Surge protection at PDU level

Lightning and Surge Protection: Essential for Data Centres

Data centres form the backbone of our digital infrastructure, yet they face significant risks from lightning strikes and power surges. In the Netherlands alone, around 300,000 lightning strikes are recorded annually, with 80% of damage resulting from secondary surges. For data centres—with their sensitive equipment and critical need for uninterrupted operation—effective protection against these threats is indispensable.

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Why Surge Protection?

Lightning strikes and power surges can cause damage through direct hits, inductive coupling, or switching transients. Without adequate protection, servers, switches, and other sensitive equipment can suffer costly damage and prolonged downtime. By adhering to international standards and implementing effective layers of protection, these risks can be mitigated.

It’s worth noting that surges aren’t only caused by lightning. Voltage spikes from grid switching or faults at energy suppliers also pose threats. A comprehensive protection strategy is, therefore, essential.

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Relevant Standards for Data Centres

Implementing surge protection isn’t optional; it’s mandated by international standards that ensure a safe and reliable data centre infrastructure:

1. EN 50600-2-2
   • Addresses lightning and surge protection measures specifically for data centres.
   • Defines requirements for protection distances and component coordination.
2. NEN-EN-IEC 62305
   • Provides a comprehensive lightning protection standard, including risk management and protection for electronic systems.
3. NEN 1010-443 & 534
   • Offers guidelines for applying and installing surge protection devices (SPDs) in electrical installations.

Compliance with these standards not only ensures safety but also enhances the reliability and availability of your data centre.

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The Three-Tier Protection Concept

Effective surge protection involves three layers, forming an integrated system:

1. Type 1: Protection against direct lightning strikes, typically installed at the main distribution panel.
2. Type 2: Protection against residual voltage, installed at sub-distribution panels.
3. Type 3: Final protection, located near sensitive equipment, such as in Power Distribution Units (PDUs) within server racks.

According to the “10-metre rule” in EN 50600-2-2, SPDs must be installed within 10 metres of sensitive equipment to remain effective. Longer cable distances increase the voltage on equipment, significantly raising the risk of damage.

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The Role of Energy Coordination

For optimal performance, energy coordination among Type 1, 2, and 3 SPDs is crucial. This ensures they work seamlessly together, as prescribed in NEN 1010:2020. Poor coordination could leave parts of the system exposed to harmful surges.

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Innovative Protection: PDUs with Type 3 SPDs

At Schleifenbauer, we integrate Dehn Type 3 surge protection into our PDUs, specifically designed to meet data centre requirements. These solutions:

• Offer maximum protection by being installed directly in server racks, close to IT hardware.
• Comply with international standards like EN 50600-2-2, ensuring guaranteed safety and reliability.
• Prevent downtime by providing a final line of defence against harmful voltage spikes.

Surge Protection in your PDU

Download the whitepaper

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Monitoring and Preventive Maintenance

Modern SPDs can include monitoring features that track protection status in real time. This enables technicians to perform proactive maintenance and prevent failures, which is critical for business-critical data centres.

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Recommended Installation Practices

• Use of Shielded Cables: Minimise the impact of surges via proper shielding and cable routing.
• Grounding and Bonding: Ensure precise grounding implementation to reduce voltage differentials.

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Economic and Operational Benefits

Surge protection is an investment that pays for itself by preventing expensive hardware damage and downtime. Independent risk analyses can highlight potential losses and the ROI of protection solutions.

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Protect Your Data Centre

Surge protection is an investment in continuity and reliability. With a well-planned protection strategy supported by compliance with relevant standards, you minimise risks and safeguard your data centre’s performance.

Want to learn more about how we can protect your data centre? Contact us or download our white paper.
Schleifenbauer – Reliability starts with safety.

More information about how Dehn protects Data Centers

Dehn Website

DEHN Nederland B.V.
Spaceshuttle 32
3824 ML  AMERSFOORT
The Netherlands

T. +31 85 07 10 280
Email info@dehn.nl