Geographic Location

Choosing a geographic location for the data center could mean many things. Will the data center be housed in an add-on structure to an existing building? Will a separate building be built? Must property in a remote location be purchased and a new building be built? Will the center be located in a pre-existing building?

Aside from budget, there are several factors, many of which are described below, that should be considered when determining the location of a building site. Consider all of the possible problems with the area. Then, decide which of the problems are necessary evils that must be tolerated, which can be remedied, and which will involve building or retrofitting in such a way as to factor them out.

Potential problems in the geographic location might not be obvious. Resource availability and potential problems, whether natural or man-made, are critical issues and uncovering them requires careful research.

Natural Hazards

The most obvious of potential natural hazards are flooding, tornados, hurricanes, and seismic disruptions such as earthquakes and volcanic activity. If you must locate the data center in an area with a history of these phenomena, make sure you retrofit or build with these hazards in mind. Obviously, a determination must be made whether or not it is financially worthwhile to locate the center in an area with potential hazards. If the site can be set up in such a way that nullifies the problem (for example, in the case of earthquakes, using seismic restraints on the equipment), then it might be worthwhile.

Flooding

Consider whether or not the site is at the bottom of a hill that would catch rain or snow melt. Is the site on a flood plain? Is it near a river that might overflow? Is the site in the basement area of an existing location? While you are at it, you might as well consider tsunamis.

Seismic Activity

Anything that shakes the building is bad for equipment. Is the potential site in an area that has frequent earthquakes, volcanic activity, or gigantic prehistoric lizards stomping about? What is the seismic history of the area? How often and how severe is the activity? What precautions can be used against the vibration and possible structural damage that can be caused by tremors?

Tornados and Hurricanes

As with seismic activity, what is the history of these phenomenon in the area? What measures can be taken to prevent them from causing damage to the facilities? Is it worth the risk?

High Winds

This might be a concern if you are locating the data center in any of the higher floors of a tall building. If you intend to put the center on the 57th floor of a building in downtown Chicago, you might reconsider unless the building is built to resist moving in high winds.

Temperature Extremes

It is important that data center equipment stay within a specific operational temperature range. In areas with extreme levels of heat or cold, it might be necessary to have more HVAC and insulation. In these areas, humidification is also a problem, and larger humidification units might be necessary. Larger HVAC systems might be worth the cost.

Fire

Though arson is a concern, fires can also occur naturally or accidentally . Consider the history of local fire hazards. Is the site near a wooded or grassy area? Are there lightning storms? Is the building fireproof or fire resistant? Can the building be designed or retrofitted to be fireproof? Can the center be located well away from any facilities where chemicals might create a combustion problem?

Man-Made Hazards

Nature isn't the only culprit in compromising the integrity of data centers. There are also many hazards created by man to disrupt your hard work. Some of them are described in the following sections.

Industrial Pollution

If possible, avoid locating the facility near major sources of industrial pollution. Look carefully at neighboring facilities such as:

• Factories

• Manufacturing facilities

• Sewage treatment plants

• Farms

If chemicals associated with these facilities migrate into the controlled areas of the data center, they can seriously impact not only the hardware, but the health of personnel. The chemicals used in the field treatment of agricultural areas can also pose a threat to people and machines. Though a natural problem, also consider sand and dust that might be blown into the center.

If you must locate in an area with these potential problems, consider this in your design plans for the center. Make sure you use a filtration system robust enough to filter out any local contaminants .

Electromagnetic Interference

Be aware of any surrounding facilities that might be sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI). Telecommunications signal facilities, airports, electrical railways, and other similar facilities often emit high levels of EMI or RFI that might interfere with your computer hardware and networks.

If you must locate in an area with sources of EMI or RFI, you might need to factor shielding of the center into your plans.

Vibration

Aside from natural vibration problems caused by the planet, there are man-made rumblings to consider. Airports, railways, highways, tunnels, mining operations, quarries, and certain types of industrial plants can generate constant or intermittent vibrations that could disrupt data center operations. Inside the center, such vibrations could cause disruption to data center hardware, and outside the center, they could cause disruption of utilities.

If constant vibration is a problem in the area, you should weigh the possibility of equipment damage over the long term . In the case of occasional tremors, you might consider seismic stabilizers or bracing kits which primarily keep the racks from tipping over.

Emergency Services and Vehicle Access

Are fire and police services in close proximity to the site? What is their response time to the site? Emergency services also include support services such as emergency power generation, air conditioning vehicles, and network service providers.

It is important, particularly in congested urban areas, that there be unobstructed access and parking for emergency vehicles. All possibilities should be examined in the planning stages because emergency situations can and will happen. The personnel of one major company in Chicago was kept out of the building for two days due to a chemical spill from an overturned truck. At another major company, the main access road was blocked by fallen trees. There was no chain saw readily available, so no one could get into the center for a long time. Such situations should be considered in disaster planning, but comprehensive lights-out management can help mitigate such problems. So can having a chainsaw.

Beyond emergency situations, there should also be easy access to loading areas for large delivery vehicles. There should be plenty of room for the trucks to get in and out, pass one another, and to turn around.

Utilities

Make sure the district provides adequate power, water, gas, and any other necessary utilities. Are there redundant feeds from the electrical supplier? Is there an adequate Internet infrastructure in the area? Extreme rural areas might be more problematic in supplying the necessary utilities or assuring consistent uptime.