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.
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