Client A asked Baker Group to be part of a team to upgrade their 25-year old primary mission critical facility. Client A’s primary data center was constructed in 1983, and functioned effectively for 25 years; however, in 2008 Client A needed to upgrade the electrical and mechanical systems. The objective was to increase capacity of electrical and cooling systems while keeping the data center operational.

Baker Group was asked to install new dry coolers and fluid coolers, and replace the underfloor condenser water piping system. In addition, Baker Group also replaced 20-ton chilled-water AC units with 30-ton AC units, and set up a cooling transition plan to support a hot isle/cold isle layout.

Baker Group:

• Replaced the condenser water piping system below the existing raised floor.
• Replaced the existing heat rejection equipment outside.
• Replaced environmental cooling units serving raised floor areas.
• Replaced comfort cooling equipment serving people occupied spaces.
• Provided new environmental cooling unit for new electrical distribution spaces.

The Schneider Electric building automation system was also upgraded to control and monitor the new dry coolers and AC units. This upgrade insured accurate temperature and humidity control with critical alarm monitoring.

During construction, Baker Group successfully handled several challenges associated with keeping a data center running and operational during a major systems upgrade. The systems were successfully upgraded in a live data center without causing any unplanned outages, and were installed within the constraints of an existing space.