Resilient data centre design for natural disasters

05-06-2025

Did you know that a single hour of data centre downtime can cost over $100,000? In a world where data is as vital as electricity, ensuring the resilience of data centres against natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and storms is not just a technical requirement; it's a business necessity.

Explore resilient data centre design strategies to safeguard infrastructure from natural disasters, ensuring operational continuity and enhanced security

What would happen if your data centre faced an unexpected natural disaster today? How quickly could it recover, and at what cost? This blog delves into the critical role of resilient design in safeguarding data centres from such catastrophic events, highlighting innovative strategies and essential practices to enhance their durability and operational continuity. Discover how to protect your critical infrastructure and ensure it thrives amidst the chaos of clashing environmental threats.

Understanding the importance of resilience in data centre locations

Choosing the right location for a new data centre involves more than just evaluating land cost and connectivity. It requires a thorough risk assessment to avoid natural disaster-prone areas or to prepare adequately if such risks are unavoidable. The primary goal is to maintain uptime and protect critical infrastructure, necessitating a strategic approach to site selection. Suppose a potential site is in a region prone to seismic activities, for example. In that case, specific structural designs and materials are necessary to enhance building resilience and safeguard the data centre's operations.

From earthquakes to floods: Smart design strategies for data centre resilience

Building on the imperative of careful site selection, the design strategies employed must specifically address the risks identified.

In regions known for seismic activity, ensuring the structural integrity of a data centre is crucial to prevent collapse and protect critical equipment. Techniques such as base isolation or the use of flexible materials can absorb seismic shocks, as demonstrated by resilient centres during past seismic events.

Conversely, in flood areas, facilities that implemented waterproofed entrances and elevated server placements successfully protected critical equipment from floodwaters. The proactive use of state-of-the-art flood barriers safeguarded vital IT infrastructure during severe flooding.

Storms and thunderstorms introduce challenges such as power outages, surges, and potential structural damage from high winds. Data centres must have robust backup power systems like uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and generators to ensure continuous operation. Additionally, building exteriors should be designed to withstand high winds and potential debris impact.

In regions prone to wildfires, using fire-resistant materials is key to preventing damage from heat and flames. The 2019 bushfire season in Australia highlighted the importance of such measures, where data centres with fire safety strategies such us heat-resistant cladding and independent fire suppression systems, effectively withstood the fires.

Balancing these needs can be complex, especially when a site is exposed to multiple types of risks. For example, while elevating equipment offers flood protection, it might not be advisable in seismic zones where added weight on higher floors could increase structural vulnerability.

Each data centre site presents its unique set of risks and required protections. Tailoring the infrastructure to counter these risks ensures long-term operational stability and reliability.

Seismic resilience at CPT1 Data Centre, Cape Town

Situated in an area with moderate seismic activity, the CPT1 data centre is designed to withstand earthquake impacts through advanced structural engineering. Flexible building materials and reinforced foundations help absorb seismic shocks, reducing the risk of damage to critical infrastructure and ensuring continuous operation during and after seismic events.

Mitigating risk

Innovative technologies and future-proofing data centres

Incorporating advanced technology and innovative design features can significantly enhance data centre resilience. For example, deploying artificial intelligence to optimise cooling systems can significantly reduce overheating risks during unexpected downtimes. Similarly, smart sensors can provide real-time data on structural health, enabling proactive maintenance and disaster response.

Future-proofing data centres involves not only ensuring physical resilience but also the flexibility to adapt to emerging technologies and evolving climate conditions.

Ensuring continuous power and connectivity

One of the most significant challenges data centres face during natural disasters is the risk of power and connectivity disruptions. These critical resources can be severely impacted by storms, floods, or other environmental threats, leading to potential downtime that can cripple operations. The loss of power can halt essential functions, while connectivity issues can disconnect businesses from their data, leading to significant operational and financial losses.

To counter these challenges, data centres must adopt a proactive approach by integrating redundancy and failover capabilities into their infrastructure. This involves deploying multiple power sources, such as backup generators and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), which kick in immediately during a failure to maintain continuous operations. Furthermore, establishing diverse connectivity paths ensures that if one network link is compromised, others can carry the load, thus preventing data access issues.

Connect with experts for tailored resilience solutions

To learn more about designing resilient data centres that can stand the test of time and nature, connect with our specialists today.

MartienArts

Director Mission Critical Facilities