Earthquake-Proofing Your Data Centre: Essential Tips and Techniques

Between January and April of 2024, two earthquakes measuring 7.6 and 7.2 on the Richter scale hit East Asia, causing billions of dollars of damage and resulting in hundreds of people losing their lives. Despite the widespread destruction in Japan and Taiwan, where the earthquakes hit, one thing remained unscathed in both countries: their chip fabs.

This is due to the fact that, despite being located in regions susceptible to seismic events of levels 4 and 5, numerous factories have been constructed with sufficient structural robustness to endure such natural disasters.

How can we design resilient data centres?

In Japan, where Colt’s data centres are situated, data centre operators are carefully considering their choices and dedicating resources to adopting cutting-edge technology. Given the seismic activity in the region, base isolation has emerged as the favoured approach for protecting these facilities from the powerful energy released by fault lines.

In 2011, Colt introduced a groundbreaking technology called base isolation for data centres. This innovative method involves installing flexible bearing pads composed of layers of rubber and lead between the building’s foundation and the structure. These base isolators serve as a buffer during an earthquake, absorbing the majority of the impact to minimise the swaying and shaking of the data centre.

Colt has incorporated base isolation as a standard feature in all of its data centres. Although this method is commonly utilised in Japan, it is a relatively new development in the United States. In contrast, data centre providers in Europe, where seismic activity is less common, tend to prefer the tie-down technique.

When designing the layout of a data centre, it’s crucial to ensure that the most critical components, such as the data hall and electrical rooms necessary for business continuity, are positioned on isolation bases. Additionally, it’s important to avoid suspending heavy objects above the servers to prevent potential damage in the event of an earthquake.

Colt employs a final technique involving the use of dampers, which are hydraulic devices designed to absorb and dissipate the kinetic energy generated by seismic events. These dampers serve to cushion the impact between structures, providing added protection against the destructive forces of earthquakes.

At its newly constructed facility in Keihanna, Japan, Colt has implemented an advanced seismic damping system to enhance the building’s resilience to earthquakes. This system combines an oil damper composed of naturally laminated rubber with a friction pendulum system. The friction pendulum system, a form of base isolation, offers the ability to dampen both vertical and horizontal movement, providing comprehensive protection against seismic forces.

In March 2011, Japan experienced the devastating 9.1 magnitude Tohoku earthquake. Despite the massive tremors, Colt’s data centre, thanks to its base isolation system, only shifted by 10cm, showcasing the effectiveness of this protective technology.

While seismic activity has traditionally been a primary concern for safeguarding critical infrastructure, the impact of climate change has introduced a new set of challenges. Extreme weather events are now posing significant resilience challenges for organisations, emphasising the need for comprehensive disaster preparedness.

Interestingly, while UK-based data centre providers may not prioritise seismic-proof construction, the unprecedented heatwave in 2022 led to data centre outages for Google, Oracle, and London-based Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Temperatures soared to a record 40°C (104°F), highlighting the unexpected vulnerability of data centres to extreme weather conditions.

Stressing the importance of risk assessment, organisations can strategically identify and prioritise potential failures based on earthquake risk. By addressing these vulnerabilities and establishing contingency plans, businesses operating in earthquake-prone regions can effectively manage their exposure to seismic risk by publishing contingency plans, businesses operating in earthquake-prone regions can effectively manage their exposure to seismic risk.