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Steel Structure SolutionA member of World Steel Group

Illustrative 3D render of a steel industrial hall interior with overhead craneIllustrative 3D render

Specialist Steel Structure Solutions

Data Center Steel Structures

Data centre buildings, equipment supports, mechanical plant platforms and modular data centre structures.

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Solution Overview

Data centres are programme-driven and carry heavy, densely packed mechanical and electrical plant. Repetitive steel framing and prefabricated plant platforms help meet aggressive delivery schedules.

Typical Applications

  • Data Center Buildings
  • Equipment Support Structures
  • Mechanical Plant Platforms
  • Modular Data Center Structures

Sector challenges

Challenges We Engineer For

  • Heavy, concentrated roof plant

    Our engineering response Roof framing and platforms are designed from coordinated equipment load maps, including replacement routes and future upgrade allowances.

  • Equipment vibration

    Our engineering response We check platform stiffness against operating frequencies and coordinate isolation mounts with the equipment supplier.

  • Aggressive fast-track schedules

    Our engineering response Repetitive grids, standardized connections and phase-based shop drawings allow fabrication to start early and run continuously.

  • Interfaces with mechanical and electrical plant

    Our engineering response Equipment interface plates, hold-downs and openings are modeled in BIM and checked dimensionally before shipment.

Engineering Solutions

Data center structures are designed around heavy, densely spaced plant: chillers, generators, transformers, cooling units and cable tray systems. Our engineering team builds load maps with the mechanical and electrical designers, then frames roofs and platforms to carry concentrated equipment loads, operational vibration and maintenance replacement routes. Mission-critical facilities typically use elevated importance factors for seismic and wind actions, defined with the engineer of record.

Connection design emphasizes repeatable bolted details that allow fast assembly, with provisions for anti-vibration mounts, equipment hold-downs and future plant upgrades. Design follows the code basis of the market, such as AISC 360 with ASCE 7, CSA S16, AS 4100 or EN 1993. Where an owner deploys a standardized design across several countries, we map the design basis to each local code so that the same structural concept can be delivered consistently.

Engineering Considerations

  • Heavy roof plant and generator loads
  • Vibration isolation of plant
  • Repetitive, phase-able structural grids
  • Rapid procurement and fabrication sequencing

One coordinated scope

From Engineering to Delivery on Site

Design optimization, fabrication, quality control, surface protection, export logistics and erection support managed as one scope, so interfaces between design, shop and site stay under control.

  1. Design Optimization

    Programme is usually the main driver, so we optimize for repetition. A consistent grid across data halls and plant yards lets us reuse member families, connection types and shop drawings from one phase to the next. Prefabricated plant platforms and skid frames are designed for shop assembly and single lifts, moving work off site. Early load definition also prevents conservative over-sizing of roof framing, saving tonnage without restricting future equipment changes.

  2. Fabrication Solutions

    Typical members include wide-flange roof girders and columns, braced frames, heavy plant platform beams, grating supports, pipe and cable tray racks and modular skid frames. Bolted end-plate and fin-plate connections dominate, with welding concentrated in the shop. Hole positions, platform levels and equipment interface plates are held to tight tolerance so that plant installs without site modification. Pieces are marked by data hall, phase and zone, matching the repetitive layout.

  3. Quality Assurance

    An inspection and test plan covers each phase, with mill certificates traced to primary members and platform elements. NDT is applied according to joint criticality, typically magnetic particle and ultrasonic testing on platform and girder welds. Dimensional checks confirm interface plate positions, bolt group geometry and platform flatness. Results form a QC dossier per phase, following the execution or welding standard specified, so the owner receives consistent records across a multi-phase campus.

  4. Surface Protection

    Internal data hall framing generally sits in C1 to C2 conditions, while roof plant platforms, generator yards and external racks face C3 to C4 exposure. We specify ISO 12944 paint systems for internal and sheltered steel and recommend hot-dip galvanizing to ISO 1461 for external platforms, grating supports and stair access, reducing maintenance around live plant. Fire protection is coordinated where the fire strategy calls for it.

  5. Export & Logistics

    Shipments are organized by phase and erection zone so the site receives what it needs for each data hall in order. Framing members ship in containers where possible, while prefabricated platforms and skid frames travel as break-bulk with lifting points and transport bracing. Each consignment carries packing lists, piece-mark registers and export documentation, supporting rapid customs clearance on fast-track schedules.

  6. Erection Support

    We provide erection drawings organized by phase, lifting information for prefabricated platforms and input to method statements for roof plant installation. Sequence planning coordinates steel erection with mechanical and electrical trades so that platforms are ready for equipment setting on schedule. When agreed, our engineers give technical supervision or advisory support for critical lifts, while erection is performed by the contractor appointed on site.

What You Receive

Typical engineering, fabrication and quality documents for this type of structure. The final list is agreed for each project.

  • Equipment load map and structural design report
  • Plant platform and skid frame design calculations
  • BIM model coordinated with mechanical and electrical models
  • Shop drawings and phase-based erection drawings
  • Lifting information for prefabricated platforms
  • Coating and galvanizing schedule
  • QC dossier per phase with mill certificates and NDT records

Global supply

Supplying Projects Worldwide

Engineering and documentation aligned with the codes, approvals and logistics of each market we supply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you reuse designs across multiple data center phases?

Yes. We set up a standardized grid, member families and connection library so later phases reuse proven drawings. This speeds approvals and fabrication and keeps documentation consistent across the campus.

Do you supply prefabricated plant platforms?

We design and fabricate plant platforms and skid frames for shop assembly, with lifting points and transport bracing. They arrive ready for a single lift, reducing site work around critical equipment.

How do you coordinate with equipment suppliers?

We collect equipment weights, footprints and mounting details from the mechanical and electrical designers and suppliers, model them in BIM, and check interface plates and hold-downs before release to fabrication.

Discuss Your Data Center Steel Structures Project

Share your drawings and requirements. Our engineering team reviews the scope, the governing design code and the delivery conditions, then responds with the next steps.

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Helpful to include

  • Architectural or structural drawings, or a sketch of the layout
  • Project location and site conditions
  • Governing design code and any client specifications
  • Key loads: cranes, equipment, wind or seismic data if known
  • Required scope: design, fabrication, coating, supply, erection support
  • Target schedule and delivery terms

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