As the data center footprint grows to meet the demands of artificial intelligence, operators need to work harder to keep facilities running smoothly. A key part of operational efficiency is protecting buildings from threats, both internal and external, including intruders and fires from overheated equipment.

Thermal cameras can detect the heat emitted by people, vehicles, overheating equipment and other thermal anomalies in different lighting or weather conditions, said David Pecora, key account manager and data center lead at Teledyne Flir. The firm designs, manufactures and distributes products that improve perspective and awareness in various industries. 

The cameras use specialized sensors to measure temperature differences and convert findings into an image.

This technology allows operators to maintain continuous situational awareness and identify potential threats or operational issues that could otherwise go undetected, Pecora said. It can provide security without operators needing to rely solely on lighting, fences or people patrolling the property.

“Because data centers are a 24/7 operation, protecting high-value infrastructure that supports critical operations is extremely important,” Pecora said.

He said Teledyne Flir's security solutions integrate with the facility’s broader security ecosystem. Especially for larger data centers, a combination of thermal imaging, radar and intelligent analytics is needed. 

The thermal cameras provide long-range perimeter detection in various conditions. The radar enhances situational awareness across large outdoor areas. And intelligent analytics helps security teams quickly assess and respond to activity.

When thermal cameras spot a threat, they can immediately generate alarms, activate pan-tilt-zoom cameras to assess the scene and send notifications directly to the data center’s security teams in real time through the integrated software platforms connected to the cameras. For perimeter security, the notification may indicate that someone jumped the fence or an employee is on the premises outside of typical work hours.

The software will relay information, including the location of the detected event and the video feeds showing the event, to the security team. The team can then use this insight to evaluate the situation and coordinate a response before a threat escalates.

This protection also extends to the inside of the facility. Operators will receive an alert if equipment overheats or a fire alarm goes off due to excessive heat. This early detection means operators can alert the fire department before a fire starts.

Thermal inspections also enable data center operators to identify abnormal heat signatures in critical electrical equipment such as switchgear, transformers, UPS systems, breakers, busways and power distribution units before they fail. By detecting loose connections, overloaded circuits, unbalanced loads and other developing issues, maintenance can be planned and corrective action taken during scheduled service windows. 

This proactive approach helps prevent unexpected equipment failures, reduces the risk of unplanned outages and supports overall data center reliability and uptime, Pecora said.

“By identifying developing thermal events sooner, operators can not only protect their critical assets and de-escalate minor issues but also potentially reduce downtime,” he said.

Flir’s Axx-series thermal imaging cameras recently achieved UL 2684 certification. Products that receive Underwriters Laboratories Solutions certifications have been tested and meet the standards for safety and performance. UL 2684 means the cameras can be connected to fire panels and used for early fire detection systems, Pecora said.

The firm’s optical gas imaging vertical includes specially tuned thermal cameras that can spot propane or natural gas leaks in the generator yard or refrigerant leaks from HVAC and chiller systems outside of the data center.

Teledyne Flir evaluates its clients’ site layout and perimeter design, environment, operations and security needs and comes up with a solution that includes the right mix of sensors, analytics, software and integration capabilities.

Pecora said this close collaboration means that buildings can elevate their security and operational resilience, making sure they stay efficient, which is especially important as buildings and operations scale.

“One of our key differentiators is our ability to help data center operators protect every layer of their environment, from perimeter to processor,” Pecora said.

This article was produced in collaboration between Studio B and Teledyne Flir. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.