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Glossary of terms
A & B Electrical Supplies
Electricity provided through two separate cables.
Air Handling Equipment
Fans and ducting that supply or remove air from a building.
Anti Pass-Back Doors / Mantraps
Controlled door system that prevents tailgating.
Building Management System (BMS)
An integrated computer system that monitors and, where appropriate, controls a building’s key engineering systems and critical services.
Business Continuity Management (BCM)
A holistic management process that identifies potential impacts which could threaten an organisation and provides a framework for building resilience with the capability for an effective response that safeguards the interests of its key stakeholders, reputation, brand and value creating activities. (Source: The Business Continuity Institute)
Cable Baskets
Wire trays installed to carry power and data cabling.
Cable Management
The process of managing the routes of all cables entering and travelling within the facility, ensuring that they are labelled and documented to facilitate installation and removal.
Cage
A caged area built within a shared data suite.
Carrier Neutral
Not allied to any particular telecommunications provider.
Close Control Units (CCUs)
Equipment delivering cooling to technical spaces within the facility.
Colocation
Housing of IT equipment in a shared area, available from a single rack upwards.
Connectivity
The provision of devices and cabling used for communicating or transmitting voice or data.
Corporate Governance
The system/process by which the directors and officers of an organisation are required to carry out and discharge their legal and regulatory accountabilities and responsibilities.
Cross Connects
A connection scheme between cabling runs, subsystems and equipment using patch cords or jumpers that attach to connecting hardware on each end. Also known as a “patch”.
Data Centre
A secure location for housing IT and communications (ITC) infrastructure.
Data Risers
Vertical shafts up which cable baskets are routed.
Disaster Recovery Sites
Off-site locations set up by organisations to allow them to re-establish operations and continue to trade in the event of a disaster.
Draw Pits
Pits that are positioned on a direction change point to underground ducts.
HV power
High-voltage power.
HVAC Systems
Heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems.
Inergen
An inert gas consisting of nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide that is used for fire suppression and is electrically non-conductive, and safe for human-occupied areas.
Local Loop
The physical connection from the subscriber’s premises to the carrier’s Point of Presence (POP). The local loop can be provided over any suitable transmission medium.
LV Power
Low-voltage power.
M & E Services
Mechanical and Electrical Services.
Managed Diverse Fibre Ingress
Multiple entry points for fibre running into the building.
Meet Me Rooms (MMRs)
A space within Global Switch facilities where carriers can establish a Point of Presence (POP) to cross-connect efficiently with each other and with customers in the facility.
Mission-Critical
The critical operational and/or business support activities (either provided internally or outsourced) without which an organisation would quickly be unable to operate.
MV Power
Medium-voltage power.
N+1
N+1 means the provisioning of one unit beyond the normal (hence ‘N’) operating need. For example, if five generators are required to provide back-up power to a facility, we’ll provide an additional sixth generator.
Optical Distribution Frame (ODF)
A point at which optical fibre interconnections are made between the output of one piece of equipment and the input of another.
Optical Fibre
Simple strands of glass fibre used to transport information (digital signals) from one point to another.
Point of Presence (POP)
The location at which a carrier establishes itself to cross connect with another, or, in Internet Service Provider (ISP) definition, a point at which an ISP exchanges traffic and routes.
Private Data Suite
Highly flexible, resilient self-contained private data centre space within purpose-built facilities.
Proximity Card System
A computer controlled access system using electrically controlled locks that are released when an authorised card is placed against a proximity reader.
Raised Flooring
A removable flooring system that is laid above the concrete core to allow cable baskets and other building services to pass underneath, as well to create a space for cooling air.
Redundancy
Having one or more back up systems available in case of failure of the main system.
Risk Management
The culture, processes and structures that are put in place to effectively manage potential opportunities and adverse effects.
Risk Mitigation
A selective application of appropriate techniques and management principles to reduce or mitigate either likelihood of an occurrence or its consequences, or both.
Service Level Agreement (SLA)
A formal agreement between a service provider (whether internal or external) and their client (whether internal or external) which covers the nature, quality, availability, scope and response of the service provider.
Service Provider Neutral
Not allied to any telecommunications or IT service provider, which means you have complete freedom to select the provider that suits your needs.
Shared Data Suite
Housing of IT equipment in a shared area, for requirements of 500 sq feet and above with optional caging.
Splicing Chamber
A large pit or room where telecommunication cables are joined. Used to change from external grade cables to internal grade cables.
Technical Real Estate
Purpose-built, resilient environments in which IT equipment is securely housed.
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
A system which provides continuity of power in the event of a mains power failure - can be battery or diesel driven.
VESDA Systems
Very Early Smoke Detection Alarms.