A Data Center Water leak poses substantial risk, capable of triggering catastrophic failures that not only damage crucial equipment but also lead to severe downtime and staggering revenue losses. In this article, we delve into the paramount importance of water leak detection, explore the potential hazards associated with water damage, and shed light on effective strategies to prevent such disasters.
Google Europe’s April 2023 Outage
In April 2023, Google Europe faced a disruptive outage caused by an unexpected fire stemming from a water leak. The incident was caused when a cooling system pump malfunctioned, permitting water to infiltrate the battery room, eventually sparking a blaze.
Water Leak Monitoring and Detection System for Simon Fraser University
Gartner’s estimation of unprepared data center downtime costing up to $300,000 USD per hour underscores the importance of a modest investment in a robust monitoring solution, which can yield significant returns in a single catastrophic event. AKCP have implemented such a monitoring system for Simon Fraser University, in both their mechanical room, and data center halls.
In the mechanical room both spot and rope water leak detection sensors were installed. The spot water sensors cover a small area and were placed at key points where leaks are likely to occur. These would be junctions, valves and joins in the pipes. Rope water sensors were installed along the perimeter of enclosures and pipes.
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- Rope water leak sensor with SP1+ – $470
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- Spot Water Sensor with SP1+ – $335
In the main data enter hall, Simon Fraser University had opted to use rear door heat exchangers to cool their high density racks. These are vulnerable to water leaks that would cause catastrophic damage to the data center. It was essential that an early warning monitoring system was installed. Rope water sensors were deployed here along the floor at the rear of each rack.
AKCP Rope Water Sensor in Simon Fraser University Data Center
Data Center Damage Caused by Water Leaks
Mitigating Structural and Property Damage: Water leaks pose a substantial risk to the structural integrity of data center facilities, potentially leading to expensive repairs and the growth of mold. Proactive water leak detection proves indispensable in averting these structural challenges and their subsequent financial burdens.
Safeguarding Equipment from Water Damage: The peril of undetected leaks from diverse sources, including HVAC units, water pipes, and drainage systems, can result in severe harm to vital data center equipment. Swift identification of leaks not only curbs repair expenses but, more critically, minimizes downtime.
Optimized Time Management: Identifying water leaks can often be a formidable task, contributing to unnoticed accumulations and ensuing damage. Employing water leak detection systems efficiently pinpoints leaks throughout the facility, sidestepping the necessity for time-intensive trial-and-error approaches. The utilization of AKCP’s Locate-type rope water sensor is especially adept in this context.
Preventing Business Disruption: Even minor leaks hold the potential to disrupt servers and IT infrastructure, impacting business continuity. Rapid leak detection and subsequent mitigation serve as a protective shield against operational disruptions and the potential erosion of revenue.
Conclusion
The ramifications of water damage within data centers re extensive, impacting equipment, operations, and overall revenue. Through the strategic implementation of water leak detection systems, data centers can proactively protect themselves from water-related catastrophes. This preemptive approach serves as an effective barrier against expensive downtime and potential structural impairments. Water leak detection monitoring systems are an essential investment for ensuring the sustained operation and uptime of data center facilities.
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