Canberra, ACT, Australia
Australian Data Centres (ADC) Canberra is a mission critical facility that provides secure, high-availability digital infrastructure for government, defence and enterprise organisations. As part of Benmax’s delivery of advanced liquid cooling infrastructure developed in partnership with Firmus Technologies, the project included the installation of a dedicated chilled water injection loop serving rack-mounted Cooling Distribution Units (CDUs), supporting the next generation of high-density computing within the facility.
Dewick & Associates was engaged to prepare the Mechanical Operating & Maintenance (O&M) Manual, providing a comprehensive reference for the ongoing operation, maintenance and lifecycle management of the installed mechanical systems.
By Lauren Sahin
Credit: This image has been created using Canva Teams. It depicts a Data Centre. It is not the actual location.
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Australian Data Centres is an Australian-owned provider of secure, sovereign data centre facilities, delivering resilient digital infrastructure for Federal Government, Defence, critical infrastructure operators and commercial organisations. Its Canberra facilities form part of Australia’s essential digital ecosystem, hosting mission critical systems that require continuous availability, high levels of security and precise environmental control.
To support the long-term reliability of this critical infrastructure, Benmax delivered a dedicated chilled water injection loop serving rack-mounted Cooling Distribution Units (CDUs) within the data hall. The mechanical installation included an N+1 variable speed pump arrangement, new chilled water pipework connecting to the existing local systems, Pressure Independent Control Valve (PICV), instrumentation, leak detection systems, Building Management System (BMS) integration, electrical services, testing and commissioning, together with all associated plant identification and operating infrastructure.
Dewick & Associates prepared a fully quality-assured Mechanical Operating & Maintenance Manual documenting the installed systems, operating procedures, preventative maintenance requirements, commissioning records, warranties and as-installed information.
As artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing continue to increase rack power densities, traditional air-cooled data centre infrastructure is no longer sufficient for many mission critical environments. Advanced liquid cooling technologies are becoming essential to efficiently remove heat while reducing energy consumption and supporting greater computing capacity.
As part of Benmax’s ongoing delivery of advanced cooling infrastructure developed in partnership with Firmus Technologies, Australian Data Centres Canberra required a dedicated chilled water injection loop to support rack-mounted Cooling Distribution Units (CDUs). The installation forms part of a new generation of liquid cooling infrastructure designed to deliver precise temperature control, operational resilience and improved energy efficiency for high-density computing environments.
The mechanical installation incorporated an N+1 variable speed pumping arrangement, chilled water pipework, Pressure Independent Control Valve (PICV), Building Management System (BMS) integration, leak detection, instrumentation and associated electrical services. Given the complexity of the installation and the critical nature of the facility, comprehensive documentation was required to ensure the facilities team understood the systems and the maintenance requirements.
Dewick & Associates partnered with Benmax to produce a comprehensive Mechanical Operating & Maintenance (O&M) Manual documenting the advanced liquid cooling infrastructure installed as part of the Firmus Technologies delivery model. The documentation was provided to the client specific format requirements.
The manual captured every aspect of the dedicated chilled water injection loop supporting the Cooling Distribution Units (CDUs), providing facilities managers with clear operating procedures, maintenance schedules, commissioning records, equipment data and as-installed information for this highly specialised cooling system.
The documentation covered the complete scope of the mechanical installation, including:
The completed manual referenced recognised industry guidance and Australian Standards, including DA19 HVAC&R Maintenance Application Manual, AS 1345, AS/NZS 1359, AS 1360, AS/NZS 3000 and AS/NZS 3666, ensuring the documentation supported ongoing compliance and industry best practice.
The completed Mechanical Operating & Maintenance Manual provides Australian Data Centres with a comprehensive reference for managing the specialised liquid cooling infrastructure supporting its mission critical operations.
By documenting the advanced chilled water injection system delivered by Benmax as part of its partnership with Firmus Technologies, the manual gives facilities management teams the information needed to safely operate, inspect and maintain equipment that supports modern high-density computing environments.
The completed documentation delivers long-term value by:
For mission critical facilities where uptime is paramount, professionally prepared O&M documentation provides the foundation for efficient building operations, helping owners protect their investment and maintain the performance of essential infrastructure for years to come.
The content in this case study has been informed by project documentation and client communication provided to Dewick & Associates during and following the completion of the project. Where external sources have contributed to our understanding of relevant standards or industry practice, these are listed below.
This image has been created using Canva Teams. It depicts a Data Centre. It is not the actual location.
Note: Some content in this case study draws on a combination of sources rather than direct quotation. Where this is the case, contributing sources are acknowledged above rather than cited inline.
Technical authoring of O&M Manuals enabling efficient plant operation and effective maintenance for equipment longevity, including:
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