Another period of exciting change and development on-site at NLE, as we continue to move towards phase one completion and readiness for the first clients to enter Data Hall 1.
We’ve seen the most notable changes in cooling and electrical, with major physical advancements in both of these critical areas.
Weekly overview
This latest period of work most keenly focused on major adjustments to our roof, through the installation of seven custom exhaust cowls which form the atmospheric extraction loop for the evaporative cooling system in Data Hall 1.
Here we see six of the seven extraction roof cowls for Data Hall 1 installed on the roof of the building, over the cold corridorAnother view of the cowls from the roof, which allow for hot air to leave the building when not required as part of the recirculation loopThe view inside one of the cowls, which are the high velocity variant, given the amount of air each fan can move at full speed – visible here are the self-closing lids and the bird meshThis is the view inside the cold corridor, looking directly up at the custom containment frame which holds the fans and custom blanks – more fans will be added as required for each hallA wider view from inside – this view of the fans and frame will soon be hidden, as a sub-ceiling is to be installed here, to keep cold intake and hot extraction separatedA closer look at one of the extraction fans, with the fibre glass lids visible through the blades – we’re using Ziehl Abegg fans throughout, as deployed to great success at London Central (some of which have been spinning without any interruption since 2015!)Although we’ve already shown the newly completed loading dock setup in the warehouse, here is a wider view of the first floor assembly, to match that seen on the ground floorOur new master building fire panel is now in place, ahead of final commissioning – this new system is considerably larger and more feature-rich than the system it’s replacingA closer view of the new building fire panel, which interconnects with all detectors, beacons and sounders, along with the extinguishant panels and VESDA systems in each data hall / plant roomHere we see our custom designed plinths being fitted and levelled in one of the LV electrical rooms, which will soon take our main switchgearA view of the main switchgear plinths in the A-side LV room, now levelled and with the floor refinished to the new edgesThis is a view across the A-side LV room, also showing the smaller plinths in place to house the UPS switchgear for this spaceThis is the same view inside of the B-side LV roomA wider view from the B-side LV room, showing the scale of the main switchboards (the B-side board is ~7 metres long!)We’ve now begun preparing the main risers for cable ladder and other containment, which is set for installation next week ahead of flood cabling and commissioning the site throughout JuneHere we see one of our custom designed cableway enclosures, sat atop one of the newly installed plinths – our custom Mardix transfer boards then sit on top of these enclosures, in each LV room and data hallThis is one of the custom transfer boards being pre-staged ahead of fitment to the plinth and cableway enclosure, as seen aboveThis is the transfer board for the B-side LV room in place and fully tied into the wall, ready for commissioning in due courseA closer view of the transfer board in the B-side LV room – the custom Netwise orange finish really pops against the monochrome technical space colour palette The same board, but reflected in the A-side LV room
We’re very happy with progress over the past few weeks, as we march further into the final stage of deployment for phase one.
Much of the work this time around has been labour intensive and highly physical, resulting in massive adjustments to both the cooling and electrical sides of the project. This all sets up nicely for the building-wide under floor containment to be installed from next week, leading into a four week period of high-activity on-site as the facility is energised.
We’ve reached a relatively pivotal point in the project now, in that the dominoes we’ve been lining up throughout the last few weeks / months are now ready to be pushed, which will lead to massive change in the next four to six weeks. Ultimately, this next phase will take us through to onlining and commissioning, and put us in a position to bring the first client systems online, and launch the site as phase one (aka Data Hall 1) completes.
What else has been happening?
Aside to the usual build works, we’ve also been hard at work implementing wider improvements across our operation.
Our London Central facility enjoyed a deep clean last week, including a full re-coating of the anti-static floor in all technical spaces.
We upgraded our core routing fabric in Telehouse North, as we prepare to deploy additional capacity in Telehouse North 2 next month. This is something we’re very excited about, as we move into the newest building on the Telehouse Docklands campus for the first time. We’ll be upgrading our Harbour Exchange / LD8 and City Lifeline fabrics very soon.
Civil works have now begun on both our grid feeds and our main fibre incomers, with visible roadworks now underway in the area surrounding our new facility. We’re very excited to see these critical services edge ever-closer to the site, ready for connection and use.
What’s next?
