These days, many organizations are opting to build modular data centers instead of taking the traditional stick-built construction approach. Not only does the modular approach help organizations save time and money, but it also enables them to ensure that employees remain productive during construction—instead of being constantly interrupted by the thud, thud, thud of a hammer.
Although modular data center construction delivers a number of benefits to organizations, it also makes the construction manager’s job easier—and the jobs of their team members too. With that in mind, here are five ways modular data centers make the construction manager’s day-to-day life easier.
1. Faster construction
First things first: because work is conducted off-site by a team of professionals who build modular data centers for a living, construction timelines speed up considerably. Whereas a traditional data center might take as long as 24 months to build, you can cut production time by 30 percent or more with a modular data center, which can be up and running in a matter of months.
As a result, projects get completed much faster, giving the construction manager more time to focus on additional projects and other mission-critical areas of operations.
2. More control
When you build data centers outdoors, all sorts of things can go wrong. For example, weather is unpredictable, and you can’t move projects forward when there’s a downpour or if it’s snowing.
At the same time, when you take the traditional stick-built approach, you might struggle to get the best workers on your site, due to the national skilled labor shortage that’s taking a toll on the industry. Depending on your luck of the draw, that could translate into any number of data center design mistakes—ranging from miscalculating the total cost of ownership, mismatching business objectives or choosing improper data center power equipment, among other things.
Opting for a modular data center approach solves these problems altogether. The construction team is able to build modules all year long in a climate-controlled indoor factory, while at the same time, the construction manager also gets the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are tapping into a team of experts that will work diligently to ensure the final product utilizes the best technology for the job and meets the client’s needs perfectly.
3. Higher quality
Construction managers that choose prefabricated data centers can also rest comfortably knowing that they’ll end up with a higher-quality data center on the other side—instead of rolling the dice and hoping that the team they assemble will do the job the right way.
Believe it or not, today’s leading prefabricators are able to deliver modules that are 95 percent defect-free. As you begin your search for a modular data center provider, look for a partner that is guided by advanced quality management principles, like ISO 9001:2015.
4. More safety
According to a recent report, modular data centers can reduce the man-hours required to install a data center by upwards of 84 percent. What’s more, modular data centers also require 77 percent less lifting operations. Modular units are also always tested before they ship out of the factory, meaning there’s a significantly lessened chance of on-site engineering mishaps occurring too.
Add it all up, and there’s a far less likelihood that any accidents or injuries occur during construction—which means there’s a much smaller chance that a construction manager will get any blemishes on their record.
5. Less waste
Construction waste is expected to increase twofold to 2.2 billion tons by 2025. In the age of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, every forward-thinking organization should be focused on doing all that it can to reduce its impact on the environment.
Modular data center construction enables construction managers to support CSR initiatives by helping their organizations reduce construction waste. In fact, using off-site construction can help reduce construction waste by half!
Bottom line? Opt for a prefabricated data center, and help your organization meet its CSR goals.
Ready to Build a Modular Data Center?
When you decide to move forward with a prefabricated data center, you set yourself up for success. Not only can you turn your servers online faster, but you can also enjoy a high-quality product on the other side, while reducing waste and increasing safety.
But you can’t just decide to build a modular data center and expect great results. You need to partner with the right vendor.
Check out our free guide, Selecting the Right Vendor for Your Modular Data Center, to learn more about what to look for in a construction partner.
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