When Designing Data Centers, Do Not Ignore Leak Detection
As the world becomes more digitalized and electrified and the need for data centers increases, ensuring facility protection, performance and winter safety is paramount. With nVent’s leak detection solutions, data center managers can quickly identify and monitor any potential leaks, adding critical reliability and protection to the data center environment.
Server facilities are the nerve centers for many modern businesses. Thousands of optical and electrical connections are concentrated in a densely packed space. There are many sources of liquid in data centers—from facility water, to liquid lines for liquid cooling, to fuel. While leaks can be prevented (for instance, by installing freeze protection equipment), and well-designed systems will be extremely reliable, it is still important to install leak detection systems in case of emergency. Data center managers need to rely on critical systems to function as expected, so these kinds of fallback systems are essential.
Our water and fuel leak detection systems with sensor cables, probes and monitoring systems, help customers quickly detect and pinpoint the source of a leak, enabling them to take corrective actions before the leak can cause business disruption or significant damage to property, data or customer goodwill.
The nVent RAYCHEM TraceTek leak detection system is a versatile system with many interchangeable components that can be configured as needed for each application. TraceTek water sensing cable can detect and precisely locate leaks within data centers. Our TraceTek is installed in more than 5000 data centers worldwide. The broad range of TraceTek alarm modules and modular components allows data center managers to tailor the monitoring approach and layout to their specific needs. We have sold more than 10 million meters of sensing cable and thousands of installations worldwide since 1984.
The same technologies that protect data centers can be deployed in other applications as well. For instance, not only server rooms, but also hospitals, large office buildings and many other commercial and institutional facilities require diesel-powered back-up generators. In many older buildings, generators have been squeezed into spaces that were not originally designed for that purpose. These installations often include supply and return piping connection to a larger underground diesel storage tank outside of the building footprint. An undetected diesel fuel leak presents a major fire risk and if ignited could lead to a rapidly growing fire beyond the extinguishing capacity of sprinkler systems. Our Factory Mutual FM7745 TraceTek Fast Fuel Sensor (TT-FFS) and TT5000 Fuel Sensor Cable can be deployed around generator pads, under day tanks, in double wall pipes or in trenches connecting supply and return piping and potentially reducing insurance premiums.