Freezing temperatures in North America and the Nordic states could halt the construction industry further as it continues to reel after the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report by temperature control specialists Aggreko.
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With temperatures expected to drop to around -15 to -30 degrees celsius, cold weather-related obstacles in data centre construction and maintenance could result in vital facilities not being operational for the entire winter.
While some planned operations, such as excavation, may be carried out before the ground begins to freeze, the ongoing delays caused by coronavirus may mean such stages have been pushed back further, making compensating for lost time even more of a challenge.
The report hints that data controllers must plan around temporary heating units to thaw the ground for excavation to continue.
The report also shows that temporary heating may be required in other aspects of the construction centre.
Rooms may need to be heated for contractors carrying out installations in order to meet required local legislation for worker health and safety. Providing such heating may also be required to ensure ambient conditions are kept safe for those working on-site.
Precautions would also need to be taken with on-site generation, whether temporary or permanent. Operators must consider whether the construction equipment has been winterised, relevant fuel lines and storage tanks have been insulated and understand when additional trace heating may be required.
Aggreko has a number of specialists available to go into the field and deploy equipment to counter the effects of the cold. By working effectively with companies, measures can be taken to improve operational efficiency in the winter months.
Billy Durie, the Global Sector Head for Data Centres at Aggreko, said: “As the winters become more extreme each year, we are seeing increasing amounts of requests for supplementary heating for data centres to allow vital construction to continue.
"Due to delays relating to Covid-19, we are already seeing delays face construction and, as temperatures plummet, heating systems must be quickly implemented to allow construction to continue and avoid further delays.
“Our global fleet of temperature control equipment can be deployed to the furthest and coldest reaches of the Nordics region to aid providers working against the freezing conditions. Before the region reaches the lowest temperature, we urge providers and operators to speak to our local specialists to determine plans for countering the cold.”
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