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.

September 5, 2014October 2, 2014 by Matt Seaton

London Central Build Blog – Week 34

This week has seen our cold corridor and cooling system build out progress dramatically, with sensor driven lighting system and cooling unit frameworks being installed, ready for the main coolers and ductwork to follow suit. We have also run new power feeds to the roller shutters for loading bay access.

Infrastructure in place for lighting system ahead of cabling

Cabling installation under way along conduit backbone

Lighting system being installed along conduit

Stripped wet box cooling unit placed into corridor for framework testing

Beginnings of the cooling stack framework construction for stack one

Test fitting of the bottom wet box unit in cooler stack one

Safety measures installed on tanked floor thresholds between cold corridor and data hall

Plenty of progress has been made this week, particularly with regards to the cooling system installation. From opening, there will be two cooling stacks online, totalling four wet boxes. This gives 2N resilience on the cooling system for the two pods online from day one. Our modular design allows us to then liven up new stacks as required. Once both stacks are in their final positions, the duct work will be installed that will allow the stacks to feed the data hall.

We have taken some panoramic shots of the facility this week, something which we will be doing at regular intervals from here on out.

Data hall nearing completion panorama

NOC to board room panorama

Office area panorama

August 29, 2014September 26, 2014 by Matt Seaton

London Central Build Blog – Week 33

Fantastic progress again this week, as we head towards September.

A look at the completed tanked flooring in the cold corridor

Flooring being laid in the first floor build room / server prep area

First floor build room with build workstations positioned for testing ahead of room decoration

First floor data hall flooring ready for installation

Anti-static interlocking floor tiles make for a highly robust technical space flooring solution

A look across the (currently congested) first floor data hall as works continue this week

Custom extended lift shaft door installed on first floor

Blanking panels installed on extraction outlets which will not be fully installed from opening date

The blanking panels seen above allow us to extend the cooling and extraction system as the facility capacity increases. The entire data centre has been designed to a fully modular standard, meaning new elements are installed and brought online as required. This includes generators, UPS’s and racks, cooling and extraction – every element of the technical space is modular. The cooling and extraction system will always be able to maintain 2N on the load, extended whenever we are reaching a capacity at which we deem additional resilience is required.