Berlin Data Centre
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ProjectBerlin Data Centre
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ClientNDA
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LocationGermany
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Lead ConsultantB&W Engineering
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TechnologySiphonic and Gravity
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ScopeDesign Consultancy
Project Overview
Capcon Engineering was engaged late in the design phase of a data centre project in Berlin, where a major design issue was developing fitting the required plant upon the roof while staying under the permissible building height, as stipulated in planning conditions, due to the large roof pitch required to facilitate the falls required for a traditional external gravity drainage system.
The original roof design for the data centre, typical of many data centres, was a pitched roof with a standard external gravity drainage system. The issue arising was the roof height, combined with roof mounted plant equipment, exceeded the maximum permissible heights as governed by the local municipality. Lowering the height of the data centre would have reduced the size of the data halls and, in turn the value of the data centre. The design team was looking to explore alternatives, including a flat roof design to maximise the space available for data halls, while keeping within height requirements. Capcon were appointed to provide a siphonic drainage solution for the flat roof, which not only resolved the height issue but significantly improved overall drainage efficiency and rainwater harvesting potential.
Challenges with Gravity
- The primary issue was the need to reduce the building’s height without sacrificing the size of the data halls.
- The traditional external gravity drainage plan required significant roof height to accommodate the pipe falls, which, when combined with roof-mounted plant equipment, exceeded height restrictions.
- Lowering the roof to accommodate the slopes would have reduced the size of the data halls and, in turn, the value of the data centre.
- Due to limitations with the gravity drainage system, the original design would have only allowed for 50% rainwater harvesting
Siphonic Solution
- Capcon designed a siphonic drainage system that worked on a flat roof, eliminating the need for roof slopes
- The bespoke drainage system allowed the drainage outlets to be located directly above service corridors, completely avoiding the need for rainwater pipes to be located near any sensitive data halls or critical infrastructure rooms.
- The siphonic system was able to efficiently transport all rainwater through the service corridors, routing the water to a single drop location before the harvesting tank.
- The siphonic designs allowed for 100% of the rainwater from the roof to be harvested
Key Features
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Flat Roof DesignBy using a siphonic system, Capcon enabled the design of a completely flat roof, which maintained the required height for the data halls and adhered to municipal height restrictions.
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Increased Water HarvestingThe siphonic system allowed for 100% rainwater harvesting, doubling the amount that would have been possible with the original gravity system. This eliminated the need for pumping water back to the harvesting tanks.
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Elimination of Below-Ground DrainageThe siphonic solution removed the need for below-ground drainage infrastructure entirely, reducing the project’s complexity, C02 emissions and costs associated with manholes, excavation, and installation.
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Extreme Weather ProtectionThe siphonic system also provided better protection against extreme weather events than a traditional gravity drainage system.
Results
Capcon’s innovative siphonic drainage solution enabled this Berlin located data centre to retain its optimal data hall size and height while ensuring efficient rainwater drainage and harvesting. The solution not only resolved the height issue but also enhanced the project’s sustainability objectives and resilience to weather events.
Image of DC for illustrative purposes only.
