Construction teams face a unique challenge: building, upgrading, or expanding facilities while sensitive and costly equipment is already in place or about to arrive. Whether it is a live environment or a build-out nearing commissioning, the work must be completed without compromising the performance, safety, or cleanliness of mission-critical assets.

At Cadence, our teams specialize in building around critical infrastructure. From live server rooms to electrical switchgear, we follow precise protocols and processes that protect uptime and asset value. This blog outlines key construction best practices around critical equipment and explains why this expertise matters in today’s demanding digital infrastructure projects.

Why Working Near Critical Equipment Requires Specialized Construction Practices

Data centers, medical facilities, airports, and other high-reliability environments contain equipment that cannot be exposed to dust, vibration, power disruption, or unauthorized access. Construction near these systems introduces risk, including:

  • System failure or reduced lifespan due to contamination or impact
  • Unplanned downtime caused by accidental power or cooling disruptions
  • Data loss or equipment damage due to electrostatic discharge (ESD)
  • Safety hazards for construction workers and facility personnel

The consequences of mishandling critical equipment can be severe, including millions in lost revenue, regulatory violations, or reputational damage. That is why general contractors like Cadence develop and follow strict procedures tailored to the sensitivity of each environment.

Key Construction Best Practices Around Critical Equipment

1. Environmental Controls: Dust, Airflow, and Temperature

Dust may seem minor on a typical job site, but in data centers, it can be catastrophic. Dust accumulation on circuit boards, sensors, or fans can cause overheating, short circuits, or permanent failure. That is why Cadence takes a proactive approach to air quality during construction phases.

Best practices include:

  • Installing temporary barriers such as plastic sheeting or hard wall partitions to isolate the construction zone
  • Using negative air machines to prevent particles from migrating to live spaces
  • Employing HEPA filtration units for any airflow affecting the white space
  • Cleaning the work area daily, including vacuuming with industrial vacuums designed for electronics environments
  • Monitoring humidity and temperature near critical equipment to prevent static discharge and overheating

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), maintaining clean air during indoor activities reduces the risk of both health problems and equipment malfunctions. Their Indoor Air Quality guidelines reinforce the importance of managing construction-related pollutants near sensitive environments.

2. Vibration Control and Noise Reduction

Even small vibrations can damage rotating drives, storage devices, or mounted server racks. High levels of noise and vibration also disrupt ongoing operations and violate site policies.

Construction teams should:

  • Avoid using jackhammers, heavy demolition tools, or coring machines near operating equipment
  • Conduct vibration mapping and baseline measurements before beginning work
  • Schedule heavy vibration work during designated maintenance windows
  • Use vibration-dampening mats or floating floors when installing equipment near finished spaces

At Cadence, we work with structural engineers and facility managers to identify vibration-sensitive zones before mobilization. This proactive planning prevents accidental equipment wear and operational interference.

3. ESD and Static Control Protocols

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is an invisible but very real danger when working around electronics. A single static spark can destroy microchips, interfere with sensitive instruments, or lead to data loss.

To protect against ESD, construction teams must:

  • Wear static-dissipative clothing and heel grounders
  • Use antistatic mats on work surfaces and flooring
  • Install humidification controls to maintain ESD-safe conditions
  • Prohibit the use of non-approved materials like certain plastics or vinyls that generate static
  • Follow ANSI/ESD S20.20 standards for static-safe handling practices

The ESD Association provides standards and education that align with how Cadence trains field teams working near mission-critical electronics.

4. Controlled Access and Clear Zones

Unauthorized access to sensitive areas can create risk for both security and equipment damage. Cadence enforces strict access control procedures on all projects near critical gear.

These include:

  • Badge access systems and sign-in/sign-out logs
  • Escort policies for subcontractors or vendors
  • Clearly marked “no-go zones” around energized or operational equipment
  • Toolbox talks and jobsite orientations specific to restricted areas

On some projects, we establish equipment-specific exclusion zones, where only pre-approved trades with specialized training are allowed to work. This approach minimizes accidental contact and allows qualified teams to take extra care.

5. Power and Cooling Risk Mitigation

Power and cooling disruptions are among the most feared incidents in data center environments. Even a brief outage can lead to cascading system failures or service interruptions.

Cadence mitigates these risks by:

  • Mapping out all live circuits before any work begins
  • Labeling and protecting electrical panels, PDUs, and cooling units
  • Using lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures for any nearby systems
  • Verifying backup systems and redundancies are online before engaging in invasive work
  • Staging generators or portable HVAC as contingency when required

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) emphasizes the importance of continuous power and cooling in mission-critical buildings. Their Energy Star data center guidelines reinforce the need for tightly controlled systems during all phases of use, including construction.

6. Coordination and Communication Across Stakeholders

Perhaps the most important best practice is constant communication. Every Cadence project near critical infrastructure includes:

This collaborative approach avoids assumptions and keeps all personnel informed of evolving risks, schedule changes, and mitigation needs. When working near multimillion-dollar equipment, overcommunication is far better than a missed step.

Building Trust Around Critical Infrastructure

Cadence understands that data centers, hospitals, control rooms, and other mission-critical spaces cannot afford construction missteps. That is why we bring specialized training, custom procedures, and white-glove attention to every job involving sensitive equipment.

From modular buildouts to retrofits in live environments, we provide clients with peace of mind that their systems are protected while progress continues. If your next project involves working around critical equipment, partner with a contractor who knows the risks and delivers without compromise.