In the next week or so, the energisation process begins. This will last around a month, taking us from the current state to having full and final energy pathways deployed within the facility. This includes the work in getting our new feeds from the grid to our building.
A slightly later-than-planned update to the build blog this time around, thanks to time spent on more critical development works, as we head into a period of extended activity on-site at NLE.
The last four weeks have seen excellent progress across a varied range of areas, bringing a number of outstanding side-projects to a close, and solid advancements made on some of the remaining primary tasks.
Weekly overview
We’ll be keeping the update this week brief, so as to retain focus on real-world progress, however this post will serve as a general visual update to our readers, showing advancements across the various areas which have seen the most apparent change.
As seen at NLC, we’re blanking off the gate and turnstile sections of the front compound fencing, for added visuals and security – the turnstile sections are to followThe final outstanding checkerplate has now been installed, seen here in the ground floor level loading bayBoth the ground and first floor level loading bays have had checkerplate and bash protection installed, allowing the forklift to bump into the stops here for accurate, guess-free loadingThe intake louvres are now complete, pending their filter frames being installed in due course – here you can now see both top and bottom runs in placeHere is an external view of the two intake louvre runs for Data Hall 1This is the continuation of the intake louvres beyond the first floor data hall fire escape routeThis is our shipment of soaker sheets for the roof aperture profiles, which will take the extraction cowls A view of some of our newly installed extraction cowls, as fitted to the roof of the cold corridor for Data Hall 1 – these will take warm exhaust air out to atmosphere when not required for recirculation, and are in this position to avoid any possible heat loops with the intake side of the primary cooling systemOur LV rooms have preparations well underway to receive the main switchboards – the first part of this is preparing the open floor apertures for the incoming custom equipment plinthsThis is the main open trench for the primary switchgear in LV Room B – the custom plinths will sit inside this opening, with the floor finished to the front and back side of the framesHere we see our custom PDU expansion boards which will affix to the bottom of our Mardix PDUs in the data halls, allowing for our circuit monitoring to be installed on each rack feedWe’ve now started installing the ceiling tiles, as overhead works on the fire detection and lighting systems reach their conclusion – this has really started to finish off each room, giving a better indication of the finished surfacesHere we see the tiles installed in position above the eventual location of Pod 2, inside Data Hall 1
The most keen focus has been spent on the cooling system, in terms of the handling of air in and out of the building.
Beyond the visible updates as presented above, we’ve also been able to continue with underlying developmental plans for the remaining work phase, including aspects of power and connectivity.
Our fire contractors are now close to completion, which will be another major system milestone checked off very soon, as we march towards client deployment readiness.
What else has been happening?
It’s been a bumper start to Q2 here at Netwise, as we help a wide range of new and existing clients grow and deploy in our London Central facility. We’ve also started showing new prospects around London East as it moves nearer to completion, with a range of racks in the first pod now allocated to incoming clients.
We’re also close to pushing out a press release announcing our first major on-site carrier, so keep an eye out for that in the coming weeks.
What’s next?
Works are continuing on power, fire and connectivity. These are the main focus as we move towards the summer months, and to our forthcoming launch – watch this space for updates on when our first on-site events will be held.
Things are really heating up now in terms of progress on-site at NLE, as we document another three weeks of work at our forthcoming data centre.
We’re almost at the one year mark in terms of when we first gained access to the new building, and despite some setbacks early on due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we’ve been extremely pleased with how quickly we’ve transformed the site from shell to data centre.
We’re not quite there yet, but we’re getting ever closer!
Weekly overview
The last three weeks have seen tremendous progress across a wide range of project areas. The most notable changes have centred around the physical adjustments to the rear of the facility, as the first set of louvred intake panels are cut into the exterior walls for Data Hall 1.
