October 10, 2014October 30, 2014 by Matt Seaton

London Central Build Blog – Week 39

Much like last week, as we reach the closing stages of the project progress is solid in a number of key areas. The cooling system has again taken great strides towards completion, and many rack enclosures are now in the data hall ready for building out the first pods.

Extraction duct work sleeving installed into walls

Fans being installed into extraction duct work

Extraction fan installed into duct work

A look at the highly efficient extraction fans which form part of our intelligent cooling system

A look at one of the custom 3-way duct and actuated louvred panel systems which control the remixing of air inside of the cooling system

Second wetbox cooler fitted atop the first cooling stack minus filter panels

Delivery of our palisade fencing system ready for enclosing the generator plant area

The various gates which form part of our rear compound enclosure

Corner post section being constructed

Gate posts ahead of hanging the first set of main gates

First gate hung in place

Second gate hung, completing the first gate assembly ahead of installing palisades

A view down the main run of compound enclosure posts

Delivery of our specialist APC AR3200 lockable half rack enclosures

October 3, 2014October 29, 2014 by Matt Seaton

London Central Build Blog – Week 38

There have again been major advancements across multiple areas of the build project this week, primarily centring around completion of the data hall infrastructure ahead of final electrical and network installations.

First inlet fan installing into cold corridor enclosure ahead of duct work installation

A view of the fan from the data hall side of the enclosure, where pre-filtered cold air will fill the air plenum and drop through the ceiling filters into the technical space

Our core network infrastructure UPS systems have finished being built, with a unit for both the A and B sides

Final panelling (removable for access) fitted around new fire escape opening ahead of decoration

Test positioning of our custom grilles ahead of extraction ducting and fans

Test positioning of our custom grilles ahead of extraction ducting and fan installations

Ductwork pieces arriving from manufacturer

Duct sleeve inserted into extraction opening ahead of fan installation

Flooring for third pod completed

Second cooler base test fitted to first cooling stack

Test positioning of further cabinets as the cold corridor is built out

The cooling system has come along dramatically this week, with the coolers and fans installed into their final positions, ready for the ductwork and control systems which will bring the entire setup to life.

We have a multi-stage air filtration system, which keeps the air inside of the facility supremely clean at all times. Air is drawn through first stage particle filters in the louvred panels, second stage bag filters which enclose the wet box units, third stage high density wet box filters, and fourth stage cloth filters in the ceiling grid.

September 26, 2014October 20, 2014 by Matt Seaton

London Central Build Blog – Week 37

The flooring has taken shape this week, along with completion of the first two pod containment systems. We are now ready for a final deep clean and for racks to begin making their way up to the first floor data hall.

On site construction of the cold aisle containment plenums

Completed containment system with test rack in position

A look across the first floor data hall as final technical flooring is installed

The rack pods will be built out on the black areas of the floor

The flooring colour scheme aids with visualising the layout of the data hall ahead of total pod population

Panorama as flooring around the first pod is completed

Second pod flooring completed

Test rack positioning at end of first containment pod

Decorating continues in the ground floor facility access areas

As you can see, things are progressing quickly, with many areas of the facility coming together simultaneously. This puts us in very good stead to have all assembly works completed within the next 3 to 4 weeks, leaving just the connections to bring the data centre to life ready for occupancy.

September 19, 2014October 13, 2014 by Matt Seaton

London Central Build Blog – Week 36

This week has seen modifications made to the external skin of the building, with the installation of our custom made louvred panels. These will allow our building to ‘breathe’ once the cooling system is operational, with the flow of air carefully monitored and controlled in real-time by our custom building management system.

Further cold containment system installations

Cold containment system in second pod beginning to enclose air filters

First floor data hall fire exit cut into building skin

A look at the custom metalwork being fitted to the fire escape opening

A look at the newly installed first floor data hall fire escape ahead of staircase installation

First floor data hall fire escape door

First louvred panel for extraction system installed on rail-side of facility

Build room workstations positioned back under power and network trunking

Wall mounted workstation monitors positioned in build room

Delivery of further cooling hardware

Installation of cable containment backbone arms

Cable containment fitted to arms in back-to-back configuration

A look at the cable containment system as it reaches down the length of the first data hall

The cable containment system reaching the lift shaft and network riser

Cable containment arms installed to end of data hall

A look at the basket bend configuration as the wall changes depth mid-data hall

Completed backbone cable containment installation

This has been a pivotal week in seeing the first data hall finally turn from a ‘semi-building site’ into a room fit for technical installations. We are very much looking forward to the weeks ahead, as the floor goes down and the racks can be positioned.

September 12, 2014October 7, 2014 by Matt Seaton

London Central Build Blog – Week 35

Amongst various progressive tasks undertaken, this week has seen the first two air containment systems installed, which will form the cold aisles once racks are in position.

A look at the cooling stack framework broken down into kit form, ahead of assembly

Blanking panels installed in modular stack locations until use

Panoramic view of the two initial stack frameworks (without top wet box coolers) inside of cold corridor

Track installation around filter panels for cold containment

First containment panel installed in track

A look at the first pod containment system as it takes shape

Track installed around second pod ahead of panelling

Delivery of first Ziehl-Abegg extraction fans

First floor build room decorated, ready for fit-out

Power and network trunking installation under way in build room

Network run into trunking system

Trunking installation completed, with power and network installed

As you can see, with the technical elements of the data centre now being installed, the facility is rapidly turning from partial shell into a functioning data hall.

Once the elements which comprise the technical infrastructure of the data hall are installed over the coming weeks, it becomes a case of connecting the hall to the core network and power infrastructure to bring the space online.