NTT Data’s London 1 (LON1) data centre facility in Dagenham plays a key role in the UK’s digital infrastructure, providing mission-critical services for a wide range of businesses, and its location near London’s Docklands enables the facility to provide crucial services to the capital’s financial hub. Construction firm Laing O’Rourke asked Jones Weatherproofing to join the project with an aim to ensure that the building envelope was fully weatherproofed using their proven, cold-applied liquid weatherproofing solution.
During this project, the Jones Weatherproofing team demonstrated their adaptability and on-site problem solving. Since the team was brought in after other elements of the building envelope, and various penetrations, had already been installed, practical solutions to a variety of challenges needed to be found. With pre-lagged pipework that needed to be adequately sealed, difficult access and a busy construction site, the team took an agile approach to ensure a seamless and weatherproof seal, as well as a high level of customer service throughout the project.
Commenting on the project, Matt Armitage, project leader at Laing O’Rourke, said: “Jones Weatherproofing was an invaluable partner on this project. Although they were brought in later on in the build, after key elements were already in place, the team took a proactive approach and coordinated with other contractors to ensure the building envelope was sealed quickly and effectively, with minimal disruption to other activities on this large, busy site.”
Delivering advanced weatherproofing for data centres
With a critical IT load of 32MW, NTT Data’s London 1 (LON1) data centre facility is a large-scale facility, both in terms of its physical size and workload capabilities. With over 100 employees and covering 12,800 sqm of IT space, London 1 is part of NTT Data’s £500m data centre investment plan – getting every detail right was key in ensuring operational continuity for the UK’s digital and financial industries.
Combining extensive experience, excellent customer service and a versatile weatherproofing system, the Jones Weatherproofing team was able to complete this complex project successfully. The result was a building envelope for a piece of critical infrastructure that is thermally efficient and protected against water ingress.
Sustainability was a big focus of the overall project. In a blog post on the NTT Data website, technical director Scott McLauchlan explains: “Our London 1 Data Centre is one of the first data centres in the world that doesn’t rely on a traditional chiller plant with compressors.” He notes that the facility uses 100% renewable energy, and it is the first large-scale data centre to have achieved an Excellent rating from BREEAM. Weatherproofing is an important part of ensuring a building is thermally efficient, helping to prevent draughts, thermal bridging and condensation.
To ensure the building envelope was fully sealed from London’s weather, Laing O’Rourke reached out to Jones Weatherproofing to provide its comprehensive weatherproofing.
Laing O’Rourke is at the forefront of data centre construction and their commitment to quality extends to every aspect of the build, including weatherproofing. Matt Armitage explains: “We chose Jones Weatherproofing for this project because of their proven track record. With over 15 years of experience delivering high-quality weatherproofing on data centres, they are the model for best practice in the sector. So we knew they had the technical expertise and skills required to complete this complex project to the required standard.
Weatherproofing pre-lagged pipework on a data centre facility
When Jones Weatherproofing was brought onto the project, one of the main challenges the team faced was the pre-lagged pipework at the vertical penetrations. There were concerns about the weatherproofing potentially damaging the pipe insulation, and rainwater had already started to infiltrate the building envelope.
After careful consideration by the Jones Weatherproofing team and Laing O’Rourke, it was decided that the only effective course of action was to remove the pipe lagging, apply the weatherproofing and then re-lag the pipework. Although this approach required additional time and investment, it was essential to ensure the long-term reliability of the weatherproofing.
Matt Armitage explains: “Working with Jones Weatherproofing, we were able to address the challenge of the pre-lagged pipework, resulting in a high-quality weatherproof finish. In future projects, we will be consulting with the weatherproofing team early on to avoid similar complications.”
Matthew Jones, commercial director at Jones Weatherproofing adds: “Our expert team were able to overcome these challenges with attention to detail and our high-performance weatherproofing system, which is suitable for application on most surfaces. The result was a fully weatherproofed penetration that will be free from leaks, thermal bridging and condensation for years to come.”
Weatherproofing for cable tray penetrations at a data centre in Dagenham
Ensuring the cable trays were fully sealed added another layer of complexity to the project. Since some of the trays were incomplete when the team came to carry out the weatherproofing, the weatherproofing had to be applied in a way that would accommodate additional cables being added in the future. Once all of the cables are installed, further weatherproofing will be necessary to ensure a solid seal, but until then, the building envelope will be adequately protected.
In other areas of the build, elements had been installed that blocked access for the weatherproofing team. Where possible, solutions were found for ways to work around the obstacles. If that wasn’t feasible, we liaised with the relevant teams to gain temporary access and complete the weatherproofing.
Timothy Weald, construction leader at Laing O’Rourke, comments: “Jones Weatherproofing demonstrated perseverance and problem-solving throughout the project. Despite limited space and the need to work around existing installations, they remained flexible and collaborative, ensuring the weatherproofing was completed to their high standard.” He also notes that health and safety was a top priority for both Laing O’Rourke and Jones Weatherproofing. “The successful weathering of LON1 was achieved with careful consideration to H&S protocols, reinforcing our commitment to delivering high-quality projects in a safe and controlled manner.”
Jamie Sporcic, senior sales manager at Jones Weatherproofing, explains there wasn’t much space to work in, making the project even more challenging for the site team. “To apply the seals, we had to navigate some tight, awkward spaces. It required a lot of creative problem-solving and hard work to apply the weatherproofing with precision, while also ensuring the health and safety of our team,” he explains.
Roof weatherproofing for Dagenham data centre
Of course, the cable trays and vertical penetrations were only part of the weatherproofing strategy. Roof penetrations for HVAC systems, ventilation and ducting also required weatherproofing. Jones Weatherproofing ensured each of these penetrations was expertly sealed and where necessary, the team constructed bespoke riser housings to provide additional height and protection against water ingress.
Matthew comments: “Data centres are huge, with significant equipment going through the building envelopes. Our team considered each penetration carefully to ensure that the weatherproofing strategy reduced risk and provided a robust seal. Our weatherproofing solution, combined with bespoke upstands, provide long-term protection that can withstand wind, rain and freeze-thaw cycles.”
Weatherproofing on a busy data centre site
Working on a live construction site can often bring logistical challenges, and this was certainly true in this project. With multiple trades all working at the same time to get this huge building completed, space and access were at a premium.
Although weatherproofing is a critical element of any construction project, it’s often overlooked by both main contractors and building services engineers. This can lead to added expense and delays, especially if other elements are already in place and cause access issues.
By engaging Jones Weatherproofing early in the project, these setbacks can be avoided. Early involvement also allows our team to access the site, offer expert guidance and schedule the weatherproofing works at the most efficient time.
“Our team is so flexible and can start working quickly, as soon as a workspace is available. And since our system is also versatile, we can deal with a variety of onsite challenges with ease – such as changes to the shape or size of a penetration,” explains Matthew.
Contacting Jones Weatherproofing during the planning stages is the best option, as it allows our team to provide bespoke advice, coordinate with other contractors and plan the most effective approach to weatherproofing. This not only protects the building envelope and its contents, but it also helps to keep the overall project on schedule. Matthew adds: “We also work hard to maintain clear communication throughout a project. Even if we’re brought in the later stages of a project, we are ready to provide advice and support to ensure the best results for the building and its future occupants.”
High-performance weatherproofing for mission-critical environments
For more than 45 years, Jones Weatherproofing has been providing expertise and top-level customer support. Our robust and reliable weatherproofing system has been developed to meet the needs of even the most complex building projects, protecting the building envelope and its contents from the elements.
To learn more about how Jones Weatherproofing can help with weatherproofing data centres or any other project, please contact our team to discuss your project.
