What is a data centre? 

A data centre is a physical facility used by organisations to house computer systems and associated components like telecommunications and storage systems for data handling. There are four main types of data centres:

Enterprise Data Centres: Owned and operated by companies for their own use, typically located on corporate campuses.

Managed Services Data Centres: Operated by third parties for companies, with the company leasing the equipment.

Colocation Data Centres (Colo): Companies rent space in a data centre owned by others, providing their own equipment.

Cloud Data Centres: Data and applications are hosted by cloud service providers, such as AWS or Azure.

Each type has distinct characteristics based on ownership, management, and the specific services they offer.

The importance of Sealing Cable Ducts within Data Centres:

Sealing cable ducts in a data centre is important for several reasons, each contributing to the overall efficiency, safety, and reliability of the data centre operations. Here are the key reasons:

1. Fire Protection: Sealing cable ducts helps prevent the spread of fire and smoke between different sections of a data centre. In the event of a fire, unsealed ducts can act as pathways that allow flames and smoke to spread rapidly. Using fire-resistant materials to seal these ducts can significantly slow down fire propagation, giving more time for firefighting efforts and evacuation if necessary. Note: 99% of the time the only ducts sealed against fire are between different zones, not entry & exit points

2. Airflow Management: Data centres rely on precisely controlled cooling systems to maintain optimal temperatures for servers and other equipment. Unsealed cable ducts can disrupt the intended airflow patterns, making cooling less efficient. This inefficiency can lead to hotspots, increased energy consumption, and potentially reduced lifespan for equipment due to overheating. Properly sealing ducts helps ensure that cool air is directed exactly where it's needed and that the cooling systems operate as efficiently as possible.

3. Energy Efficiency: Related to airflow management, sealing cable ducts can lead to significant energy savings. By preventing the loss of conditioned air and ensuring that cooling systems work as designed, data centres can operate more efficiently. This not only reduces energy costs but also minimizes the environmental impact of the data centre’s operations.

4. Dust and Particulate Control: Data centres need to maintain a clean environment to prevent equipment failure. Dust and other particulates can cause overheating and failures in sensitive electronic components. Sealing cable ducts helps to control the ingress of dust and particulates, maintaining the cleanliness of the environment and ensuring the reliability and longevity of the equipment.

5. Security: Sealing cable ducts can also enhance the physical security of a data centre by eliminating potential entry points for unauthorised access. While not the primary method of security, it adds an additional layer of protection against tampering or sabotage.

6. Noise Reduction: In a data centre, noise can be a significant issue, not only for the comfort of personnel but also for maintaining a stable environment for sensitive equipment. Sealing ducts can help to dampen noise, contributing to a quieter and more stable operating environment.

Locations for Sealing Cable Ducts

Sealing cable ducts is a practice that applies to various locations within a data centre and involves different types of cables. Understanding where and what types of cables are typically sealed can help in planning and maintaining a data centre's infrastructure efficiently. Here's an overview:

1. Raised Floors and Overhead Tray: Many data centres use raised flooring systems for cable management and cooling. Cable ducts under these floors or in overhead cable trays must be sealed to prevent air leakage, maintain proper airflow, and protect against fire spread.

2. Entry and Exit Points: Cables often enter or leave a data centre through specific entry points or conduits. Sealing these points is crucial to prevent external air from entering, which can disrupt the controlled environment and introduce contaminants.

3. Between Different Zones: Data centres may be divided into different zones for security, fire protection, or environmental control reasons. Cable ducts passing between these zones should be sealed to maintain the integrity of each zone against fire, dust, and unauthorized access.

4. Wall Penetrations and Floor Openings: Any penetration through walls or floors for cable routing must be sealed properly. This includes conduits that pass cables between different rooms or floors within the data centre.

Types of Cables Usually Sealed within Ducts

1. Power Cables: These cables supply power to servers, storage units, networking equipment, and other data centre infrastructure. Sealing ducts for power cables is crucial to prevent fire spread and maintain electrical safety standards.

2. Data Cables: This includes various types of data transmission cables, such as Ethernet, fibre optic, and coaxial cables. Sealing these ducts protects against electromagnetic interference, and physical damage, and ensures the integrity of data transmission.

3. Cooling System Cables: Cables associated with cooling infrastructure, like those connected to sensors, control units, and air handling units, are also routed through ducts that need sealing to maintain the effectiveness of the cooling system

4. Security and Monitoring Cables: These include cables for CCTV cameras, access control systems, and environmental monitoring sensors. Sealing these ducts helps in maintaining the security and monitoring effectiveness within the data centre.

Fire-resistant seals for Internal Ducts

In the context of data centre design and infrastructure management, the application of fire-resistant seals is primarily focused on maintaining the integrity and safety of the facility, especially in preventing the spread of fire and smoke between different areas within the building. Here's a closer look at why fire-resistant sealing is crucial for ducts going from one room to another and less critical for cables entering or exiting the building:

Compartmentalisation: One of the primary strategies in fire safety within buildings is compartmentalisation—dividing the building into smaller sections or compartments to contain fire and smoke to the area of origin as long as possible. This strategy helps in limiting damage and provides occupants more time to evacuate safely.

