Ark Data Centres has completed integrated systems testing at its new data center facility at Cody Park in the UK - A101 – eight weeks after site enabling works commenced.

The tests, completed on February 28, were ahead of schedule and ran alongside the completion of the A101 data rooms.

Ark design and build director Pip Squire said despite challenging weather conditions brought about  by a cold, wet winter and spring, Ark delivered module one of Data Centre A101 in just 18 weeks from release of the concrete slab, on program and to budget.

Customer handover commenced last week.

It carried out its final day of Integrated Systems Testing on 12 July in front of customers and the BCS (the Chartered Institute for IT).

"The BCS official expressed amazement that we would carry out such an important test in front of a customer - as this is something that seldom happens in this industry," Squire said.

The first module, a two-storey facility consisting of two separate and secure data rooms each supporting 750kW of IT load, is set in its own compound within a secure campus adjacent to Cody Technology Park, which is home to Data Centre A9, another Ark facility which has been operational since December 2011.

As part of the planning consent for A101, Ark said it had to meet stringent noise conditions, with noise attenuation steps taken and tested to ensure there is no operational noise impact on the nearest receptors.

It has also built the facility to meet BREEAM environmental assessment for building certification of Very Good.

A101, once complete, will comprise of a state-of-the-art data centre with six data rooms providing space for up to 1176 cabinets, at an average 4.2kW per cabinet, over 42 discrete Aisles.

Ark said each module construction occurs in phases and will not affect the existing modules in any way.

Following the successfully completed IST, a two-week period of training and familiarisation takes place for the operations live service team prior to customer handover.

Huw Owen, CEO of Ark, said orders have been placed to complete module two of A101 by the end of the year.

Ark operates two dedicated data center campus locations in the South of England - Spring Park and Cody Park.