The construction of hyperscale Data Centre’s is at full throttle right now with DC’s being built across the globe for the biggest companies in the world. The onsite management of construction contamination throughout the build phase is vitally important to ensure the best cleanliness standards are achieved when handing over the white space to the end user.
Construction Contaminant (Particulate Matter) build up can reduce the effectiveness of heat dissipating units on servers such as heat sinks, and fans. In addition, Data Centre air plenums can be obstructed by various materials generated by contractors and should be managed progressively over time instead of the traditional ‘one pass clean’ at the end of the build programme.
To achieve BS EN ISO 14644-1:2015 Level 8 – Previous US Fed – STD. 209E – Class 100,000 (areas that are subject to air filtration), Critical Facilities Solutions recommend through experience that a team of trained Proactive cleaning technicians should be active on the DC build project as soon as the building becomes watertight, these technicians will start to manage contamination across the campus in preparation for the deployment of the clinical clean technicians who will complete the final ISO cleans prior to handing over the white space to the end user.
The Proactive technicians conduct a clean throughout all areas of the building on a continuous basis from the start of fit out up to handover. This consists of high, mid and low-level cleaning. The Proactive cleaning team manage the bulk of the cleaning works and maintain the internal building environment.
No ISO standard is associated with the Proactive clean,
although the air quality levels are monitored daily in the critical spaces via the use of an APC (Air Particle Counter) throughout the build programme by the cleaning team, all results obtained are analysed, trended and shared with the construction management team for full project visibility, this process highlights any activity that is contributing to air borne particulates and is a trigger to deploy cleaning labour to the specific area where dust levels are high. Additional benefits for Proactive cleaning on construction projects are as follows.
Cleaning of pre-installed containment, items such as cable trays, cable baskets, internal ducting, pipework will be cleaned by the Proactive team and will be free from contamination prior to final installation.
The Proactive team will ensure all Plant/MEWPS are clean and free from contamination onsite (especially when working in the critical spaces). All MEWP working platforms should be clean and clear from all redundant materials, surplus tools, mud and contamination.
The Proactive team are responsible for the installation and management of anti-contamination products across the Data Centre build, these range from placing down contamination control mats at key areas across the site to installing and managing overshoe stations.
The aim of the Proactive team is to work in partnership with the Data Centre construction company to ensure the building is managed in terms of particulate matter, and best cleaning practises are adopted.
If you are trying to control contamination with your new Data Centre Construction project, please contact Critical Facilities Solutions UK.
Operations Director, Critical Facilities Solutions LTD