Preventing Fire Spread: When a cable duct passes from one room to another, it can potentially act as a conduit for the spread of fire and smoke, undermining the compartmentalisation strategy. Applying fire-resistant seals to these ducts is crucial because it helps maintain the integrity of fire-rated walls and floors, slowing down or preventing the spread of fire and smoke to other parts of the building.

Regulatory Compliance: Building codes and regulations often require fire-resistant sealing for penetrations in fire-rated barriers. This includes ducts that pass through walls or floors separating different rooms or fire zones within a data centre.

Cables Entering or Exiting the Building in Ducts or Bored Holes

Exterior Boundaries: Cables that enter or exit a data centre typically pass through the building's exterior boundaries. These points are less about compartmentalisation for fire safety within the building and more about protecting against external elements, such as water ingress, environmental contaminants, or unauthorised access.

Fire Spread Considerations: The risk associated with the spread of fire from outside the building to the inside (or vice versa) through cable ducts is generally considered lower than the risk of fire spreading from room to room within the facility. Therefore, while seals might be used for other protective measures at these entry/exit points, fire-resistant sealing is not the primary concern.

Other Protections: For cables entering or exiting the building, the focus may instead be on waterproofing, pest control, and maintaining the overall integrity of the building's envelope. Fire-resistant materials may be used if there's a specific risk identified that warrants their use, but it's not a standard requirement as it is for internal compartments.

In summary, the need for fire-resistant duct sealing within a data centre is primarily an internal concern, aimed at preventing the spread of fire and smoke between different areas of the facility. This approach is part of a broader fire safety strategy that includes compartmentalisation, fire suppression systems, and adherence to building codes. For external cable pathways, the focus shifts to other forms of protection for example using DuctSeal HG or Kraso’s mechanical duct seals, although fire safety measures are always a consideration in the overall design and operation of the facility

Global Investments in Data Centres: A Closer Look at Leading Countries and Companies

The global digital transformation has spurred an unprecedented surge in data centre construction, with countries and companies alike recognising the strategic importance of these infrastructures in the modern economy. Here, we delve into the significant investments across key nations, highlighting notable projects that underscore the growing footprint of data centres worldwide.

Ireland

Ireland has become a significant hub for data centres, thanks to its favourable corporate tax rates, skilled workforce, and robust connectivity. Major tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon have established substantial facilities here.

• Project Name: AWS Data Centres
• Size/Cost: Amazon Web Services (AWS) has pledged to invest €1 billion in new data centres in Dublin.
• Reference: AWS commits to Dublin data centre expansion

London

London continues to see strong growth in data centre projects, propelled by the city's strategic importance as a communications hub between North America and Europe. Several projects are in the pipeline,

• Project Name: London Data Centre Campus by Colt Data Centres
• Size/Cost: This project involves a £45.6 million investment to expand Colt's footprint in Hillingdon.
• Reference: Colt Data Centre expansion

And many other projects, for example £19.5 million three-storey data centre by Interexion in Tower Hamlets. Other notable projects include Global Switch's £10 million London South Data Centre and Echelon's £10 million extension in Docklands [oai_citation:2,Data centre construction growth to continue in UK, especially in London](https://www.glenigan.com/data-centre-construction-growth-to-continue/).

Denmark

Denmark's commitment to renewable energy and sustainability makes it an attractive location for data centres, with Facebook and Google among the investors.

• Project Name: Facebook Odense Data Center
• Size/Cost: Facebook's facility in Odense is part of the company's broader investment in Denmark, showcasing the country's appeal for sustainable data operations.
• Reference: Facebook's Odense Data Center

Sweden

Sweden's cool climate and focus on renewable energy sources have attracted significant data centre investments, particularly from Microsoft and Google.

• Project Name: Microsoft's Swedish Data Centres
• Size/Cost: Microsoft is developing three "hyper-scale" data centers in Gävle, Sandviken, and Staffanstorp, emphasizing sustainability.
• Reference: Microsoft's sustainability-focused expansion in Sweden

Norway

Norway is leveraging its abundant hydropower resources to attract data centre projects, offering a green alternative for energy-intensive operations.

• Project Name: Google's Norway Data Center
• Size/Cost: Google acquired a large plot in Norway for potential future data centre operations, reflecting the country's growing appeal.
• Reference: Google's land acquisition in Norway

Norway and Sweden are catching up with significant investments from hyperscale cloud and internet giants like Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Facebook. Microsoft has three hyperscale data centres under construction in Sweden (Malmö, Gävle, and Sandviken), and Google is advancing with planning permission in Horndal, Sweden, along with land-banking a new site in Skien, Norway. The Nordic region's appeal is attributed to its renewable energy resources, cool climate, and strong internet connectivity, making it an attractive location for sustainable data centre operations.

