The TimberMod variant of the company’s Vertiv SmartMod and Vertiv Power Module series uses ‘mass timber’ in place of steel for a greener footprint. (Image credit: Vertiv)
Datacenter design business Vertiv has recently started to offer a wooden version of its prefabricated Power Module and SmartMod modules. The TimberMod series uses ‘mass timber’ to replace steel as its primary structural component to provide the same building integrity but with a much greener footprint. According to Vertiv, mass timber is sourced from sustainably harvested wood and serves as a renewable construction material to minimize resource depletion.
The prefab modules are built to house typical IT data center hardware – racks, electrical, and cooling solutions, and can function as self-contained enclosures that can be rapidly deployed just about anywhere in different environments. According to Vertiv, TimberMod meets applicable structural requirements and can handle adverse conditions, including earthquakes and strong winds.
“Data centers in North America are increasingly relying on prefabricated modular solutions to provide the speed of deployment, capacity, energy efficiency, and flexibility required for evolving data center needs,” states Matt Weil, VP of integrated modular solutions at Vertiv. “The Vertiv TimberMod provides another option for our customers, with the benefit of further supporting customer sustainability goals by leveraging eco-friendly mass timber.”
While the modules are structurally sound and can handle some seismic activity and wind gusts, what about fire? Vertiv doesn’t list any information on fire resistance for the prefab modules; however mass timber structures, such as modern log cabins and home additions, have passed fire restriction tests and are subject to state and governmental regulations. The company does state that its sourced timber is treated in such a way that it’s not inferior to metal when it comes to fire safety. No word on exactly what that ‘treatment’ is, but no chemicals are used during the building process.
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