The Crucial Seconds that Kill Data Centers

Every Second Matters

Water leaks are a leading cause of failure and downtime in data centers. From HVAC and plumbing infrastructure to evaporative towers and liquid cooling, water is everywhere in these facilities. Even leaks that start small tend to spread quickly to affect large areas, so it’s critical that they be resolved immediately to prevent cascading failures.

In facilities that utilize direct-to-chip cooling, conductive fluids like water can take down servers and cause large-scale outages within moments. Downtime can hemorrhage an average of $13,500 per minute, or around $225 per second. Data centers need highly responsive leak detection systems to identify water leaks instantly so that they can be contained and resolved before they cause extensive damage.

Upgrading Your Leak Detection System

The cascading nature of leak events means that costs and downtime will continue to snowball each second a leak is left unaddressed. Fast-response leak detection is the difference between replacing a single server and replacing an entire rack, not to mention the impact to flooring, cabling, drywall, and mold risk from even minor flooding. Five additional minutes of unaddressed leaks can push downtime from a matter of hours to a matter of days.

As a highly effective measure for saving costs and safeguarding operations, fast-response leak detection is a worthwhile investment. With adequate leak detection, data centers and other critical facilities can dramatically reduce risks associated with water leaks.

Getting the Right Kind of Leak Detection

Not all leak detection systems are created equal. Many take several minutes or even hours to activate when a leak occurs, others require nearly full submersion to trigger. These systems provide plenty of time for the problem to reach a point of no return and add up to a costly expenditure.

To perform adequately under high-impact situations, critical leak detection systems require fast response time, sensitive fluid sensors, and resettable alarms.

As an example of high-performance leak detection, Parameter systems, powered by RLE leak detection, are engineered for fast-response. Once fluid leak reaches a sensor or detection cable, the system transmits an alert within seconds. It only takes a few drops of water to trigger the system, ensuring technicians become aware of the problem before it escalates. To enable the fastest response possible, Parameter’s leak detection utilizes distance-read controllers to pinpoint the location of the leak and reduce time spent searching for damage. View the response time of these products in action below.

Parameter systems are also engineered for fast resetting. As soon as the affected area has been wiped dry with a cloth or paper towel, the cable is ready to detect its next leak with no need for additional maintenance. Paired with the leak validation systems that virtually eliminate false alarms, this makes Parameter leak detection a robust, reliable, and reusable solution for reducing the cost and consequences of fluid leaks in critical systems.