Sarasin banks on comms room refurbishment
As with most financial institutions, Sarasin Investment Management Ltd - a subsidiary of Swiss private bank, Bank Sarasin & Co. Ltd - depends heavily on its IT network. Naturally, the company wanted to minimise the risks of power outages and other system faults, which can have very serious consequences, so, as a result, Sarasin decided to refurbish its comms room.

Project objectives
The aim of the project was to eliminate the possibility of system failure through an effective electrical power distribution system. To achieve this objective, a rational and effective power and fire protection strategy had to be critical.

Structured and controlled migration process
A project management team, comprising of experienced Comms Room Services' personnel and a client representative, planned each stage in detail prior to its implementation, to minimise disruption to Sarasin's business during the refurbishment and provide a structured and controlled migration process.

Flexible power protection solution
Comms Room Services' solution incorporated an anti-static, removable tile, false floor design, and structured three-phase power distribution system via an "Electrack" power rail, designed to give flexibility for the client as its power requirements grow. The entire electrical system is protected from supply disruptions by an APC 40KvA Uninterruptible Power Supply – specifically designed to meet the exacting three-phase on-line power protection requirements of data centres.

Early warning water detection system
Given that the comms room is located within a basement, water ingress was an identifiable risk. To alert Sarasin to this danger, a water detection system was incorporated, providing the client with an early warning in the event that water be detected beneath the raised flooring.

Clean-room fire protection
To provide the optimum level of fire protection, an IG-01 inert gas system was selected. Unlike halon or carbon dioxide, IG-01 is non-toxic with no agent breakdown adding to any toxic or corrosive products of combustion from the fire. The result is a clean-room environment providing Sarasin with extremely high levels of control and peace of mind.