Data centres are unlike many other industrial construction projects because of the tight time constraints involved. With such mission-critical rapid build projects, it’s vital to get so many decisions right during the design and specification stage. Roofing is one such decision, due to the vital role it plays in protecting the high-value infrastructure inside from water damage.
A 2022 report from Arizton forecast that Ireland will be Western Europe's fastest growing hyperscale data centre market, increasing by 5.76% every year between 2022 and 2027. Separate research from University College Cork reckons that Ireland could have 146 data centres by 2030, from 75 today. This continued growth means data centre developments often work to much shorter timeframes than other industrial projects – sometimes going from planning permission to site in a matter of few months.
Key design decisions: waterproofing
This speed of development makes decisions at the design stage critical to the project’s success. Data centre clients have ‘zero leaks’ policies, so designing and specifying high-quality waterproofing systems to protect the servers below is essential. Data centre operators at all costs want to avoid the risk of server downtime, data loss, and financial losses, not to mention the damage it can cause to the physical equipment itself.
Anticipating issues early in the project
For mission critical projects on tight deadlines, Soprema’s skilled technical experts can assist at the crucial early stages of the data centre development process, by applying their experience of working on many sites. Even before design teams and contractors come on board, Soprema’s team can provide extensive technical services and support including specification and design, rainwater calculations, and U-value/condensation risk analysis. They can anticipate issues such as calculating wind zones, drainage capacity, roof slopes, tapered insulations, interfaces with other trades, general detailing, and schemes to direct water off the building. This complete technical service saves clients valuable time later in the project.
Innovating in applying roofing membranes
One of the biggest decisions that architects need to make when specifying data centres is to choose the right system for applying roofing. Soprema’s patented Mini-Mammouth automated bonding machine increases the speed of installation, improves quality control, and reduces gas usage during installation – providing an added environmental benefit which is becoming increasingly important for large scale projects like data centres. Technology companies appreciate innovation, and the Mini-Mammouth delivers. It can install bituminous membranes up to five times faster than traditional manual installation methods. Its excellent bonding rate provides high levels of quality, which we support with weekly site inspections to ensure quality control.
High standards of design
At Soprema, we invest in thorough testing by FM Approvals to achieve independent certification for our roofing waterproofing systems. This makes them especially well-suited for data centre projects, that must meet rigorous quality standards, while clients can also avail of reduced insurance premiums for buildings constructed with FM Approved solutions.
Advice on best practice for fire regulations
Our technical experts can also consult at the early design stage to ensure the project meets BROOF(T4) fire regulations – another key consideration in protecting the building’s high-value servers and systems. We'll cover this topic of regulations in more depth in a future blog.
By investing in robust and reliable roofing waterproofing solutions, and making key decisions early in the design process, data centre operators can ensure the safety of their critical IT infrastructure and avoid the consequences of water damage.
Get in touch
Want to find out more about Soprema solutions, our technical services, or how to incorporate our systems into a specific project? Don’t hesitate to contact our technical experts who can advise on the best solutions, delivered on time, on budget and to the highest possible standards.