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.