Our custom cable cover ramps have been installed as part of our client flow speed gatesThe coolers for Data Hall 1 now have their water supply and drains plumbed inThe cooling controller for Data Hall 1 has now had its trunking installed, which connects through to the routes in the data hall itselfThe fire panels have started to have their containment installed, with cables now run in to them for future commissioning Here we see some more fire panel containment and cabling, along with the route being taken by our single run of MDPE pipework for the cooling supplyThe containment during installation inside Data Hall 1 for fire systems, including the main panels and VESDA systemThis shows a near-complete containment assembly for the VESDA system in Data Hall 2, which allows for multiple route options between equipmentThe first set of louvres being cut into the rear elevation of Data Hall 1’s cold corridor, with frames being installedThe first set of louvres installed ahead of having their rear bag filter frames fitted – there will be a second run of these louvres installed underneath these, giving 28 external intake louvres per hall in totalAnother view of the first set of louvres installed for Data Hall 1An exterior view of the louvres as installed, ahead of the second run below this set, and some finishing flashings that will be install on completionThe louvres for Data Hall 1 are split across the fire escape doorThe black textured wall in the meeting room at the NLE NOC also doubles as a handy pin board, which is ideal for displaying various technical drawings during the build processPod 1 in Data Hall 1 is now fully assembled, with both automatic doors now installed and poweredA view across Data Hall 1, at the now fully assembled containment pod, housing the first 28 racksWe’ve carried over our use of APC hardware for all racking and containment, which will mean a familiar service presentation for clients with services in London Central, and elsewhere in our partner sitesA look at the contact-free entry and exit sensors for the shared Pod 1 colocation space, which can be opened even with hands full with equipmentAnother view down the length of Pod 1 – you can just make out our custom rack unit blanks in the top quarter rack, which have our logomark on them
As we hope is self-evident, the visual and functional change on-site has been noteworthy, to say the least.
Big advances have been made in containment, which helps move the project along in many areas. Our fire contractors are now able to bring all systems together, and complete the VESDA and extinguishant panel integrations with the main building system.
Having Pod 1 reach point of completion from an assembly perspective is also a major project milestone, and gives a tangible focus point for any tours of the site ahead of it opening.
What’s next?
Next week we will reach 12 months on-site at NLE, although due to COVID-19 restrictions early on, we’re probably more like 9 months of true work into the project.
The next set of louvres will be installed in the next week or so, along with further works on various open projects. This all falls alongside larger project work, which will see broader stroke progress as the build continues towards full onlining in the next few months.
We have another two weeks in the books on-site at London East, as things continue to develop as we head towards energisation.
The last couple of weeks have seen a good amount of change across a number of areas, including dramatic visual changes in Data Hall 1, and to the generator canopies.
Weekly overview
The containment system in Data Hall 1 has now been partially assembled, scheduled for completion next week. Most importantly, the two pod entry / exit doors have been installed, and had their electric opening and closing mechanisms setup.
Here we see one of the pod entry and exit doors partially assembled, with the cabling strung out for testingThis angle is from inside the pod, looking towards the front of the room, as the containment roof panels begin to find their place atop the rows of cabinetsA look at the rear of the racks, as the system continues to be assembled, including baying, roofing, cable trough installation etcThis view is of the second pod entry and exit door, found at the rear of the hall, as it is assembledThe front-side pod access door now fully assembled – it will receive vinyl signage similar to that found at London Central later in the projectThe speed gates for access to the technical spaces at London East are now fully integrated and assembled, pending their walk plates (as seem temporarily placed here) and carpetingThe first round of panel mountings have begun, with the fire alarm / extinguishant panel and cooling system control and status screen for Data Hall 1 shown hereA closer look at the fire system panels, which are now in place for all data halls and LV roomsA closer look at the Weinview screen panel, which will show cooling status and master controls for Data Hall 1The data halls and LV rooms at East have latest-generation VESDA-E units installed, pending air sample pipe work installation shortly – the data hall models, as seen here, are the full visual output modelsHere we see the VESDA-E units as mounted in the LV roomsThe generator canopies have now been refinished in the same anthracite grey as found across this new site, pending ID vinyls in due courseThe generators, alongside being fully commissioned from an electrical connection and control standpoint, will also have a final clearcoat applied in the next few weeks, and some removable security access panels fitting in the gaps between them (effectively zoning them off from the compound)These are the extraction cowls destined for installation on the roof, over the top of the rear cold corridorsThese are the various components that will make up the intake louvres, destined for installation on the rear face of the building, allowing our evaporative cooling plant to intake external air, through our forthcoming bag filter wall
The containment pods are extremely impressive in person, and will provide a dominant focal point for the first hall. The contact-free entry system, which makes use of a proximity sensor, is particularly impressive to see and use.
The walls – as seen above – have begun to see more tech installed upon them, in the form of various panel boards for various systems. These will have their feeds installed as the main electrical works are underway. In particular, the newest generation VESDA-E panels are very striking, and work much better with the colour pallet at East (compared to their previous generation white / white and green panels). It’s the little details that we really love, and which come together in making a truly beautiful facility.
