In an ideal environment, companies would be able to access clean reliable power. Unfortunately this is not the reality making power protection systems an important addition to any effective IT system. However, not every organisation's power protection, availability factor and business continuity needs are the same. An organisation's power needs are dependent upon the size and type of equipment being supported, the cost of downtime and the organisation's availability goals.
"These factors make issues such as life cycle costs, adaptability, scalability, flexibility, fault tolerance and ease of service more important than ever when selecting appropriate power protection topology. Answering the following five questions can help ensure the power protection system meets application requirements as simply and cost-effectively as possible," says van Heerden.
Firstly, companies need to decide on the level of availability that the desired power system is expected to support. There are four basic system architectures, each providing a different level of protection and availability. Basic protection is typically accomplished through a transient voltage surge suppression (TVSS) and intelligent power distribution unit (PDU) which keep noise and high voltages from reaching the load, preventing equipment damage.
The second important aspect is the life-time costs of the power system. The initial cost of a power system represents only part of the total costs of owning the system. Initial costs will always play a significant role in the decision-making process; however, organisations are increasingly factoring life cycle costs into their technology purchasing decisions and need to design for beyond 10 years with flexibility.
The next important aspect to consider is the impact of the power system on data centre space. The cost per square metre of data centre space is higher than general building space, and increasing equipment densities are putting the squeeze on data centre floor space returns.
Another important consideration when developing a power protection system is how the power system will be tested and installed. For lower level systems, testing and installation may not be critical factors to consider, but as system complexity increases, these factors become more important.
IT engineers also need to consider how the power system will be monitored and maintained. Regardless of manufacturer, UPS and switchgear should be de-energised periodically for preventive maintenance. This usually requires from one to four hours of scheduled equipment downtime.
"Failing to consider these key factors can result in a power system with high life time costs, unnecessary complexity or poor performance. Understanding the basics of power system design and asking the right questions before equipment is installed can ensure the power system eliminates, rather than adds to, IT concerns," van Heerden concludes.
