Data Centres

By nature, a Data Centre needs to securely house rows and rows of valuable and heavy technology, which requires to be secured and protected from conception. The overriding priority and challenge facing the Composite Profiles team was how to safely and securely build top-down, commencing with the third-storey decking, which was required first to house the major plant.

The client’s focus was to handover the plant rooms (top floor areas) as soon as possible to allow the following contractors to start in these areas as the building progressed below. The client’s programme detailed a sequence of Level 3 first, followed by Level 1, finishing with Level 2; with rope access safety netting installed to Levels 3 and 2, and MEWP access to Level 1. Composite Profiles were subsequently enlisted to help plan the build sequence and coordinate with the steel erectors and scaffolders.

The second biggest challenge was that the end client required a system to fully cover 606m² of service voids with a product that could be adapted to suit services as required.

After reviewing the client’s original planned build sequence, Composite Profiles proposed a change to the sequence.

The solution proposed was to erect the safety netting to Level 2 via MEWPs closely followed by Level 1 and Level 3 in tandem, once the metal decking had been installed to Level 2. Level 3 being rope access, and Level 1 access via MEWPs. With the MEWPs operating through the first floor steelwork, without early engagement, this can cause a problem where they clash with the placements of the metal decking packs. By collaborating early with Composite Profiles, the team were able to mitigate this by detailing the decking packs to be landed over the beams, maximising the amount of clear open space for the MEWPs to operate. This enabled continuity of programme works for the Safety Netting and Decking Installation Teams, who demonstrated streamline precision to complete phases ahead of programme. This innovative sequence shaved weeks off the client’s original programme, reduced rope access requirements and an overall reduction in site preliminaries, which saved the client significant costs.

By supplying and installing Composite Profiles own edge protection, the team were able to phase the works to complete 50% of each block, as the steel erection was completed. This streamlined approach ensures continuous installation and handover of each block, as early as possible.

Composite Profiles solution for the 606m² of service voids was the design and installation of their GRP void protection system, wHOLE.Protect SOLID™, which they adapted on-site, hole-by-hole to fit requirements.