Data centers must be continuously operational during and after natural hazards. One of the natural hazards that could potentially affect data centers the most are seismic events. Seismic bracing for data centers safeguard security and operations to maintain high levels of protection, providing service reliability even in a seismic event.

VIE has designed seismic measures for MEP equipment, computer systems, structural ceilings, specialized containment structures for HVAC systems, and many other such facilities.

The Importance Of Being Prepared For Earthquake Activity

Essential services must remain operational during a seismic event. Most damage from earthquakes doesn’t come from ground-shaking itself, but rather from unrestrained equipment and systems. If left unsecured, nonstructural systems can cause extensive damage to data centers. Potential damage includes IT equipment breaking, downtime that impacts customer business, loss of property and life, and more. 

Nonstructural systems, such as MEP equipment, computer systems, and more must be safe from moving out of position. Seismic bracing secures equipment and systems, safeguarding them against the threats earthquakes cause. With proper preparation, systems remain operational, downtime is decreased, and restoration of services after a disaster is more straightforward. 

Adding seismic bracing to data centers is critical in areas with high seismic activity. Even in states with low-to-moderate seismic activity, bracing protects equipment and systems both from weather events, such as tornadoes and hurricanes.

Incorporating Seismic Design Into Data Centers

The size of seismic events depends on the size and nearness of seismic faults. VIE knows how to design seismic protective measures for all these systems even though these systems are immediately adjacent to each other. Seismic design must take into account multiple overlapping systems.

VIE also understands multiple aspects of other bracing design, such as wind design (including extreme wind design), thermal expansion needs, snow loads, differences in floor movements between adjacent floors (relative displacement effects), and more.

Seismic design criteria used have been conformed to several different owner-specified seismic design criteria, such as ASCE-7, UFC, Army Corp of Engineers, and owner-specific requirements that were determined to meet owner-specific operational goals. 

VIE’s Experience With Data Centers

VIE has done seismic design on some of the largest data centers in the United States, some clients listed below. VIE is currently conducting seismic retrofit seismic for large data centers in multiple states in the continental US. 

Some of our projects include the following.

• eBay Data Center. VIE has been continuously working with eBay on these data center projects for the past approximately 4 years. VIE designed ceiling systems to support large electrical loads in both cold-side and hot-side equipment. VIE has also performed seismic qualification of equipment to certify that the equipment will not only remain anchored, but also functional during maximum credible earthquakes. VIE has used their expertise developing essential criteria for facilities while serving on national communities that set design standards, such as the EERI and ASCE.
• Facebook Data Centers in Utah and Oregon. These are large, new data centers in Eagle Mountain and up by Bend. VIE’s design work included: electrical; large, custom, fabricated walls that house HVAC plenums for the entire facility; and ability to withstand extreme wind loads for exposed equipment. VIE has specialized design experience in designing emergency systems for data centers, such as large anchorage design for emergency generators, uninterrupted power systems (UPS), switchboards, and the like.
• Nova Data Center. VIE is currently working on multiple sites, including 2 Utah sites and 1 Nevada site. Work includes: design phase plan views, construction phase reviews, and probable maximum loss evaluations.
• NSA Data Center. VIE has been the engineer on record for multiple MEP systems for the state-of-the-art NSA data center. This has included seismic design and construction supervision, as well as equipment seismic certification by experience data and analysis.
• American Towers Data Center, San Diego, California. VIE performed seismic retrofit for continuous operation levels following a major earthquake in the area. These data centers weren’t at grade like many data centers are – they were elevated up into a high-rise building. As such, our work had to take into account ground amplification effects. 

For a representative list of experience working with data centers, reach out to VIE directly. 

Seismic Bracing For Data Centers In The Continental US

VIE can provide certified engineering drawings and calculations in all Western and Midwest states with seismic design criteria. VIE works with building structure design teams for data centers in order to coordinate seismic design measures that conform to requirements and project-specific specifications developed by the design engineers for the facilities. 

VIE is very responsive to owner requests to project specific designs and regularly provides on-site reviews to determine specific custom designs that are necessary to meet owner-specific loads and energy specifications, like wind, seismic, pressure, etc. 

We don’t just do the design and send it to someone else. We work with CFC to provide a complete package of design, field support, and bracing components supply. This means that we not only provide seismic retrofit design, but can also provide complete bracing, anchorage, and structural steel product components for the project in a turn-key solution. 

This makes VIE your one-stop solution for providing everything that you need for seismic design for your data center. Contact us today to learn more about our seismic engineering services.