‘Cyclone-proof’ data centre opens in Australia

Queensland facility is fitted with cages that protect equipment from flying debris

A data centre designed to withstand extreme weather events, including category 5 cyclones with winds of up to 280 kilometres per hour, has opened in Queensland, Australia.

The Tier 3 facility, located in Townsville, North Queensland, is owned by Australian provider iSeek, and was developed in partnership with telco Optus and power-specialist Schneider Electric to initially serve James Cook University and Townsville City Council.

Peter Gaston, project director at HDR, Hurley Palmer Flatt Group, the company who provided the mechanical services design for the facility, said ‘all scenarios’ were considered when designing the data centre, including the knock-on effect of airflow in the event of a cyclone.

“Add to that there are only a few types of protective mesh certified for use in cyclone areas, the whole process demanded meticulous coordination of equipment and design,” Gaston said.

In addition to cyclones, the facility’s mechanical structures and IT equipment are built and positioned to withstand the high-humidity of Townsville’s tropical climate.

The data centre is also fitted with double hinging gates, condenser cages to protect equipment from flying debris, reinforced concrete walls and internal walls in accordance with local cyclone shelter standards.

“We have achieved a new benchmark in data centre design for environmentally volatile environments,” Ian Porter, COO at iSeek said.

As climate change accelerates and the need to deploy data centres in remote locations increases, a growing number of vendors, including ioSafe and Schneider Electric, are designing infrastructure that can withstand volatile and uncertain weather conditions.