Secure facilities designed specifically to house IT infrastructure (including servers, data storage drives, and networking equipment), data centres are becoming familiar sights across our urban landscapes.

In fact, thanks largely to the AI boom, it is estimated that by 2030 USD1.85 trillion will be spent on the construction of data centres globally. Meanwhile, over the same time period, USD67.5 billion is expected to be spent on these increasingly ubiquitous structures.

Given the critical nature of the work carried out within data centres, and the importance of keeping them (both physically and digitally) secure, their construction requires careful consideration.

In this context, in this session of CPD Live we focus of one specific aspect of data centre design, namely the specification of structural ceiling systems. Beginning by outlining, the key functional requirements of data centres, our speakers will explain the degrees to which these should dictate ceiling choice.

Noting requirements in terms of load bearing, fire safety, contaminant control and more, they will shine a light on all the relevant design considerations. They will highlight all relevant regulatory requirements, offers tips regarding sustainability in this context, and point to potential future directions for data centres.

At the end of this presentation, you should be able to:

• Identify the key operational functions of data centres and how they impact building design
• Evaluate the specific performance requirements for ceiling systems in data centre environments, including load-bearing capacity and airflow management
• Understand the design considerations, material choices, and system integrations that contribute to compliance with Australian Standards
• Apply knowledge of advanced ceiling solutions to support the long-term functionality, safety, and future adaptability of data centre projects

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