Flooding

Like fire, flooding can be caused by either equipment failure or by natural causes. Consider the following:

• How often, if ever, does flooding occur around the data center area?

• Can the data center be located in a higher area, safe from flooding?

• Will you need moisture sensors and fast-acting pumps?

Avoiding Leaks

While the design should attempt to prohibit water pipes from passing through the data center, sometimes this cannot be avoided. If you are forced into this situation, some or all of the precautions below should be considered .

• Troughs to channel water out of the data center should be installed underneath pipes. These troughs should have the same or greater flow rate as the pipes themselves .

• It is possible to have a pipe within a pipe. If the interior pipe develops a leak, the water would be contained in the outer pipe.

• Water detection sensors should be placed along the runs of the pipes and at plumbing joints where most leaks are likely to start.

• In cold climates and near HVAC units, insulate the pipe to prevent freezing.