Construction & Contractors Blog
A detailed site analysis should be conducted in order to determine the suitability of a site for use for critical purposes, such as data centers. This article discusses some of those key considerations that can help you to confirm the suitability of a site for your critical facilities.
Likelihood of Natural Disasters
The site analysis tries to assess how vulnerable that site may be to natural disasters. For instance, weather data for the past 100 years may be studied in order to find out the likelihood of flooding at that site. Actual construction can only proceed once any natural hazard risks have been eliminated or accounted for in the design of the proposed critical facility.
Accessibility
Critical facilities are expected to remain accessible regardless of any natural or man-made factors that can prevail at any time. Of concern during the site analysis is the assessment of the different access roads that can be used in various circumstances. For example, some access roads should remain usable even if a major sporting event nearby has caused major traffic congestion in the area.
Presence of Critical Utilities
Critical facilities should also have multiple sources of critical utilities so that operations are never disrupted during emergencies. For example, the chosen site should have access to electricity from at least two independent power lines. Telecommunication services should also be readily accessible from a variety of sources so that a disruption at one source isn't an issue for the critical facility. A detailed site analysis helps you to select the location that offers the greatest number of options for critical utilities.
Hazardous Activities in the Neighbourhood
The site analysis also finds out what neighbourhood activities may pose a security threat to the critical facility. For instance, nearby oil refineries may pose a fire risk in case an explosion occurs at the plant. Zoning laws are also examined in order to assess the security threats that may be posed by any future developments in that area. Construction can then begin once adequate steps have been taken to limit the potential impact of the threats that were identified during the site analysis. For example, a standoff distance of 2000-feet may be maintained to isolate the critical facility from the off-site hazards identified.
Good site analysis starts with selecting the right people for the job. You should therefore never base a hiring decision on cost considerations alone. Pick a firm that will conduct a thorough site analysis so that your critical facility will stand the test of time.
Share11 May 2017
Hello and welcome to my construction blog. My name is David and I would like to tell you about the process of designing and building a new home from the ground up. I had always dreamed of building my own home and last year, that dream became a reality. I had been saving money for many years so I could afford to buy the materials and employ the contractors needed to construct my home. I learnt so much during the process, I decided to start this blog. It was a wonderful day when the final piece of my home was put into place and I am now very happy.