Data Center Seismic Risk - Critical Facilities Round Table

Critical Facility Round Table
October 16, 2003
San Francisco
Seismic Risk for Data Centers
David Bonneville
Senior Principal
Degenkolb Engineers
San Francisco, California

Presentation Outline
Seismic Risk
Code Requirements
Data Center Components
Issues and Solutions
Data Center Buildings
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Seismic Risk
A Function of:
Seismic Hazard and
Building Performance
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Bay Area 30-year Probabilities
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

USGS Seismic Hazard Map
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Seismic Performance – Buildings
Northridge Earthquake
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

ST – RISK
% Damage vs. MMI
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Intensity vs. Peak Ground Acceleration
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Seismic Performance – Data Centers
Seattle Earthquake
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Equipment Damage vs. MMI FROM ATC – 13
80
Loss to Nonstructural Items (%)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
MMI
Electrical Equip. Mechanical Equip. Hi-Tech & Lab Equip. Office Equip.
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Equipment Anchorage
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Code Requirements
1. Pre – 1997 UBC
Including all editions of BOCA and SBC
2. Post 1997
2a. 1997 UBC
2b. 2000 IBC, 2003 IBC
2003 NFPA 5000
2002 ASCE - 7
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Code Requirements – 1994 UBC
Lateral Force On Nonstructural Components
F =
p
ZC
p
I
p
W
p
Where:
F p = Equivalent static horizontal design force
Z = Seismic Zone Coefficient
C p = Coefficient (Generally 0.75 for equipment)
I p = Importance Factor (1.0, 1.25 or 1.5)
W p = Weight of the Item
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Code Requirements – 1997 UBC
Lateral Force On Nonstructural Components
Where:
a p = Component Amplification Factor (rigid or flexible structure)
(varies from 1.0 to 2.5)
= Seismic Coefficient (dep. on Zone and Soil Type)
C a
I p
R p
a
C
p a p
x
Fp = ( 1+
3 )
R
p
= Importance Factor
= Component Response Modification Factor
(ductility of support anchorage)
h x /h r = height in building where equipment is located divided
by total height of building
I
h
h
r
W
p
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Code Related Issues
Roof Level
1994 UBC
1997 UBC
Near Fault
Shallow Anchors
Grade Level
Lateral Forces on Nonstructural Components
1994 UBC vs. 1997 UBC
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Shallow Anchors
Shallow Anchors are those with and
embedment length to diameter ratio
of less than 8.
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Installation Related Issues
Inadequate Anchorage
No Anchorage
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Data Center Components
Server Racks
Other Equipment – AC and UPS
Access Floors
Ceiling and Fire Sprinklers
Emergency Generators
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Servers
Seattle Earthquake
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Seismic Anchorage of Servers
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Anchorage Solution
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Anchorage Solution
Anchor servers
to prevent sliding
and overturning
Brace access
floor to prevent
lateral collapse
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Rack Design Issues
Standard
Rack
Seismic
Rack
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Rack
Design
Issues
Anchorage of
seismic rack to
floor.
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Alternative Solution – Rack Isolation
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Alternative Solution - Rack Isolation
Single isolator
Isolator allows
floor to move
underneath
equipment. Forces
on equipment above
are greatly reduced
WORKSAFE TECHNOLOGIES
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Alternative Solution - Rack Isolation
100%
Amplitude
WORKSAFE
TECHNOLOGIES
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Alternative Solution - Rack Isolation
141%
Amplitude
WORKSAFE
TECHNOLOGIES
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Other Equipment on Raised Floor
UPS Equipment
Approach is similar to
server racks.
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Heavy Equipment
AC Units
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Heavy Equipment Anchorage
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Emergency
Power
Anchorage of
emergency
generator
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Access Floors
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Access Floors
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Bracing of Access Floors
Access floors must be braced or pedestals designed
to cantilever.
Mass to include floor system and weight of equipment
(normally 25% of floor LL.)
Need mechanical attachment to base slab,
glue alone IS NOT acceptable.
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Bracing of Access Floors
Standard
pedestals are not
adequate for
high seismic
areas
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Heavy Duty Pedestals and Stringers
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Design Anchorage Detail: Access Floor
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Access Floor Bracing
– Installation Problems
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Access Floor Bracing
– Installation Problems
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Ceilings and Fire Sprinklers
Northridge Earthquake 1994
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Ceilings and Fire Sprinklers
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Pipe Bracing
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Pipe Bracing
NOTE: NFPA 13 editions prior to
1999 may not be adequate in high
seismic areas.
Acceptable Bracing
NFPA-13 Detail
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Building
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Seismic Design Forces with Time
0.25
.21
0.2
Lateral Force (% g)
0.15
0.1
.08
.10
.14
Low-Rise
Shear Wall
Building in Zone 4
0.05
0
Pre 1949
1949-76 1976-97
1997-Present
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Relative Costs – Bricks and Mortar
Cost / Square Foot
$1,500
$1,000
$500
Relative
Structural
Cost
22%
15%
7%
6%
5%
$0
Building
Type
Office Hospital Data
Center
Pharm
Mfg.
Chip Fab
Structural Exterior Arch. Interiors MEP
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Relative Costs – Fully Equipped
Cost / Square Foot
$10,000
$8,000
$6,000
$4,000
$2,000
Building
Type
$0
Relative
Structural
Cost
15%
7%
1%
Office Hospital Data
Center
3%
Pharm
Mfg.
1%
Chip Fab
Structural Exterior Arch. Interiors MEP Soft Costs FF&E
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Seismic Performance Levels
Operational
Immediate
Occupancy
Life Safe
1997 UBC
Near Collapse
Collapse
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Seismic Upgrade
Solution with BRBF’s
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Seismic Upgrade – BRBF’s
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Seismic Upgrade
Solution with BRBF’s
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Damper Solution
4-5 Link Structure
Viscous Dampers
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Damper Solution
4-5 Link Structure Viscous Dampers
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Base Isolation
Seismic Isolation provides major
economic advantages:
Protection of occupants, contents,
structure
Dramatic reduction in damage
n
minimal business disruption
Lead-
Rubber
Seismic
Isolator
Seismically Isolated Structure
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Base Isolation
Base Isolator
During Testing
USGS
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Base Isolation
AboveNet Building
New Isolator Under Existing Building
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Conclusions
1. Data Centers are subject to severe damage and loss
of operations in moderate (frequent) earthquakes.
2. Code requirements related to equipment anchorage have
recently changed significantly.
3. Equipment bracing (even for critical equipment) is often
nonexistent or second-rate.
4. Access floors are critical to data center performance and
most are not intended for use in high seismic areas.
5. Seismic upgrades can generally be undertaken without
severe disruption of the data center.
Critical Facility Round Table Seismic Risk for Data Centers October 16, 2003

Questions?
David Bonneville - Senior Principal
dbonne@degenkolb.com
Degenkolb Engineers
225 Bush Street, Suite 1000
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: 415.392.6952
Fax: 415.981.3157
www.degenkolb.com
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