In today’s digital age, it is challenging to go about daily life without hearing the term artificial intelligence (AI) mentioned. AI enters conversations in almost every industry, from healthcare and manufacturing to marketing and finance.
This AI revolution relies on increasing data center capacity, the physical locations equipped with the computing servers needed to power this technology. A 2024 report from Moody’s Ratings indicates global data center capacity will double over the next five years.
With such expensive and temperature-sensitive technology under one roof, these facilities require building products with reliable insulating properties that can effectively house these innovative systems to keep them running smoothly.
Reliability is where insulated metal panels (IMPs) enter the conversation. With best-in-class insulation values and fast installation, IMPs have proven effective building materials for data centers nationwide.
Energy-efficient IMPs
Data centers require a lot of energy to function. On average, a ChatGPT query needs 10 times as much electricity to process as a Google search, and Goldman Sachs research estimates that data center power demand will grow 160 percent by 2030.
Adding to the mounting utility costs, the numerous racks of data center servers generate a lot of heat, requiring sufficient air to cool them down. Building products with optimal thermal capabilities reduces the energy costs required to cool these facilities and allows them to run more efficiently.
Photo ©kubais/Bigstockphoto.com
IMPs provide data centers with excellent thermal efficiency, delivering high R-values up to R-57 for a 203 mm (8 in.) panel thickness and integrated air and vapor barriers.
What about the roof?
Utilizing IMPs as part of a roofing system has also proven a reliable solution, even when the remainder of the facility was constructed with tilt concrete.
Recent IMP innovation has transformed the way roofs are installed in temperature-controlled environments. IMPs simplify projects by reducing the assembly steps required, thereby decreasing installation time. New IMP roofing panels reduce the number of through fasteners, minimize the risk of failure, and allow projects to be completed faster. By producing items on demand, they minimize site waste and significantly reduce the number of loads transported to the location. This approach helps streamline operations and contributes to a more sustainable practice overall.
Fast-tracked installation
When firms design data centers for the various tech giants, they often establish a base model that only requires slight tweaks due to climate, soil conditions, etc., based on location in different parts of the country. The base model stays the same, so when a technology company greenlights an order for a dozen new data centers, they can be built quickly due to the predictable design.
Data centers are typically designed to maximize internal usable space and have few windows and doors. With simplified building elevations, installing 1,858 m2 (20,000 sf) of IMP material in a single day is common. One of the great benefits of IMPs is the ability to cut weeks out of a construction schedule compared with traditional methods such as tilt concrete.
Kim Harrell is the manager of business development at All Weather Insulated Panels. He has been a key AWIP team member for more than 13 years and works to identify and support national data center projects.