We think that the refinished generator canopies are a real show-stopper. These sit in a rather dominant position in the front compound, and as such we wanted to ensure they remained in-keeping with the visual language of the site. They’ll be having their ID and branding vinyls applied soon, which again will add to their commanding presence.
The adjustments to the skin of the building are scheduled to begin in the coming two to three weeks, in line with the commissioning of the water supply and drainage to the evaporative coolers, which began this week.
What’s next?
The open set of works as seen above will be brought to a close, as the main electrical contractors begin. Works will continue across the board, most intently focusing on cooling and fire system works, which are now underway throughout the building.
We’ve enjoyed an exciting fortnight of changes at NLE for this instalment of the Build Blog, with a large number of big ticket items landing on-site.
This has resulted in notable change throughout the facility over the past two weeks, across a number of key areas. The most striking of these has been the siting of our new generators, which now sit in their final positions in our front compound.
Weekly overview
Alongside the generators arriving – which are having a full canopy refinish in anthracite grey next week – we’ve also taken delivery of our first containment pod, including racks and the cold aisle system. This has resulted in major visual change in Data Hall 1.
We have a time lapse of the generators arriving and landing in place coming very soon, so watch out for this on our socials.
The first containment pod can now be assembled in Data Hall 1, which will be another major milestone in the deployment of our new facility.
Here we see our container arriving with the first containment pod setup for Data Hall 1Part of the shipment was comprised of 14 fully built racks, alongside another 10 flat packedThe racks were unpackaged to the point of having a single retention bracket remain fixed to the custom pallet, before being lifted up to the first floor – in shot here we see one of our custom quarter cabinetsEmpty racks are lifted up to the first floor loading dock, before being rolled off their custom palletsA view from inside Data Hall 1, as the racks that will make up the first containment pod begin to roll into placeAnother view from inside Data Hall 1, as the racks that will make up the first containment pod begin to roll into placeSome of the containment materials as they begin to be unpacked ahead of installationWe’ve now completed the physical installation of the turnstile and return-angle fencing that make up the main personnel entrance of the compound – the anti-climb rotating arms match those found at London CentralA wider view of the now completed entrance area of the compound fencing, pending full razor wire installation to the perimeter in the coming weeksHere we see our new generators arriving to site, on two articulated trailers with lifting equipmentThe first of four generators being lifted into place, each of which weigh around five tons dryThe final two generator sets ready for offloading, to join sets one and two which are now in placeAll four sets in place, which will be securely sub-fenced off after commissioning – they’re also having a full canopy refresh in the coming weeks, taking them from white to anthracite greyThe backing board of our new sign being installed, with the protective film still in placeA look at the installed sign, which is an exact replica of the one at London Central, just on a slightly smaller scale to better suit the installation location at London EastA wider view of the new sign, in context with the main entrance doorA look at the first delivery of fire cabling, ready for installation to begin next weekWe installed our new lightbar to the van this week, which brings the vehicle to completionThe van enjoyed a deep clean on-site this week, which was overdue in terms of removing the winter road salt that’d slowly been building up in the colder weather
The installation of our exterior building sign was quite a momentous occasion, as it’s the first time this facility has been properly branded with our logomark. This is the exact same style of sign as seen on the side of our London Central facility, with the diffused backlighting that really makes the sign pop at night.
The first instalment of armoured cabling to arrive, which will make up the bulk of the main underfloor power routes, will total somewhere in the region of eleven tons. The fire cabling within the building, which covers all detection and alarm systems, will total 2.5km in length.
We’ve had lots of custom made parts arrive over the past few weeks, destined for installation and / or use throughout the facility. One such item is a custom fork lift plate, which has been designed to take racks from the loading bay up to either floor level. This is a heavy duty steel plate welded to fork sleeves, which is low profile enough to drop straight into each loading dock.
What’s next?
The on-site schedule really picks up in the next week or two, as things begin to move on the end-out works. The site has a large number of trades beginning work, including the fire team, generator canopy refresh team, lift engineers, and a team who will be heading up adjustments to the skin of the building as part of our cooling system(s). This is all happening alongside the main power contractors beginning work, following completion of all design and design testing.
