Custom Solutions for a Data Center Retrofit
Case Study Summary
Retrofitting a data center into an existing space is much different from a new construction project. Brady and Wesco teamed up to deliver a comprehensive floor marking and signage plan with supporting LOTO equipment for a multinational data center operator, helping create a facility that acts as a template for other retrofit projects.
- Brady audited the facility and delivered a full plan and equipment recommendation.
- Wesco provided the customer with the relevant products.
- The entire project beat an aggressive 30-day timeline.
Custom Safety Solutions for Data Center Retrofits
The expanding need for connected data infrastructure has fielded a wave of new data center construction, and retrofitting existing facilities remains critical to keep up with demand. However, repurposing existing buildings into functional data centers presents distinct challenges, including a reassessment of safety equipment and procedures.
Unlike new construction projects where compliance can be engineered from a blank slate, retrofits require working within existing constraints while still adhering to compliance standards. For a large enterprise, executing retrofit safety plans across multiple sites while keeping a consistent process becomes a challenge.
For one multinational data center operator, the solution was partnering with Brady and Wesco to create a standardized repeatable framework and obtain the right equipment to stay compliant.
The Challenge
Wesco, a leading provider of B2B distribution, logistics and supply chain solutions, was working with a multinational data center operator in Texas. Their customer was in the process of retrofitting a mixed-use building into a state-of-the-art data center. They were in a time crunch to bring as much compute online as quickly as possible, and they needed a full plan and equipment list that met OSHA and NFPA requirements as quickly as possible.
Together with Wesco, Brady delivered a full plan in fewer than 30 days.
The Process
Our team got into the site and started auditing the premises. We looked for ways to address current and future requirements, as the building was undergoing retrofitting and was being brought online in stages. This required our team to carefully move through the facility, minimizing work disruptions.
Floor Marking
We suggested floor marking kits to identify physical hazards, electrical panel requirements, first aid locations and photoluminescent egress markers to ensure compliance in low-light power outages.
Arc Flash
Being one of the deadliest hazards in industrial settings, preventing arc flashes takes on additional importance within data centers. Even a small arc flash can severely harm employees and ruin sensitive equipment. The plan highlighted the need for electrical panel floor marking as well as the needed safety signage and a plan to meet the annual IR thermography inspection requirement.
This facility also had signage requirements for fire extinguishers, eyewash stations and PPE stations. Our team identified specific locations within the facility that met the compliance standards enforced by OSHA.
Custom Sign Printing
While our team identified the customer’s current and planned needs for signage, the facility was still being built and organized. In order to adapt to these changes, our team recommended the Brady S3100, a versatile desktop printer that lets the operator quickly print custom labels as-needed, eliminating the wait time for premade sign deliveries.
The S3100 works for sign printing, pipe labeling, server rack labeling and countless other industrial tasks, giving the data center operator the needed adaptability.
Custom LOTO Solutions
While all industrial facilities have some need for Lockout Tagout equipment, a retrofit data center that is being built while operational has a unique set of requirements. This data center had many different teams and subcontractors working throughout the facility, many of which had no communication.
Because the buildout is happening in phases, the customer issues color-coded Velocity Padlocks to prevent unauthorized equipment activation and differentiate between teams. One electrical contractor may be wiring up the in-house power generation, and a different contractor is installing electrical panels. Using color-coded locks distinguishes project scopes and equipment ownership, ensuring each worker can track their contractual obligations and avoid interfering with other projects.
The Results
The project went from initial evaluation to complete delivered plan before the 30-day requirement, meeting the timeline originally set. To meet this aggressive timeline, our team audited and worked through the facility as it was being constructed as well as being operational. Using these plans, our team was able to not only recommend current safety requirements, but anticipate upcoming needs as well.
Beyond securing full compliance for the original Texas site, the facility now serves as a template and training center for other data centers across the world. Contractors routinely visit this site to learn our customer’s requirements and working processes, leading to greater standardization and compliance across multiple sites.
Our team is ready to help you audit your facility and plan out future compliance projects. Contact our safety team to learn more.
Contact Brady's Safety Team