The Challenge
Modern data centres cannot tolerate instability. In today’s digital-driven world, data centres support finance, healthcare, e-commerce, communications, and critical services.
A single surge event, whether lightning-related or internally generated, can disrupt servers, damage sensitive equipment, compromise cooling systems, or impact control and monitoring infrastructure.
Power-related and cooling-related failures account for approximately 71% of all data centre outages. A momentary disruption can result in:
- Downtime
- Data loss
- Equipment damage
- Financial impact
- Reputational risk.
Data centres require coordinated surge protection across:
- Service entrance switchgear
- Server room distribution
- Cooling systems
- Instrumentation and control rooms
- Access control and CCTV
- Fire protection systems
- Backup generation and storage
- Solar PV systems
- GPS/GNSS links.
Protection must be layered, standards-compliant, and applied at multiple points, not just at the main switchboard.
The Solution: Citel Surge Protection
Surge protection in a data centre cannot be treated as a single device at the main switchboard.
Citel’s approach is based on coordinated, multi-level protection applying the correct SPD type at each stage of the installation in accordance with IEC and Australia / NZ Standards – AS/NZS 1768:2021.
This includes:
- Type 1+2+3 protection at the service entrance
- Type 2 protection at primary and secondary distribution panels
- Dedicated AC and DC protection for cooling systems and PLC cabinets
- Dataline and Ethernet protection for control and communication networks
- DC surge protection for battery storage and ESS systems
- PV surge protection for solar-integrated facilities
- Coaxial protection for GPS/GNSS systems.
Rather than isolating risk at one point, the system is designed to progressively manage surge energy throughout the facility, protecting power, control, and communications infrastructure as an integrated architecture.
Through Leveltec, this coordinated approach is supported locally with application guidance, stock availability, and technical assistance.
Key Features
The Citel Data Centre range is engineered for critical infrastructure and built around international surge protection standards.
- IEC 61643-11 certified Type 1+2+3 and Type 2 AC SPDs
- IEC 61643-21 compliant dataline protection
- IEC 61643-31 certified photovoltaic SPDs
- prIEC 61643-41 compliant DC SPDs for ESS systems
- High discharge capacity models for service entrance applications
- Integrated fuse options for simplified installation
- VG technology options for extended life and reduced leakage
- Real-time surge monitoring capability via the LSCM-D device
- Protection coverage from low-voltage AC systems through to 1500V DC.
The range is designed to maintain protection coordination across multiple protection levels, ensuring that each SPD supports the next stage downstream.
The Citel Data Centre range is deployed across all critical protection zones within a facility, including:
- Main service entrance switchgear
- Electrical rooms and primary distribution boards
- Secondary panels and RPPs
- Server room PDUs and busways
- VFD panels and PLC control cabinets
- Cooling systems and CDU communications
- Instrumentation and control rooms
- Access control systems and CCTV networks
- Fire detection systems
- Gensets and battery storage systems
- Solar PV arrays and inverter outputs
- GPS/GNSS communication links.
Protection extends beyond incoming power to safeguard control logic, communications networks, and backup systems, ensuring operational continuity across interconnected infrastructure.
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