PLANNING · DATA CENTRES · TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Data centre planning.
Availability starts with the design
High Knowledge plans data centres and critical infrastructure as an integrated system: buildings, power, cooling, security and operation. From requirements through coordinated technical design to commissioning.
Data centre planning: coordinating utilities, security and operations
Availability depends on how the disciplines work together. A redundant UPS alone does not protect against shared cable routes, inadequate cooling or a site-wide incident. We therefore assess the entire supply chain and its interfaces.
We develop a suitable design from your business processes, IT loads and protection objectives. New builds, expansions and critical existing infrastructure are assessed against their individual constraints. Expansion capacity, maintainability and future operating arrangements are included from the outset.
Site, building and protection
We consider site hazards, access, utility connections, structural capacity, space and separated routes. Access control, fire compartments, early fire detection and coordination with the fire-safety concept are integrated with the technical infrastructure.
Power supply and redundancy
From the grid connection through distribution and UPS to backup power: capacity, selectivity, operating conditions and maintenance options must work together. We also assess common-cause failures and supply during planned work.
Cooling and heat rejection
Load profiles, rack densities, environmental conditions and expansion stages determine the cooling concept. Air and liquid cooling, controls, redundancy and heat reuse are coordinated. For high power densities, our HPC and AI planning explores these requirements in detail.
Monitoring and operational readiness
Measurement points, alarms, DCIM and technical interfaces are designed around operational responsibilities. Actionable information and clear responses to faults are essential. Documentation, spare-parts planning and accessibility support subsequent operation.
Translate protection objectives into a coordinated design.
Technical availability must match your business processes. Together, we define which functions must continue, how maintenance can be carried out and which reserves are needed for expansion. IT, building services and operations receive a common planning basis.
For projects shaped by regulatory requirements, our dedicated consulting services complement the technical design: critical infrastructure and physical resilience and NIS2 and cybersecurity. Requirements, responsibilities and evidence are coordinated within the project.
What determines the budget and expansion options: IT capacity alone does not determine the investment required. Redundancy, rack density, cooling technology, site infrastructure and supply arrangements during maintenance or refurbishment all interact. We compare options using the same load and growth assumptions and distinguish initial requirements from later expansion stages. This makes capital expenditure, operating costs and spare capacity easier to assess.
For an initial comparison of options, use the cost calculator in the KPI Lab. With the energy comparison you can explore the effect of different PUE assumptions. We use the results as assumptions in project discussions; they do not replace a project cost estimate.
EN 50600 as a structured design framework.
The EN 50600 series helps assess availability, security and energy efficiency systematically. Together, we define the requirements and evidence to pursue. Buildings, power, environmental conditions, cabling and security concepts are coordinated across disciplines.
The intended classification must match the actual protection requirements. Design against agreed standards and independent certification are different services. Where certification is intended, assessment bodies and evidence requirements are involved early.
Design to EN 50600 → · BIM and coordinated technical design →
What you receive during the planning process.
- Baseline and requirements: an agreed requirements specification covering protection objectives, IT capacity, load profiles, expansion and site conditions.
- Options and preliminary design: a technical comparison of options covering utility concepts, space requirements, interfaces, budget estimates and key risks.
- Detailed technical design: system sizing, coordinated system concepts and drawings, and documented technical requirements.
- Tendering and implementation: clear specifications and technical support within the agreed scope.
- Testing and handover: agreed functional and integration tests, the corresponding test records, documentation and operational instruction.
Service phases and responsibilities are agreed for each project. Our page on planning and HOAI explains the framework. For alterations, we add construction phases, temporary configurations and a changeover concept agreed with operations.
Frequently asked questions
Do you also plan the modernisation of existing data centres?
Yes. We assess existing facilities, including utility reserves, bottlenecks and construction phases. Depending on the starting point, our consulting on retrofit and modernisation.
What availability level makes sense for my data centre?
The required level is derived from the consequences of failure and your operational needs. Redundancy, maintainability, location and operational organisation must align. Choosing a generic class without analysing requirements is insufficient.
How does a planning project begin?
Start with a description of your applications, the consequences of an outage and the capacity you need now and in future. Existing floor plans, grid connection and IT power information, rack and load data, and cooling and operating documentation are useful. Include your target date and budget range. We clarify missing data in the first step; you do not need a complete set of design documents to get started.
If the site and operating model are still undecided, our Data centre strategy provides the foundation. Together, we define the investigations and design stages required next.
Let us plan the infrastructure behind your availability.
Whether a new build, expansion or critical existing facility: we clarify requirements, interfaces and the next planning steps with you.