Preventive Maintenance Checklist for Data Center Electrical Systems

What do you mean by Data Center?

A data center is an operational structure that contains computing processors and associated hardware. 

It includes the computational infrastructure that IT systems need, such as

• Servers, 
• Data storage drives, & 
• Network hardware.

A vast collection of networked computer servers that are often used by enterprises to store, process, or distribute large amounts of data.

What are the Electrical Equipment for the Data Center?

Electrical configurations may incorporate the following electrical equipment, depending on the size of the data center and the system’s availability requirements: 

• Electrical switchboards, 
• Circuit breakers, 
• Protective devices,
• Generator
• Battery,

• UPS, 
• UPS input switchboard, 
• UPS output switchboard,
• UPS distribution switchboard, and 
• Static Transfer Switch for bypass.

A preventative maintenance checklist maintains the proper operation and dependability of important electrical equipment in a data center. 

Regular inspections, testing, & documentation help to reduce downtime, increase operational efficiency, and assure compliance with the industry standards.

This checklist ensures that the data center’s essential electrical systems run properly and securely. It covers the necessary inspections to avoid failures and maintain peak performance.

Responsibility

1. Electrical Engineers
2. Data Centre Operations Team
3. Facility Management Team

Standards

• BICSI 002 – Best practices for data center design & operations.
• IEC 60364 – Electrical installations for the buildings, including data centers.

Panel Room Maintenance

Panel room care entails maintaining temperature levels (68-72°F or 20-22°C) & keeping humidity between 40-60%. Inspecting panel boards for overheating, validating circuit breaker locations, & checking for water leaks are all critical processes. 

Proper cable management is required to avoid electrical risks and increase organization.

UPS Room Maintenance

The UPS room must confirm the UPS system state (Online/Standby), monitor the battery bank voltage & temperature, & inspect the UPS display for the alarm alerts. 

To maintain an uninterrupted power supply, check the position of the bypass switch and look for signs of overheating.

Battery Room Maintenance

In the battery room, maintenance tasks include checking battery water levels (if applicable), testing battery voltage & temperature, & inspecting battery connections & terminals for corrosion. 

Proper ventilation & checking for leakage symptoms improve battery efficiency and longevity.

Diesel Generator (DG) System Maintenance

Diesel Generator maintenance entails monitoring the system state (Online/Standby), checking fuel levels & quality, & inspecting the DG display for alarm alerts. 

To preserve generator efficiency, the cooling system must be checked and any indicators of oil leaking treated immediately.

Electrical Distribution Panel Maintenance

Maintenance of the electrical distribution panel entails confirming its status, examining circuit breaker positions, and inspecting electrical connections & terminals for wear or corrosion. 

Ensuring grounding system integrity & detecting overheating concerns can assist prevent electrical breakdowns.

Additional Electrical Checks

Other required tests include assessing monitoring systems for the active alarms, reviewing logbooks & incident reports, testing backup power systems, and ensuring that data center electrical documentation is up to date. 

These measures contribute to compliance and system reliability.

Monitoring Timeline

• Daily during regular operating hours.
• After maintenance or repair.
• During peak use hours.
• Following power outages (or) electrical storms.

• Maintaining records of checklist completion.
• Document issues and resolutions.
• Keep a record of maintenance and repair actions.
• Log training sessions and emergency drills.
• Ensuring essential uptime and reliability. 

This scheduled procedure ensures that possible hazards are addressed, all important electrical systems operate optimally, & the data center runs smoothly and without interruption.