FEATURE : DATA CENTRE SOLUTIONS
THE NORDICS ARE UNLIKELY TO SEE THERMOMETERS REACH THE EXTREMES SEEN ACROSS WESTERN EUROPE , YET THERE IS NO DENYING THAT THE REGION IS WARMING .
meanwhile , is also anticipating rising temperatures , particularly in the northern regions , with heavy rainfall incidences expected to increase .
While the results will not immediately impact all data centres in the region , they do show potential issues for operators looking to build data centres there . Rising temperatures , coupled with volatile rain patterns , could see a new risk for the data centre sector : humidity .
Why is humidity a concern for data centres ?
Before looking into the specific challenges surrounding humidity within the data centre market , it ’ s worth understanding the subject in more detail . Relative humidity is the percentage of moisture within an air particle .
As the air gets warmer , its capacity to hold moisture grows , while lower temperature has the opposite effect .
A relative humidity level of above 60 % deems a space to be uncomfortably wet , while anything below 20 % is uncomfortably low . With relative humidity across some of the major regions in the Nordics often peaking above 80 %, the relative humidity is too high and this could cause concerns for data centres – both in their construction and maintenance .
Understanding relative humidity is therefore an important consideration when deciding where to build a data centre . Ideally , construction managers should aim for a location with a relative humidity between 40 % and 60 %, as this would provide optimal conditions for both the building materials and occupants .
Humidity is very prominent in the Nordics . According to Aggreko ’ s recent guide – The Hidden Cost of Humidity on Site – Helsinki exceeds 80 % humidity , well over the comfortable relative humidity level . Stockholm and Oslo also have high average relative humidity rates , indicating a hidden challenge for data centres in this region .
Choosing a location for a new data centre which falls within the recommended relative humidity percentage is ideal , but it is not always possible . As such , it is important to understand the challenges that rising humidity can cause while in the construction phase , as well as the subsequent solutions that can soften the impact .
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