The Critical Role of Heavy Lift & Rigging in Data Centre Reliability
The Critical Role of Heavy Lift & Rigging in Data Centre Reliability
Once data centers come into our mind, we usually picture that servers are running neatly, endless cables are tidy and cooling systems are humming smoothly. The heavy-duty infrastructure that is working silently to keep everything running is what we hardly notice.
Massive generators, rotary UPS systems, and large cooling units are backstage, cry for air, and roll in, to let the servers serve with their great muse. Without them, even the most futuristic data centers will stop functioning. And here is the heavy lift and rigging, the least talked about but the most important, the part without the exact and safe mobility of these big machines data centre reliability would be impossible.
Why Heavy Lift Matters for Reliability
Downtime is the number one enemy of any data centre. Whether a bank, cloud service provider, or e-commerce platform, the interruption of even a few minutes can cause a loss of millions of dollars, not to mention the damaged reputation of the company.
That is why no installation, upgrade, or replacement of equipment in the data center should disrupt the operations. Nevertheless, these machines are not only huge — they are sometimes in narrow or difficult-to-reach places, such as on the roof or deep inside the building.
A poorly planned lift will:
- Destroy the safety of both people and the equipment
- Cause the project schedule to be delayed, which can further the downtime and the related risks
- Damage the structure of the facility by going beyond the weight or ground load limits
- Prevent emergency access, which would make the area dangerous in case of an emergency
Basically, heavy lift and rigging operations do not only impact the logistics side of the business. They are such operations that have a direct correlation with the facility’s uptime and reliability.
A Real-World Example: DRUPS Installation
To give an idea of the intricate details, let’s delve deeper into a recent project. The responsibility of installing four diesel rotary uninterruptible power supply (DRUPS) units in a live data center facility was handed over to Jaberson. Each of the DRUPS was an incredible 77,600kg, and they had to be lifted onto the upper roof of the building.
The challenges were:
- Limited crane space: There was very little room for a crane on the site.
- Restricted operating hours: The lifting had to be performed within the limited timeframes so that daily operations were not disrupted.
- Ongoing operations: The building was in use, which meant there was a need for emergency access routes at all times.
A classic or traditional lift was out of the question.
The Engineering Solution
The project team reviewed the DRUPS design and came up with a different plan. They suggested a plan as opposed to the direct lift, it was:
- Disassembling the DRUPS units into smaller parts.
- Using special equipment to skid the parts into the desired position.
- Bypass the units rooftop and coupling them by the use of facilities installed directly on the rooftop.
Apart from solving the issue of available space and the time limit, this method also provided safety and made the project economical at the same time.
Moreover, some of the safety precautions the project took were:
- Checking the grounds with regard to how much weight they can hold and ensuring that the building structure is strong enough to carry the load.
Safe working access for personnel, which enabled engineers to carry out their work in a safe manner.
Emergency access planning, which was aimed at making sure that there was always a route available for critical pathways to be unblocked.
The outcome was an on-time, efficient delivery of the DRUPS units that did not pose any risk to the continuous operation of the facility without any accidents.
Engineering + Experience = Reliability
The main difference between a routine heavy lift and one in a critical environment such as a data center is the knowledge of the team that is doing it. Having cranes, rigging equipment, or manpower is not everything — it is about the union of the engineering insight with the practical experience that matters.
- Only through insight from the engineering side each and every load calculation, every move, and every safety factor can be rightly accounted for.
- It is however the practical or physical execution that guarantees that within the strict spatial, operational, and time constraints of a live data centre the plan will work.
Quite understandable, that is the reason why the selection of the right partner is very important. A heavy lift and rigging team that is dependable is the one that knows how to minimize the disruption that is brought by the heaviness while maximizing the safety and the reliability of the operation.
Heavy Lift in the Digital World
Just like in any digital economy, data centres are the spinal cord of almost every industry. Online banking, the AI world, government systems, and even streaming services are some of the things that heavily depend on data centres for their existence.
The world focuses so much on software, cloud platforms, and digital transformation that it seems it forgets about the physical reality behind it all: without the heavy equipment supporting the facility, nothing works.
This is why heavy lift and rigging are, though often not in the front, are absolutely essential. It is on them that data centre downtime, reliability, and performance depend.
Conclusion
Although heavy lift and rigging are not the subjects of the media seeming interest, by no means are they less significant for the digital world not to function properly. The installation or replacement of a 77,600 kg DRUPS is definitely not just about the relocation of the object of the said weight — it is also a matter of reliability, an additional protection to the stakeholders, and most importantly a guarantee for a continual service for millions of end users.
Jaberson has demonstrated competence that surpasses the mere technical execution to a complete client confidence. In fact, for such a challenging task, they treat every operation with exactness, security, and effectiveness, thus guaranteeing that data centers will be able to provide us with the digital ecosystem that we draw upon daily.
Looking For a Reliable Heavy Lift & Rigging?
Contact Jaberson Technology, we are here to help your heavy lift & rigging — safely and efficiently.
Email: info@jaberson-technology.com