Aging electrical power equipment can present challenges. Managing and modernizing that equipment is key to keeping your data centers online.
Though data centers are vital to the digital infrastructure that so much of modern society relies on, they are too often equipped with aging electrical power equipment that can present serious risks to reliability, efficiency, and safety. Managing and modernizing that equipment is important not only for keeping data centers operational but for optimizing the associated costs as well.
It’s essential, therefore, that data centers implement an effective electrical maintenance program (EMP). In the April issue of Power Systems Design, Steve Camber, Group CBS vice president of business development, and Joel Benson, Group CBS vice president of sales, ran through several reasons a good EMP is important.
Key among them is that, in many cases, regulatory standards now mandate that data centers formalize their EMPs and track maintenance activities to ensure system reliability and worker safety.
With the 2023 update from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), NFPA 70B: Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance guidelines have been reclassified from recommended practice to formal standard. With language changing from should to shall, regulations can now be adopted and enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or local authorities, requiring compliance from data centers and other entities.
The need for such regulations includes all the other reasons that it makes sense to have a maintenance program in the first place. Equipment failures can disrupt operation for the data center as well as other businesses that it serves, but failures also raise the potential for hazardous working conditions. Also affected when an EMP is not in place are long-term reliability, system integrity, and all kinds of efficiencies.
Safety considerations are paramount, and proper maintenance helps to ensure the safe operation of your equipment. Remote operating systems and other arc flash safety solutions for potentially dangerous operations also help to keep operators safe.
Environmental Considerations
Considerable environmental factors are also at play. From the outset, well-maintained electrical equipment operates more efficiently, which has a direct positive impact on energy consumption and carbon footprint. Conversely, unplanned power outages and the backup power needed have considerable environmental repercussions.
Diesel generators are inefficient backup power sources. Although they’re essential for uptime, they also deliver air pollution, noise pollution, and greenhouse gases. And they consume a lot of fuel. Large data centers require multiple diesel generators for backup, each consuming hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel per hour.
A good maintenance program will improve energy efficiency and prolong the life of your equipment. When the equipment does reach end of life, however, what happens next? Remanufacturing is an alternative to replacement that makes sense for both the environment and your bottom line.
Remanufacturing can make used electrical equipment like new again — and keep it out of the landfill. The equipment is fully disassembled and then cleaned, lubricated, and restored. Applying circular economy principles, remanufacturing reduces waste, minimizes resource consumption, and lowers carbon footprints.
Group CBS companies can help you establish electrical maintenance programs, improve electrical safety, and comply with standards. Contact us to learn more about how Group CBS can reduce downtime and increase safety at your facility.
Read the full Power Systems Design article here.