6 Reasons to Use a Data Center Container

In today’s digital world, many businesses house their computing equipment in dedicated spaces such as data centers or server rooms. Server rooms, in particular, are smaller versions of data centers that store computing equipment, often within a larger facility or as their own separate enclosed space. These spaces are needed by businesses across many industries—each requiring specific customizations to create their ideal server room. But what many may not know is that server rooms and data centers can easily be created using repurposed shipping containers.

Here are six reasons why a repurposed shipping container makes a good server rooms and data centers:

1. They’re built off-site

As modular building elements, data center containers are built off-site. Most often, the off-site manufacturing takes place in a controlled setting with a consistent crew and in a well-maintained facility.

Under these conditions, off-site construction helps streamline the production process and promotes consistent quality. Because the bulk of the project is removed from the destination site, the off-site construction and the on-site preparation can happen simultaneously, cutting the total construction schedule in half.

2. They’re portable

Set up crews can permanently or temporarily place containers on a pre-poured foundation or directly on flat, solid ground. Companies that wish to transport their server room in the future can easily pick up the container with a forklift or crane and load it on to a truck to send it to its new location. Because shipping containers are portable elements, they can easily be placed within a larger facility, building, or warehouse. Alternatively, set up teams can drop containers into remote locations for unique operations such as rocket test and launch sites.

Shipping Container as a Server Room

3. They’re customizable

Shipping containers are available in a variety of sizes—most commonly 10-foot, 20-foot, and 40-foot lengths. Additionally, containers can be built to custom specifications. Some companies combine multiple containers to create a larger structure, many of which can remain portable if needed. On the other hand, if a company is looking for a 14-foot container, a 20-foot container can be cut down to the desired size to create the perfect size server room.

In addition to size modifications, shipping containers can also be finished out as desired. Options include cutting into the walls of a container to add frames for A/C units and utility ports—which are used for data and electrical cables—or container walls can be reinforced to hold the weight of wall-mounted server racks.

4. They’re economical

Financing for on-site servers is already daunting due to the cost of the servers themselves, so it’s important to cut costs where quality won’t be jeopardized. Luckily, modified data center containers often cost thousands of dollars less than server rooms or data centers built by traditional methods.  

interior shipping container data center

5. They’re green

Shipping containers are an eco-friendly alternative to other building methods but going green is particularly important when creating server rooms and data centers. The demand for green data centers and server rooms is growing due to the likelihood that higher amounts of energy will be needed to power more servers in the future. While this normally means that companies opt for renewable energy sources or smarter use of power, turning to repurposed shipping containers as the frame of the server room helps play an important, and often overlooked, role in going green.

6. They create extra space

For businesses looking to add to their computing capacity, it can be challenging to find available space within an existing facility. It can be just as challenging to add the proper cooling system, with the insulation and air conditioning that data centers require, in limited space. Many landlords are also unlikely to alter the physical space to help make accommodations. Fortunately, shipping containers are a scalable way to address the challenges of physical limitations.

Are you interested in learning about design considerations for container data centers and server rooms? We can help set your project in motion. Give us a call at 877-704-0177 or email us at Sales@FalconStructures.com.

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