Joe Deck
Spark’s data centre in Taranaki, Aotearoa New Zealand, was developed as one of the country’s flagship data facilities. Designed to provide Tier 3 service and 99.98% uptime for customers, the high-tech facility includes security-controlled biometric access, a bulletproof and fire-rated security centre with its own oxygen supply, and a data hall mounted on rubberised bearings for seismic resilience.
In an environment built around security, resilience and availability, the backup power infrastructure also needed to perform without compromise. The fuel-storage solution had to meet demanding fire and seismic requirements, integrate with the wider generator system, and support the facility’s uptime commitments.
We worked alongside consulting engineer WSP Opus to develop a mission-critical fuel-storage solution suited to the project’s operational, compliance and design requirements.
Challenge
In 2012 discussions had begun on a Tier 3 (meaning Tier 3 international rating that means Spark’s customers would expect zero to a maximum 1.6 hours unplanned down time in a year when utilising Spark Digital’s service*) brand new, state of the art, data centre to be the flagship data centre for Spark New Zealand.
The hi-tech building (based in Takanini New Zealand) was an impressive project with key features of the facility incorporating: security controlled biometric access, a bullet-proofed and fire-proofed security centre complete with its own oxygen supply, and a data hall mounted on rubberised bearings to provide earthquake proofing (therefore IL4 rated).
The facility needed fuel tanks to power the generators to ensure multiple electricity sources could be backed-up and the electricity supply to the data halls which house the cooling systems (along with the electricity system are demand linked for sustainability and efficiency) would function.
Solution
Advanced Fuel Tanks (now Fuelchief) was approached by OPUS who had been awarded the engineering contract for the job. The Principal Electrical Engineer collaborated with John Garside to supply two SwRI 95-03 certified, 4-hour fire rated fuel tanks to support the generators for the facility. Over the course of 8-12 months the tanks were revised with new design work completed by AFT and new requirements met for the tanks.
Outcome
Two standard SuperVault SV4, 25,000L fuel tanks were sent up and installed by Stellar. The tanks were commissioned and have worked to service the data centre as anticipated.
The much-anticipated building was opened by Prime Minister John Key in October 2014.
*Calculations based on 99.98% uptime for Tier 3. Source: ADC Telecommunications, Inc. TIA-942.
