Information technology (IT) spending on data center systems worldwide amounted to $208 billion in 2020. A significant amount of these costs go towards data center services. Following the correct procedures for leak prevention is one way you can avoid costly downtime, whether it is from water damage or corrosive liquid leaks. Below are some ways you can protect your data center from unwanted leaks.
Educate Your Staff
Having a trained and competent staff is the first step to managing potential problems at your data center. Having a detailed plan in case of leak detection includes implementing a reporting system that relies on proper documentation and ongoing adjustments. As management is responsible for a variety of on-site issues, a trained staff can be invaluable to detect and prevent problems. Make sure your staff knows what to look for when responding to potential leaks.
Wire-Free Leak Detection
More wires and cables can mean an increased risk of incursion or leaks. Wire-free leak detection is ideal because it responds quickly and communicates wirelessly. The benefits of wire-free detection are numerous, making it an increasingly popular choice for managers. Some of these benefits include an increase in fault detection, longer battery life, and more powerful security encryption.
Protect Critical Areas
Protecting every square inch of your facility is neither cost-effective nor an intelligent use of your resources. Instead, focus on protecting critical areas, especially around sensitive or leak-prone equipment. Use a variety of tools including sensing cables (fluid and chemical), zone controllers, and humidity sensors to offer the best protection for these necessary and important areas. Spot detectors are generally a sufficient protection method for other more non-critical areas.
Do Not Make Assumptions
Because you know your facility best, you are the most important tool when it comes to leak prevention, though this does not mean you will always be able to predict which way a leak will run. Spot detectors do not always do the job during a leak as the water may circumnavigate the detector itself. This is where liquid detection cables come in handy. Because of their versatility, they can cover larger areas and are more cost-effective.
There are many threats that can compromise a data center, but leaks do not have to be one of them. Having a prepared staff, securing the right detection equipment, and covering critical areas effectively can contribute to the best leak prevention strategies for your facility and its equipment.