Unistrut Prefabrication for Data Centers

Unistrut Midwest is uniquely positioned to offer our clients more than just materials; we specialize in seeing your project from design through to completion. One aspect of the process where we excel is prefabrication, which reduces on-site man hours, project costs, and material waste. We have been working in the data center construction industry for many years, and we’ve found that these projects can be easily streamlined with prefabrication. 

Most data centers will utilize repeatable components throughout their design, making it easy to cut the required channel to size and pre-assemble fittings in our warehouse prior to on-site delivery. From there, installing the completed components takes minimal time and effort when compared to systems that are built on site. Take a look at a few aspects of a data center that the Unistrut Midwest team specializes in prefabricating.

Unistrut Ceiling Grid Prefabrication

Despite being above the servers, a ceiling grid is the foundation of any data center. This system supports and organizes all the required overhead services for a data center, including hot aisle containment, cable trays, conduit, bus ducts, fire suppression, duct work, and more. For years, architects and engineers have chosen  Unistrut structural ceiling grids for data center installation due to our flexible systems that can convert otherwise unusable space into a universal support system. 

Unistrut ceiling grids are incredibly versatile due to their high capacity and versatility. Unistrut Midwest offers prefabrication services for any Unistrut ceiling grid project, with services including cutting and bundling channel to size and pre-loading main rails with fittings. 

The pre-fabrication of the Unistrut main support channels will ensure accurate spacing of the Unistrut grid while reducing total on site man hours and reduce the number of man hours installing in a lift.

Unistrut Trapeze Prefabrication

Data center electrical conduit and cable trays can require hundreds of supports in a single data hall. Unistrut trapeze supports work perfectly in this application. A data center Unistrut trapeze is made up of two rod drops and a few layers of Unistrut channel, forming a U-shaped support for the conduit, cable tray, bus duct, or wiring. This type of support is generally spaced every six to ten feet along a server, with all supports being identical. 

Unistrut Midwest can prefabricate trapeze supports to meet any project requirements. And the repeatable nature of trapeze supports make them a prime candidate for prefabrication. The Unistrut Midwest team will pre-cut and assemble your trapezes off site before installing the finished product on site, reducing waste and man hours. 

Basic trapeze configurations can use our standard order form, but for more complex supports, contact our team.

Unistrut Hot Aisle Containment Prefabrication

Hot aisle containment systems control air flow and prevent servers from overheating, lowering operating costs in a data center. Unistrut framing makes a solid support structure for the polycarbonate panels, and drops made from Unistrut allow for support for both the hot aisle containment panels and electrical components in the cold aisle with a single support. 

Like many other aspects of a data center, Unistrut hot aisle containment supports can be pre-cut to size, pre-loaded with fittings, and packaged to allow for simple installation. Since most hot aisles in a data center will use the same configuration, Unistrut Midwest can create repeatable drops and bundle them by type, reducing on-site cutting and assembly.

Unistrut Modular Pipe Rack Prefabrication

Data Centers often include service corridors with standardized runs of chilled water lines. These long runs of piping can utilize off site prefabrication in modules to reduce on site construction time and man hours. Utilizing Sikla siFramo and Unistrut channel, Unistrut Midwest is able to fabricate steel support structures that are capable of supporting the piping and can withstand transport from an off site fabrication warehouse. Prefabrication of pipe racks off site is a great way to reduce construction times by fabricating runs of piping on the ground and lifting full assemblies in place.

Unistrut Cable Tray Supports hung from a Unistrut Grid in a Data Center

Additional Unistrut Data Center Prefabrication Services

• Pre-cutting Unistrut to size
• Pre-loading Unistrut fittings with channel nuts and bolts
• MEP rack assembly
• Prefabricated pipe supports
• Prefabricated rooftop walkways
• Prefabricated air handling unit access platforms or stairs

We would love to talk about your data center needs and how we can save you time and money with prefabrication.  Contact our team to learn more.