United States

The US continues to lead in data centre development, with Northern Virginia, Silicon Valley, and Chicago being key hubs. The region's dominance is supported by a mix of tech giants and specialised data centre REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts).

• Project Name: Facebook's DeKalb Data Center
• Size/Cost: Facebook announced an $800 million investment in a new data centre in DeKalb, Illinois, which is part of its broader expansion across the US.
• Reference: Facebook announces new Illinois data centre

These projects reflect just a fraction of the global activity in data centre construction and expansion, with countries and companies investing heavily to support the growing demands of the digital economy. The focus on sustainability, alongside strategic geographic placement, highlights the industry's adaptation to the challenges of the 21st century, ensuring that the backbone of our digital world is both robust and resilient.

Duct Sealing Selection for Data Centres from AC Cable Solutions

For simple, and effective sealing solutions for data centres we have two systems that leads the pack: our advanced Duct Seal HG re-enterable seal and Kraso's mechanical seals. Kraso offers flexible options: Universal seals for various needs, SD custom seals for precise fits, and the DD system for single cables or pipes. These solutions deliver unmatched protection and efficiency, keeping your data center secure and connected. 

Duct Seal HG 

Duct Seal HG is truly a unique sealing system that is highly flexible, re-enterable and designed for securing large, heavy cables and pipes within datacenters. It ensures protection against harmful or flammable gases, liquids, smoke, and vermin. This system features a unique, patent-pending tubular rubber backing system that can be configured in various shapes, including crosses for separating trefoil cables or rings for supporting single cables or pipes. Its flexibility allows it to accommodate all sizes of cables, providing a robust backing system. DuctSeal HG, combined with Grey Stuff, offers a water and gas-tight seal, capable of resisting toxic gases and hydrocarbons, while being flame retardant, microbial resistant, and compliant with multiple industry standards. The system's re-entrability ensures that adjustments or maintenance can be performed efficiently

To download a datasheet, please click or, below are various blogs that mentions Duct Seal HG's spec & features: 

 

BLOGS associated with DuctSeal HG 

Trefoil Cables BLOG:

DSEAR Regulations BLOG:

Avoid using Sealants that contains 2. Butanone oxime - BLOG

 

Kraso mechcnaical seals have many offerings for data centres, from their Universal seals to their SD customised options: As data centres are very well desgned, engineered, and managed, it would make sence if a mechcnal seal is the preffered option to use. Kraso's SD customised seal, a seal that can be made for any duct & cable configuration. See more information below: 

In the dynamic world of data centers, efficiency and precision are key. The Kraso SD Seal revolutionises duct sealing with a custom-fit, quick-install solution, eliminating the hassle of traditional rubber blocks. Designed specifically for data center cables and ducts, it's installed in minutes, saving precious time. Despite its custom nature, the Kraso SD Seal defies expectations with rapid 24-hour production and competitive pricing, challenging the notion that customisation means expensive and slow. This makes it an unbeatable option for enhancing data center operations without breaking the bank.

To download a datasheet, please click or, below are various blogs that mentions Kraso's specs & features: 

BLOGS associated with Kraso Seals

Trefoil Cables BLOG:

DSEAR Regulations BLOG:

What Duct Sealing System Should i Use:

 

Summary

The blog provides an in-depth overview of data centres, their types, importance, and global investments. It categorises data centres into four main types: Enterprise, Managed Services, Colocation, and Cloud Data Centres, each defined by its ownership, management, and services. The significance of sealing cable ducts within data centres is emphasised, outlining the benefits such as fire protection, airflow management, energy efficiency, dust and particulate control, security, and noise reduction. The blog details where and why cable ducts should be sealed, focusing on areas like raised floors, entry and exit points, and between different zones, to maintain data centre integrity.

It further discusses the types of cables typically sealed within ducts, including power, data, cooling system, and security and monitoring cables. Special attention is given to the necessity of fire-resistant seals for internal ducts to prevent fire spread and maintain safety, while also adhering to regulatory compliance. The blog contrasts this with less critical sealing requirements for cables entering or exiting the building, where other protective measures are prioritiesed.

Global investments in data centres are examined, highlighting the surge in construction driven by digital transformation. Ireland, London, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and the United States are spotlighted for their significant data centre projects, underscoring the strategic importance of these facilities. The investments reflect a focus on sustainability, renewable energy, and strategic geographic placement, illustrating the industry's response to the challenges of the 21st century and the critical role data centres play in supporting the digital economy.

Data centres are extremely complex assets that have numerous sealing applications meaning numerous product types should be incorporated into the overall projects!! That’s why we at AC Cable Solutions like to get involved so to offer the best products for the applications instead of trying to incorporate a one product fits all approach that is more likely to fail because of the lack of knowledge within the industry, We Are Here to Help.