Data centers located in seismically active regions face special equipment protection challenges. Vibration and shock can disrupt critical operations and cause costly downtime or total hardware failure. Facility managers must prioritize infrastructure that meets seismic rack certification and zone requirements to mitigate these risks. Selecting the correct enclosure ensures continuity and safety during geological events, protecting physical assets and data integrity.
The Role of NEBS GR-63-CORE Standards
Telecommunications and data center industries rely on the Network Equipment-Building System (NEBS) GR-63-CORE standard. This set of rigorous physical protection criteria outlines the spatial and environmental requirements for network equipment. Specifically, it dictates how racks must perform under stress to maintain operation. Manufacturers subject their enclosures to these standards to prove they can withstand varying levels of ground acceleration without structural collapse or excessive sway. Compliance ensures that the cabinet will not deform enough to damage the servers inside or block egress paths in an emergency.
Categorizing Seismic Risks
Not all geographic locations require the same level of protection. Older seismic zone designations by the Uniform Building Code (UBC) are still referenced in legacy specifications and some equipment standards. However, current code compliance is determined using seismic design categories defined by the International Building Code (IBC) and ASCE 7, which provide a more precise, site-specific assessment of seismic risk.
The IBC and ASCE 7 define seismic requirements using site-specific ground motion values, soil conditions, and facility risk categories. These factors determine a project’s seismic design category (SDC), ranging from A (low risk) to F (high risk). These categories dictate the required strength, anchoring, and displacement limits for infrastructure and equipment. Facilities located near active fault systems or on poor soil conditions typically fall into higher design categories and require stronger seismic rack solutions to maintain safety and operational continuity.
Structural Integrity Testing
To achieve certification, engineers place a loaded rack on a multi-axis shaker table. This simulation replicates the waveform of a severe earthquake and evaluates whether the unit maintains its structural integrity and if the contained equipment continues to function. A certified open frame seismic server rack provides the necessary strength for facilities that need unobstructed airflow and easy cable management in high-risk areas without enclosing the equipment entirely. The frame must limit top deflection to tolerances of less than three inches to prevent cabinets from colliding with adjacent rows or damaging overhead cable trays.
The Importance of Proper Installation
Even a certified rack will fail if the installation team ignores anchoring protocols. Securing the rack to the concrete slab requires concrete expansion anchors or rigorous bolting methods verified by a structural engineer. The concrete slab itself must meet thickness and PSI requirements to hold the anchor during an event. Furthermore, engineers must calculate the center of gravity for the loaded rack. Placing heavier equipment at the bottom lowers the center of gravity and reduces sway. Adhering to these installation guidelines ensures the enclosure performs according to its rated specifications.
Meeting Safety Standards
Facilities cannot afford to overlook physical security in earthquake-prone areas. Data center operators must adhere to strict seismic rack certification and zone requirements to protect their hardware investment and ensure uptime. Compliance with NEBS standards and proper anchoring techniques provides the best defense against seismic activity.
Contact AMCO Enclosures today to discuss our range of certified seismic racks and find the configuration that fits your facility’s safety needs.