Design-Phase Decisions in Data Centers

13 Feb 2026

How they affect performance and constructability

This blog is the first in a series examining how data center projects move from design through construction and commissioning, and where technical risks can emerge at each phase.

Data centers function as industrial facilities with continuous load requirements. Issues related to slab flatness, enclosure performance, or coordination between power and cooling systems do not remain isolated once construction is complete. When deficiencies surface after a facility is in service, correction often requires downtime, phased shutdowns, or accepting permanent limits on capacity, efficiency, or future expansion.

For that reason, the design phase carries added weight. Decisions made early establish the physical and functional limits of the facility well before equipment is installed or systems are commissioned.

Design Sets the Floor for Performance

Unlike conventional commercial buildings, data centers operate under sustained loads and tight tolerances. Structural systems must support dense equipment and allow for future expansion. Floor systems must maintain flatness under constant use. Power and cooling systems operate continuously, with little margin for error.

During design, teams are making assumptions about site conditions, enclosure performance, and system coordination. If those assumptions are incorrect, the impacts often surface during construction or commissioning, when changes become costly and disruptive.

A Common Design-Phase Scenario

On data center projects, early subsurface investigations sometimes reveal conditions that vary across the site. Soil strength may differ by location, and groundwater may be encountered closer to the surface than anticipated.

In these situations, some areas may support shallow foundations while others require ground improvement or revised excavation methods. Identifying those conditions during design allows teams to adjust building placement, excavation plans, and pavement sections before construction begins, rather than responding to unforeseen conditions in the field.

Design Phase Focus Areas

During the design phase, data center projects benefit from coordinated technical review across several areas:

• Environmental and geotechnical due diligence to confirm site suitability and subsurface conditions
• Structural and systems design coordination to support equipment loads, power distribution, and cooling strategies
• Building enclosure review to address air leakage, moisture control, and thermal performance
• Site layout and grading evaluation to support access, utilities, and future expansion

Addressing these elements early helps reduce uncertainty before procurement and construction activities begin.

Design Errors Are Hard to Undo

Once concrete is placed and systems are installed, correcting deficiencies becomes difficult. Slab tolerances affect rack alignment. Enclosure gaps increase cooling demand. Poor coordination between structural and electrical systems can limit future expansion or upgrades.

Design-phase review provides an opportunity to identify conflicts, verify specifications, and confirm that products and systems meet applicable requirements before installation. This early verification supports smoother construction and a more predictable path to commissioning.

Supporting Data Center Projects from Design Forward

Intertek supports data center projects through a phased approach that spans design, construction, and commissioning. During the design phase, we provide engineering review, environmental and geotechnical due diligence, building and systems consulting, enclosure evaluation, and site selection support to help teams validate assumptions and reduce risk before construction starts.

Design establishes expectations, but the build phase determines whether those expectations are met.
The next article in this series focuses on the build phase and how construction-phase verification carries design intent through construction and into commissioning.

For more information on Intertek’s data center services, click here.