the viability of loadbank testing, it’s important to note the total cost of ownership over a facility’s lifetime. Such processes, carried out by sector experts, will result in more efficient operations and bolster the resilience of key critical infrastructure, alongside providing owners and operators with peace of mind that their facility will remain resilient even under highly demanding conditions.”

When load bank testing, problematic connections as well as other problems may show up and you will be better able to pinpoint problems and make any necessary changes, preventing potentially catastrophic problems for your mission-critical load. Both upstream and downstream power needs to be tested at the maximum possible load, this will test the full critical power path.