Data Centers

Data centers are among the world’s largest electricity users, with servers running continually in tightly controlled environments and often not at full capacity. With the huge growth of social networking, internet usage, electronic banking, paperless storage and modern IT services such as virtualization and cloud computing, the requirement for safe, resilient and energy-efficient data centers is growing. Siemens provides integrated, reliable data center solutions and services for maximum uptime and efficiency, and to meet the growing demands of secure IT processing. When it comes to electrification and automation, data centers have unique requirements: They require continuously functioning, reliable and high-performing cooling systems to maintain the correct operating temperature of their large-scale IT equipment. Video surveillance, access control and alarm systems, and specialized software solutions ensure compliance with the highest security standards. Highly sensitive fire detectors and special gas extinguishing systems guarantee fire safety and extinguishing to prevent fire and damage to expensive equipment. Reliable, cost effective and fast-to-deploy electrical distribution systems are also critical.

Data center management Demand for new energy-efficient, reliable data centers is extremely strong. Ten years ago a data center with 5MW of IT load was considered large. Today, 30MW of IT load is commonplace. All over the world, speed of realisation is a critical driver - and one of the main differences between data centers and other types of critical infrastructure construction.

Data centers have their origins in commercial office buildings, whose tenants had space set aside for data rooms. As the size and power demands increased, old warehouses were converted to house the servers – these were the first data centers. Today, due to their size and complexity, purpose-built facilities are constructed. A new ecosystem of contractors and consultants has emerged along with the market, bringing commercial procurement, engineering and management practices with them. The successful contractors are adapting to the new industrial-like environment.

Conventional procurement strategies in the commercial market often focused on reducing upfront capital expenditure. Savings in capital expenditure often come at the expense of time, operational expenditure and risk. Through our long-term involvement in the industrial market, Siemens has experience with alternative, indirect procurement strategies. These strategies simultaneously provide lower capital and operational expenditure, improve the speed to market and reduce risk.

Construction risk is a significant concern for data center owners and the wider ecosystem. If not properly managed, equipment delivered to site needs rework, this causes significant variation and delay. Management and technical time is spent on finding out who is at fault and who is going to pay.

In the industrial construction environment, these risks are better understood and handled by employing a balance of plant contractor, whose role is to ensure interface engineering between different systems and vendors is managed and resolved before equipment is delivered to site. This means minimal onsite rework is required; variations and time delays can be significantly reduced. It creates a positive environment whereby the onsite focus is on solving problems and achieving critical milestones rather than determining blame.

References Our experience makes the difference – and it continues to grow. Mastering today’s data center challenges is one thing, but to stay ahead of the competition, you need a reliable partner with a comprehensive portfolio and the ingenuity to make real, what truly matters.

Citigroup Data Center | Frankfurt, Germany

Model of efficiency

A Desigo building automation system with two Desigo Insight management stations
The FDC meets the Tier IV standard awarded by the Uptime Institute for maximum redundancy and 99.995 percent availability
Building automation allows to individually control and continuously monitor the heating, ventilation and cooling technology

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Atos Data Center

Livingston, UK

Gain greater transparency

With real-time monitoring of power consumption, Atos can take steps to increase efficiency, reducing energy costs for its customers
Billing reports from detailed rack readings allow for more accurate and auditable invoices
Use of 3D modeling provides a more efficient and effective way to conduct change management and ensure assets can support customer needs

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Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS)

Swiss super computer

Maximum system reliability and availability throughout the entire system`s life cycle
Sustainability and significant cost savings thanks to the efficient use of natural resources, such as water from Lake Lugano to cool the supercomputers
Complete solution – from system design and installation to project management and maintenance – from a single supplier

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Intelenet Global Services

Intelenet Global Services decides for CerberusPRO

easy and quick installation and commissioning
remote support
third party integration with third-party safety and security systems

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net.de Ltd

Hannover, Germany

A holistic fire safety solution

integrated solution for optimal protection
long-term investment security
covering the entire life cycle

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Polcom data center

Skawina, Poland

Safe and silent extinguishing for Polcom datacenter:

optimal protection of sensitive data
safe and quiet extinguishing
intelligent Sinorix Silent Extinguishing Technology

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Safety in design

Siemens products and systems are intrinsically safe against arc fault. Switchboards are design-verified according to the latest Australian standards. Fire systems detect and supress critical events, protecting property and personnel.

Speed to market

Major customers need white space quickly. Siemens busbar solutions can significantly reduce realisation time during construction.

Day 1 Capex

Data centers are capital intensive. Reducing the day 1 capex is critical to meeting financial goals. Siemens engineering capability enables optimisation and reduces capex through simplification.

Total cost of ownership

Over the life of a data center, operational costs can represent 80% of the total cost of ownership. We can tailor a support agreement to your needs. Much of our electrical equipment requires only statutory and operational checks.

Reliability

Siemens equipment is among the world’s most reliable in terms of mean time between failure – incl. control systems, medium-voltage switchboards, transformers and low-voltage systems. Our GIS 8DJH switchgear, for example, has a MTBF >30,000 years.

Flexibility & modularity

Data centers are always built in stages. This adds risk to operations in the mission-critical environment. Being able to expand the system without shutdown and carry out the work in a live environment is essential.

Efficiency

Efficiency is a major focus for Siemens engineers. After all, data centers consume about 2% of global electrical power. We design data centers to maximise profitability and minimise carbon footprint.

Data Centers

Integrated Datacenter Management Suite - IDCMS

Data center infrastructure management (DCIM)

Cooling

Fire Safety

Totally Integrated Power

Security

Services

Market trends

Data Center solutions from Siemens for the 21st century

Siemens solutions for data center management

Our references

Model of efficiency

Gain greater transparency

Swiss super computer

Intelenet Global Services decides for CerberusPRO

A holistic fire safety solution

Safe and silent extinguishing for Polcom datacenter:

Safety in design

Speed to market

Day 1 Capex

Total cost of ownership

Reliability

Flexibility & modularity

Efficiency

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