California’s San Andreas Fault is Well Known, But the Bigger Threat May Lie Just to Its North

Last month, The New Yorker ran an article titled “The Really Big One,” written by Katherine Schultz, which described how the worst natural disaster to be recorded in U.S. history is yet to come, and may be caused by the Cascadia subduction zone. Sound familiar? Probably not. Many people are familiar with the San Andreas Fault, but Cascadia, a 1,000-kilometer-long subduction zone stretching from northern California to British Columbia, could be the cause of an earthquake of greater magnitudes than we’ve experienced before.

A subduction zone refers to a region of the planet where one tectonic plate is sliding underneath another. In this case, according to the USGS, it is the Juan de Fuca plate that is slipping beneath the North America Plate. As Juan de Fuca slips under the North America, the edge of North America is bulging upward.

Northwest Popular Location for Data Centers

An article in the Oregonian states that in recent years, Oregon has become a popular location for data centers due to its mild climate and inexpensive power. Facebook, Google and Amazon all have data centers in Oregon. Although power costs are always a top concern when planning a data center, companies looking at the Pacific Northwest must also consider the seismic risk.

Many large companies, such as Facebook, rely on Chatsworth Products (CPI) to help solve both efficiency and environmental challenges.

CPI’s Z4-Series SeismicFrame® Cabinet was tested and certified to meet Telcordia Technologies GR-63-CORE, Zone 4 requirements. GR-63-CORE seismic testing includes a series of physical shaker table tests during which a loaded cabinet is placed through simulated earthquake conditions. Zone 4 testing includes the most severe test conditions. The SeismicFrame Cabinet displayed limited movement and survived the test without permanent structural or mechanical damage.  (See test video.)

Additionally, it features an industry-leading 1500 lb (680 kg) seismic equipment load rating, a wide range of cabinet sizes for deeper equipment and unobstructed interior space along the sides for thermal and cable management accessories.

As companies, agencies and governments prepare for what is considered inevitable, CPI offers expertise and protection for valuable IT assets. Contact one of our Field Applications Engineers for an onsite consultation.

Kim Ream, Marketing Project Manager