Communication Key to Ensure Uptime in Mission-Critical Data Centers

By David M. DiQuinzio

Ask anyone involved with mission-critical facilities to list steps that can be taken to increase reliability, and the answers are likely to involve technology: uninterruptible power supply systems, generators, redundant chillers and so on. But hardware is only part of the story. Soft skills also are important. And perhaps no soft skill is more essential than communication. That's because miscommunication can wreak as much havoc as a utility power outage.

Consider the following examples of what can happen when there is a failure to communicate in the mission-critical environment. These examples, drawn from the realm of commissioning, show that it's crucial to have consistency and clarity of vocabulary. But the lesson for facility managers is broader than commissioning: It's essential to ensure that everyone involved in a mission-critical facility project or operation uses words the same way.

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