The golden mean between operational excellence and safety is crucial for any data center. As it happens, proactive safety measures, especially in areas of arc flashes add to achieving data center operational efficiency. Data centers, which are loaded with heavy-duty electrical installations and high-voltage operating conditions need strong shields to protect them from hidden hazards like arc flashes.
New Zealand, a country with high seismic activity must adopt regular compliance with arc flash standards to attain zero downtime and absolute arc flash protection. Any seismic activity can disrupt the operation of a data center by equipment damage, misalignment, power surges, and outages, thus increasing the risks of arc flash hazards. Regular maintenance, good seismic resilience, Arc Flash protection, and safety measures are the keys to balancing operational efficiency and Arc Flash safety in data centers in New Zealand.
Arc Flashes in Data Centers- Safety First, Efficiency Always…
Arc Flashes are electrical explosions accompanied by heavy light and sound. This happens when the air path between two conductors, or a conductor and ground offers zero impedance to electric current. Arc Flashes, as can be presumed involve high temperatures above that of the surface of the sun, which can even melt installations and metals. Workers close by are in grave danger of losing their lives, in addition to the disruption in the operation of the facility. Although not higher than in any other country, the Arc Flash safety in Data Centers in New Zealand depends on the following:
- Electrical infrastructure and voltage
- Seismic activity
- Safety practices, training, and complying with standards
- Infrastructure age
Care Labs, New Zealand strives to work with data centers across the country to help them mitigate the associated risks through comprehensive Arc Flash study and Analysis services.
Operational efficiency of a data center
The operational efficiency in a data center depends on various factors:- Energy efficiency
- Operational practices
- Space utilization
- Cost management
- Scalability
- Security and Compliance
Optimizing the above factors can help attain 100% operational efficiency in a data center. However, all these factors can be negatively impacted by hidden threats of Arc Flashes. Delegating a trusted partner for Arc Flash study for data centers in New Zealand can help mitigate the risks and the costs attached to it.
Care Labs is a consulting company that offers value-added, and cost-effective Arc Flash Study and Analysis services for data centers in New Zealand. These studies ensure that your facility complies with different international as well as regional standards.
Best blueprint to strike a balance between operational efficiency and arc flash safety
It is easy to strategize Arc flash safety along with maintaining operational efficiency as both are tied together. Needless to say, ensuring safety will boost operational efficiency and hence can be addressed together. Arc Flash study can reveal any fault in the system and educate the team of electrical workers to use the best safety measures and practices. The best approach in this regard is:- Risk assessment through Arc Flash studies every five years and its effect on potential downtime.
- Adopting protective measures like the right PPE, implementing arc-resistant switchgear, and safety protocols.
- Educating the staff through staff-engagement training activities
- Adopting safety measures during the design stage itself and constant monitoring of the system, which again can be facilitated by Arc Flash studies.
- Adhere to safety standards for Arc Flashes like NFPA 70E, AS/NZs 3000:2018, and IEEE 1584.
