Data Center Construction Requires Precision
Building a data center is not like building a typical commercial facility. Data centers require reliable power, precise cooling, clean mechanical systems, carefully routed infrastructure, tight project coordination, and strict compliance with safety and environmental requirements.
The construction team may include:
- Engineering firms
- General contractors
- Mechanical contractors
- HVAC contractors
- Electrical contractors
- Plumbing contractors
- Fire protection contractors
- Controls contractors
- Network and cabling specialists
- Commissioning teams
Each group faces pressure to keep the project on schedule, meet technical specifications, control costs, and deliver a facility capable of supporting mission-critical operations.
Western Integrated Technologies, also known as WIT, supports contractors and subcontractors with hydraulic, pneumatic, fluid conveyance, filtration, automation, fabrication, and repair capabilities that can help keep data center construction projects moving.
Pain Point 1: Supply Chain Delays
Data center projects often require components with long lead times. Cooling units, pumps, valves, fittings, hose assemblies, filtration products, electrical components, controls, and specialty piping materials can all affect project schedules.
When a specified product is unavailable, contractors may need a qualified alternative quickly. However, substitutions must meet technical requirements and project specifications.
Solution: Work With a Technical Supplier That Can Support Alternatives
Contractors need more than a parts source. They need support from a supplier that understands fluid power, fluid conveyance, filtration, cooling, pneumatic systems, and industrial components.
WIT can help contractors source Parker products and other industrial components, evaluate alternatives, and support urgent project requirements. Local inventory and technical support can help reduce downtime caused by missing or delayed components.
Pain Point 2: Cooling System Complexity
Cooling is one of the most important systems in a data center. High-density server environments may rely on a combination of air cooling, chilled water systems, rear-door heat exchangers, coolant distribution units, direct-to-chip cooling, and other thermal management technologies.
Contractors must manage the installation of:
- Chillers
- Cooling towers
- CRAH units
- CRAC units
- Pumps
- Heat exchangers
- Coolant lines
- Valves
- Filtration systems
- Controls
- Sensors and instrumentation
- In-rack cooling connections
As cooling requirements increase, so does the need for reliable fluid handling and connection technology.
Solution: Use Proven Fluid Conveyance, Filtration, and Control Components
The performance of a cooling system depends on the reliability of its components. Hoses, tubing, fittings, valves, filters, pumps, sensors, and quick disconnects must be selected with the operating environment in mind.
WIT can support cooling system contractors with products for fluid conveyance, filtration, motion and control, and system monitoring. Parker’s data center cooling solutions include products designed for thermal management and liquid cooling applications, including quick disconnects and connection technologies used in server and rack cooling environments.
Pain Point 3: Hose, Cable, and Piping Management
Data centers contain dense networks of power cables, fiber optics, control wiring, cooling hoses, tubing, and piping. Poor routing can create installation delays, maintenance challenges, airflow problems, and failure risks.
Contractors must consider:
- Routing space
- Bend radius
- Connection access
- Identification and labeling
- Serviceability
- Leak prevention
- Separation of electrical and fluid systems
- Future expansion
Solution: Plan for Serviceability and Proper Identification
Good hose, tubing, piping, and cable management supports long-term reliability. Contractors should consider not only how systems are installed, but how they will be inspected, maintained, and replaced.
WIT can support contractors with hose assemblies, hose identification, fittings, adapters, tubing, piping products, quick couplings, and related components. This can help simplify installation and support future maintenance.
Pain Point 4: Power, Controls, and Automation Requirements
Data centers require significant power infrastructure and dependable control systems. Electrical contractors and controls specialists often work with switchgear, panelboards, transfer switches, UPS systems, generators, sensors, automation products, and monitoring systems.
Mechanical systems also rely on controls for pumps, fans, valves, actuators, cooling systems, and safety systems.
Solution: Integrate Automation and Control Support Early
Reliable automation and control systems help data centers maintain stable operating conditions. Contractors should evaluate control requirements early, especially for cooling, fluid handling, HVAC, security, fire suppression, and monitoring systems.
WIT supports industrial customers with automation products, control panel capabilities, pneumatic and electromechanical components, sensors, valves, and system design support. These capabilities can assist contractors working on mechanical, electrical, and control-related scopes.
Pain Point 5: Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
Data center owners increasingly expect contractors to help deliver facilities that are efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective to operate. Cooling and power systems are major contributors to energy usage, so component selection matters.
Contractors may need to support:
- Lower power usage effectiveness
- Efficient cooling designs
- Variable-speed equipment
- Efficient motors
- Improved filtration
- Reduced water waste
- Better monitoring and control
- Sustainable material choices
Solution: Select Components That Support Efficient Operation
Efficiency is not the result of one product. It comes from the interaction of pumps, motors, drives, valves, controls, filtration, cooling systems, and maintenance practices.
WIT can support contractors with products that help optimize system performance, including motors, variable speed drives, valves, filtration products, pneumatic and hydraulic components, cooling system components, and automation solutions.
Pain Point 6: Safety in Mission-Critical Construction Environments
Data center construction involves electrical work, mechanical installation, elevated work, confined spaces, pressurized systems, heavy components, and clean-room-sensitive environments.
Safety requirements may include:
- Electrical-rated gloves
- Cut-resistant gloves
- Arc-flash protection
- Safety glasses and goggles
- Respirators
- Hearing protection
- Bump caps or hard hats
- Shoe covers for sensitive areas
Solution: Keep Safety and Cleanliness Built Into the Work Plan
Contractors need safety products and clean work practices that match the requirements of the facility. This is especially important in server rooms, mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, and areas where contamination must be controlled.
WIT can help contractors source industrial safety products and related support items while also supplying the fluid power, hose, filtration, and automation products needed for the build.
WIT Products and Services for Data Center Contractors and Subcontractors
WIT can support engineering firms, construction firms, and subcontractors throughout the data center build phase.
Relevant WIT Product Areas
- Hydraulic and pneumatic hoses
- Hose assemblies
- Fittings, adapters, and quick couplings
- Tubing and piping
- Filtration products
- Pumps
- Valves
- Motors
- Actuators
- Sensors and monitoring products
- Automation components
- Electrical control panels
- Cooling system components
- Pneumatic products
- Safety products
Relevant WIT Services
- Hose assembly fabrication
- Custom kitting
- Product sourcing
- Engineering support
- System design and fabrication
- Control panel manufacturing
- Hydraulic and pneumatic system support
- Local ParkerStore support
- Repair services
- Build program support
Build Data Centers With Reliable Component Support
Data center contractors and subcontractors face intense pressure to meet schedules, specifications, safety requirements, and performance expectations. WIT helps construction teams address these challenges with Parker products, fluid conveyance solutions, filtration products, automation capabilities, hose assemblies, repair services, and technical support.
From cooling systems and mechanical rooms to hose assemblies and control panels, WIT can help contractors build data centers that are reliable, efficient, and ready for mission-critical operation.
