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The single most significant benchmark in measuring a
good maintenance program is zero failures. Saving
energy and controlling costs are important to an effective
program, but they run a distant second when considering
the need for a reliable maintenance program. When
considering these decisions, it’s important to remember
that a small cost savings now could result in a costly
future outage.
There are a number of steps that you can take in order to
ensure reliable system operation. This starts with the
premise that the data center design includes some level
of redundancy along with a review to eliminate single
points of failure. At this stage you must keep in mind
that an aging infrastructure requires a more intensive
maintenance program than a site with newer equipment.
EEC recently posted a blog article with some positive
steps for data center and facility managers to keep their
centers up and running, while concurrently assisting in
energy saving and controlled costs. Although this is not
an all-inclusive list, we will touch on a few of the key
ideas and provide a checklist of tasks to consider for
implementation:
CONDUCT A REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM:
Proactive and preventive maintenance programs offer the
best opportunity to identify problems early allowing you
to take corrective action, while routine maintenance
ensures reliable and continuous operation. This is
especially true for CRAC units, Generators and
UPS/Battery systems.
n
UPS batteries & capacitors:
Battery failures are the
single highest contributors to load loss. A redundant
battery string is a wise investment, but proper testing
and maintenance is the key to avoiding costly
downtime alongside review of date codes on
batteries and capacitors to determine “end of life”.
Proactive replacement of these components will help
avoid unplanned emergencies and costly failures.
DATA CENTER
MAINTENANCE
AND
EFFICIENCY
BEST PRACTICES
by
Jim Harmon
If your job responsibilities include data center site maintenance, you have a critical responsibility and face a huge
challenge when it comes to meeting those obligations. Scheduling and conducting proper maintenance could
mean the difference between reliable system operation or periodic failures and unexpected shutdowns.