DOES YOUR HYPERSCALE DATACENTER NEED TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY AGILE, WITH THE ABILITY TO SCALE UP, DOWN, AND OUT, AS MAY BE REQUIRED?

WE DID START THIS FIRE | DATACENTER SERIES | ARTICLE # 002

Then don’t you need the fire protection system protecting your datacenter to be equally agile and offering you the same flexibility in scaling?

The WIRED Magazine, the world’s leading publication for technological innovations, has recently published an article named “The Data Centre Era”, where it claims, that we are only in the first stages of the datacenter era.

Such a bold claim, from such a leading publication, then begs the question – What will the future datacenter be like? Because without knowing the requirements of the future datacenter, it wouldn’t be prudent to go about choosing the right fire protection technology for it.

At this stage, if we look at all the recent developments & announcements in the datacenter world globally, the one term that is synonymous with the future seems to be “HYPERSCALE”.

So, let’s now delve deeper into what exactly is a Hyperscale Datacenter? And what are the requirements of a Hyperscale Datacenter?

While there are many features to a Hyperscale Datacenter, there are broadly 3 main attributes that seem to differentiate a Hyperscale, from other Datacenters:

1.???The system’s ability to scale

2.???Size of the datacenter & the volume of data being handled

3.??Fault Tolerance or Redundancy of the system

In this article, we will only delve on the first attribute, which has to do with scalability. We will discuss the other 2 attributes in subsequent articles.

What are the scalability requirements of a Hyperscale Datacenter?

Hyperscale embodies a computing system's capability to scale, at orders of magnitude, and to meet tremendous demand.

So hyperscale data centers are exceptionally agile, with the ability to scale up, down, and out to meet any load they service. This can mean the capability of adding more compute power, either now or in the future. This could mean not just an addition of servers in the future, but the ability to scale out to an adjacent interconnected building within the same hyperscale campus, or to an additional floor or section within the same building.

Essentially, hyperscale data centers compete not just on scale alone but also on?a certain approach to building and managing infrastructure, emphasizing stripped-down hardware, maximum disaggregation (components can be mixed and matched), modularity, automation, and other principles.

It stands to reason then, that this same approach to building and managing infrastructure, should apply beyond the server halls. The same approach should also apply to other critical parts of the infrastructure within a datacenter, such as the fire protection system.

?So we decided to evaluate four of the leading fire protection systems, that can be used at a Hyperscale datacenter, on the basis of their agility to scale as per future demands of the datacenter. The findings, we think, make for some interesting reading.

The fire protection systems we compared are:

1.???Water Sprinkler Systems

2.???Gas Suppression Systems

3.???High Pressure Water Mist Systems

4.???Low Pressure Water Mist Systems

Water Sprinkler Systems

A water sprinkler system has relatively straightforward engineering, and regular piping design and specifications. So in case of any future scaling, further lines can be tapped from the main pipe originating from same pump & reservoir tank, thereby making it extremely agile and scalable.

Thus, when scaling up or out, one only needs additional piping & sprinklers. You may not need additional pumps or reservoir tanks. Furthermore, a sprinkler system is easier to maintain as well in the future, and doesn’t require a specialist to maintain & repair, which increases the flexibility and agility of the system.

Gas Suppression Systems

In a Gas Suppression system, there are often limitations on the distance of the gas bank from the hazard area. What this means is that the existing gas bank, most often, cannot suffice future extensions in the facility. So in addition to the piping, additional gas banks (as well as the reserve gas banks) will be required each time you choose to scale in the future.

What this also implies is loss of critical real estate in your server white space for the storage of the gas banks. A gas suppression system also requires higher effort to maintain, and refill, every time there is a discharge.?

High Pressure Water Mist Systems

A High Pressure Water Mist system, requires a high degree of precision engineering in the design of the system, as well as highly sophisticated piping specifications, because of the extreme levels of pressure (80 – 300 bar) that need to be handled by the system.

This means that any future scaling or extension to the facility may require a complete or partial redesign of the high pressure system, thereby making it much more expensive. Furthermore, future scaling may often require new high pressure pumps and tanks as well.

Low Pressure Water Mist Systems

A Low Pressure Water Mist system, has an operating pressure of only 8-16 bar. This means that the piping design is as simple as that of a sprinkler system, and piping of lower specifications can be used. Thus, even in a low pressure water mist system, pipe lines required for future scaling / extensions can be tapped from the main pipe originating from same pump & reservoir tank, thereby making it an extremely agile system.

You only need to install additional pipes and nozzles, when scaling up or out, with no additional requirement of pumps or reservoir tanks. These systems are also relatively straightforward to maintain in the future.

?The Conclusion

As a general principle of scalability of engineering design, the simplest of engineering designs are often the best to scale. Furthermore, modular systems that can be extended, make scaling much easier. So, from a scalability standpoint, sprinkler systems and low pressure water mist systems, come across as clear winners. They are relatively simpler to design, install, maintain and extend, as and when required.

Further, going back to the approach needed for building and managing infrastructure in a hyperscale datacenter, both sprinkler and low pressure water mist systems completely meet these requirements, and offer stripped-down hardware, maximum disaggregation (components can be mixed and matched), modularity, automation, etc.

?One may now ask how does one choose between a sprinkler system and a low pressure water mist system? But that’s a subject for another article. Keep watching this space!!!