Data Center Planning, Budget, Layout, Build-out, Best Practices

The project requirements may include redesign of an existing computer room, or the potential expansion of an undersized data center to include raised access flooring. Other site considerations might require the build-out of a completely new mission critical facility. Many companies may have a specific budget allotted for the data center design project. Some customers want to understand how large of an expenditure is necessary. CRD can demonstrate how to maximize your investment in physical infrastructure facilities and equipment.

Computer Room Design will address your concerns and will organize all aspects of planning your new data center design, from budget forecasts to initial design to critical equipment startup. Professional planning will provide a blueprint of your new data center and will clearly define all of the components, equipment installation, and ongoing operational costs. Our tested and proven design/build methodology has resulted in a successful completion of thousands of turnkey projects. Our experienced cross-functional team of Data Center Solution experts will manage your vendor relationships and provide customized yet highly repeatable data center design

CRD Methodology Synopsis:

1. Determination of requirements. You know what your business does and how it is growing. We can help you with an established methodology that accurately calculates your critical power, cooling requirements, disaster planning and physical space requirements. We gather this information via telephone conversations, e-mail, or in many cases, a site visit to your location. Computer Room Design engages our customers in a collaborative relationship. Your input is essential and our goal is your complete satisfaction.

Understanding the physical space that will be transformed into your new data center or remodeled server room is vital to the success of any turnkey project. Existing architectural drawings of your location are helpful, but for complicated applications, our consultants and subcontractors may need to visit the site so their professional views can help create an accurate plan.

2. Site Assessment. CRD examines not only at the physical boundaries of the proposed data center space, but also how the surrounding rooms and outside walls may affect the performance of our equipment. We will determine the best way to bring the required power to the data center. CRD will determine how best to remove the hot exhaust air from the critical space. We also will show you how to keep the cold air and fire suppression agent within your vital data center facility.

3. Specification of critical power/cooling equipment. CRD will calculate specific power and cooling requirements for the computing load. The spatial requirements of proposed server enclosures and network equipment will be factored into our design. Future considerations, including scalable, redundant solutions will be included where budget and physical space permit. We may include a raised access floor to help deliver the cold air to where it is needed. CRD�s experience in creating all types and sizes of data centers ensures the successful design of your project. An ongoing dialogue with you will continue as questions arise.

4. Creation of planning tools. Now is the time to create accurate drawings that will clearly illustrate our design to the contractors who will install the equipment. Demolition and floor plans, electrical/mechanical drawings, specifications and one-line drawings are all created electronically so that our design can be properly implemented.

5. Build-out of the Critical Space. Building permits will be procured when required. Data center construction can now be initiated. The build-out of the walls, floor and ceiling will begin. Equipment will be ordered, subcontractors will be selected, and schedules of work will be posted.

Computer Room Design will authorize and manage all aspects of the turnkey data center design project, including fire rated wall construction, installation of suspended ceiling tiles , raised access flooring ramp & handrails, and egress doors. We will coordinate the rigging of heavy equipment and electrical/mechanical labor. CRD will hire all contractors and subcontractors. We will create specific lists of contractor tasks to be performed. A CRD site supervisor will oversee all phases of the turnkey project. You will be kept continually up-to-date on project status via onsite conferences with our project manager, as well as via telephone and e-mail. We function as your single point of contact for the entire process. Our careful coordination from initial concept and design, to startup and commissioning, reduces delays and mistakes and improves speed to market.

All critical power and cooling equipment undergoes a rigorous factory startup inspection by a local factory-trained service engineer. CRD turnkey data center projects are completed on-time and within your budget.

CRD will design and deliver an ultra-reliable tiered system that can withstand even the greatest data center challenges. Whether Tier I or Tier IV, we provide tightly coordinated, one-stop solutions to businesses where highest availability and maximum efficiency are a requirement�not an option.

Choose Computer Room Design to be the sole source for all your data center design/build needs.

Turnkey Projects

Turnkey projects are defined as any application where a power, cooling, leak detection, life safety product or raised floor is delivered and then installed. Many of our best customers have existing data centers that do not need to be moved or expanded. Yet they require our assistance in solving data center design problems that arise. For example, they may have outgrown their existing UPS system. CRD can deliver and install a new, larger UPS; often with no downtime. Perhaps the data center has sufficient backup power, but requires additional cooling. CRD offers a variety of air conditioning systems to supplement an existing CRAC unit. Numerous users have come to Computer Room Design because they are concerned with the possibility of a fire damaging their existing data center. Our solution would usually involve turnkey installation of a stand-alone fire suppression system. CRD can provide and install any of the products we recommend, whether it is a new UPS system with extended batteries, an in-row cooling solution, or a new 42U rack-mount enclosure. Call us with the details of your requirement.

Refurbished Equipment

Computer Room Design sometimes works with users that have limited budgets. Refurbished power or cooling equipment may be a great solution for your data center design plans. Refurbished UPS systems and CRAC are inspected and tested prior to delivery to your site. Start-up and preventive maintenance are available for all used equipment. Some of the best value in raised access flooring is a CRD quality refurbished raised access floor. Give us your application details and ask about how refurbished equipment can save 15 to 25% or more.