In a data centre, the electrical installation is the product. If the power fails, everything fails. That’s why critical sites don’t wait for faults: they run a planned maintenance programme that finds problems early and keeps the paperwork that clients and auditors expect. Here’s what that programme usually covers on the low voltage side.
Thermal imaging
Infrared surveys of switchboards, distribution boards, busbars and PDUs under load find loose connections, overloaded circuits and failing components before they fail. On critical sites they’re commonly done at least once a year, and often more. Our guide to thermal imaging surveys explains more.
Switchgear maintenance
Air circuit breakers (ACBs) and moulded case circuit breakers (MCCBs) have moving parts and trip units that need servicing and testing to the manufacturer’s recommendations. A breaker that doesn’t trip when it should, or trips when it shouldn’t, is a serious risk. We cover intervals in how often LV switchgear should be maintained.
Fixed wire testing
Like any building, a data centre needs periodic inspection and testing of its fixed installation. On a live site it’s planned carefully. Where the site has a second supply path, it’s used so circuits can be tested while the load is carried the other way.
Power factor correction
Where sites have PFC equipment, capacitors and contactors need regular checks to keep them working and avoid failures. See our guide to PFC service and maintenance.
Doing the work without risking uptime
Maintenance on a critical site is only worth doing if it doesn’t cause the outage it’s meant to prevent. That comes down to process:
- Method statements and procedures for every task, agreed with the site team before work starts.
- Change control so the work is approved and scheduled in the site’s own system.
- Using the redundancy. Many facilities are designed so each part of the system can be maintained while the load is carried another way. The work has to follow that design exactly.
- Experienced, vetted engineers who are used to working in live critical environments and follow the site’s rules on access and security.
Records that stand up to audit
Clients and auditors want to see that maintenance is planned, done and recorded. Every visit should leave reports, test results and clear recommendations, so you can show the history of each piece of equipment.
Our work in critical environments
We’ve carried out electrical testing, thermal imaging and maintenance in data centres and other critical environments for many years, working alongside site teams and FM providers. See our data centre and critical environment services, tell us about your project or call 01525 582582.
