3 Risks of Poor Data Center Construction

The data center construction industry is under immense pressure to build new facilities quickly, with an estimated $1 trillion in North American capital expenditures over the next five years. This rapid pace is leading to significant challenges, particularly in maintaining high-quality standards. Here are three major risks associated with inadequate construction practices:

1. Compromised Worker Safety 

When essential construction steps are not verified, such as failing to securely tighten electrical connections, the risk of dangerous incidents like arc flashes increases. These safety lapses not only endanger workers but also lead to costly rework and delays.

2. Poor Documentation and No Traceability 

Meeting aggressive construction schedules often means that quality control (QC) documentation is not a priority. Contractors are then faced with inconsistent records across various vendors and fabricators. In addition, paper torque logs and digital checklists during QC checks easily lead to missing or incorrect information, and result in rework. 

3. Rework Delays and Expenses

Data Center Owners have strict quality control documentation requirements, typically resulting in lengthy digital forms completed only after the work is finished. Due to the fast pace of construction, these forms can be completed hastily. Sometimes oversights don’t become apparent until later, such as during power introduction. This delays commissioning and wastes both time and budget as workers and specialists must repeat processes.

Conclusion

To mitigate these risks and meet accelerated schedules, integrating advanced technology into quality control processes is crucial. Cumulus is an advanced Quality Execution Solution (QES) that combines client QA and contractor QC into a streamlined workflow. By automating QC documentation and guiding workers through correct procedures with real-time tracking and integrated tools, Cumulus helps ensure that quality standards are followed for every job, every time.