Human-centred engineering in data centres

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Step inside a live data centre during peak operation and you’ll see more than racks and cooling systems. You’ll see engineers tracing complex control systems, technicians working in tight corridors, and operators making split-second calls when alarms sound. This human layer is what keeps our digital infrastructure running.

Yet too often, facilities are designed as though people barely feature in the equation. Cramped maintenance spaces, awkwardly placed controls, harsh lighting, and exhausting environments wear down rather than support staff. Even the most advanced systems can fall short if the people maintaining them aren’t set up for success.

The challenge facing the industry is clear: how do we design facilities that serve both digital workloads and the people responsible for keeping them running?

At RED, we design with both technology and people in mind. Our data centre design services embed the human element into every stage, from concept and planning through to commissioning and long-term operation, so facilities perform at their best, and the teams who operate them can too.

This article looks at how RED Engineering designs data centres around the people who work in them. From risk assessments and commissioning to clean rooms, sustainability audits, and frameworks like BREEAM and NABERS, the goal is to make sure critical IT infrastructure runs safely and reliably.

Why design needs to centre on people

Critical IT infrastructure is only as effective as the people who operate it. From engineers specifying cooling systems to technicians replacing components in the middle of the night, human expertise drives thousands of decisions that directly influence performance and reliability within a data centre.

Good data centre design starts with recognising that human factors can’t be added as an afterthought. They must be built in from day one: how teams move through spaces, how they interact with systems during routine checks or in crisis, and what they need to work safely and effectively.

No level of automation can remove the need for skilled human oversight. In an emergency, success hinges on people being able to reach equipment quickly, interpret system status without confusion, and act without hesitation or unnecessary strain.

This is why design choices, from control room layouts and sight lines to maintenance access and emergency procedures, must always account for the human element. Facilities that fail to consider these factors risk higher costs, downtime, and safety issues, while those that prioritise people as much as technology create environments where both can perform at their best.

Designing for safety and compliance

What is a risk assessment? In a data centre, it's a structured process to identify, evaluate, and manage potential threats to both critical IT infrastructure and the people operating it. 

Key aspects include:

1. Security audit and inventory

• Conduct a full audit of all IT and Operational Technology (OT) systems, including older equipment.
• Map connections and note potential weaknesses. OT systems, such as building management, power control, cooling, access control, and security cameras, can sometimes be less protected than IT systems.
  

2. Threat identification and analysis

• Evaluate external cyber threats as well as insider risks, including staff with system access who might misuse it.
• Consider human error, which accounts for a large proportion of data centre incidents. Think about cognitive, physical, and emotional limits under high-stress conditions.
• Identify operational weaknesses such as fragmented data, non-standard procedures, or non-scalable systems.
  

3. Vulnerability assessment

• Assess risks in under-protected OT systems.
• Consider how human interaction with equipment, untrained staff, or an ageing/skills-limited workforce could introduce errors or hazards.

4. Compliance and regulatory assessment

• Check adherence to industry standards (PCI, HIPAA, ISO, SSAE16, ISMS) and legal requirements for critical infrastructure.
• Factor in ESG or sustainability rules that may influence funding or client requirements.

5. Risk mitigation and recovery strategy

• Implement multi-layered protections, combining physical security (biometrics, cameras, time-stamped passes) and IT safeguards (firewalls, monitoring tools, encryption).
• Use network segmentation, multi-factor authentication, and regular patching to reduce exposure.
• Optimise operations with monitoring and management tools, predictive maintenance, and AI-based alerts.
• Standardise policies, provide staff training, and plan for human error using checklists and reporting systems.
• Maintain secure backups and establish procedures for fast troubleshooting and root cause analysis.

A 2024 Uptime Institute survey found that about two-thirds of data-centre outages involve human error, highlighting why a risk assessment must examine procedures and staff training, not just hardware, to keep facilities resilient and safe.

At RED, we embed these principles into every project through human-focused design, careful operational planning, and infrastructure built to last - delivering facilities that run reliably today and are future-proofed for tomorrow.

Validating the build before handover

What is commissioning in project management? It’s the process of testing and validating a facility before it goes live, ensuring that design intent translates into safe, efficient, and usable operations.

Operators walk through realistic scenarios, test emergency procedures, and assess human factors to catch issues that drawings and models might miss: a control room might meet space requirements on paper but feel cramped during an incident, or equipment that looks accessible in 3D models may require awkward positions to service.

This helps confirm that control rooms are practical, equipment is accessible, and staff can carry out tasks safely and confidently under real-world conditions.

Many data centres use commissioning to catch these issues early and validate operational procedures and training programmes before handover. At RED, our commissioning experts help guide operators through structured validation and witness testing, ensuring systems work as intended and handovers are efficient and reliable.

Creating secure, controlled spaces

A critical part of designing a data centre for both safety and efficiency is building secure, controlled spaces for staff and sensitive systems. These rooms, known as clean rooms, provide a controlled environment for operations. But what exactly is a clean room’s purpose within a data centre?

Clean rooms are designed to protect both sensitive systems and the people who work with them. Access is tightly controlled to keep staff safe from high-risk areas, and workflows are carefully planned to prevent errors during critical operations.

Tasks such as handling delicate equipment or maintaining live systems are organised to minimise risk to personnel, while separation of duties ensures no single individual can inadvertently compromise safety. Clearly defined zones guide staff movement, helping reduce mistakes, collisions, and accidents.

Healthy, controlled environments across the facility

Beyond clean rooms, the entire data centre must support safe, efficient working conditions. Temperature, humidity, and airflow should be carefully controlled to reduce physical strain, especially in high-density areas, while ergonomic layouts and clear access routes allow staff to safely handle equipment.

Lighting across facilities should reduce eye strain, and acoustic planning should minimise noise from servers and cooling systems. High-risk areas, such as battery or chemical zones, should include ventilation, gas detection, emergency showers, and safety protocols to protect personnel.

By designing safe spaces across the facility, operators can work confidently, and critical IT infrastructure remains protected under all conditions.

Measuring sustainability and performance

While energy and carbon reduction are key to sustainable data centre design, staff wellbeing is an equally important consideration. That’s why facilities routinely conduct sustainability audits. 

So, what is a sustainability audit? These assessments measure environmental performance alongside human-centred factors, including air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, and noise within a facility - all of which affect staff wellbeing, productivity, and error rates. Recognised sustainability frameworks such as BREEAM certification and NABERS increasingly account for people’s health and wellbeing. 

BREEAM provides a structured approach to design and operation, rewarding facilities that deliver high indoor environmental quality, effective acoustic performance, and safe working conditions. NABERS focuses on operational performance, assessing how buildings actually perform for staff day-to-day, including comfort, air quality, and overall occupant satisfaction.

Regular audits and framework assessments allow data centres to make informed, data-driven improvements, helping create a safer, healthier, and more efficient workplace for both people and critical systems.

At RED Engineering, our sustainability audits give data centre operators the insight to make informed, evidence-based improvements - creating safer, healthier, and more efficient workplaces for both staff and critical systems.

Designing data centres for the future

As data centres are handling higher-density AI workloads and more automation, human-centred design is becoming increasingly important. Powerful equipment is generating more heat, so spaces must be planned to keep staff safe during maintenance and emergencies.

Higher rack densities, advanced cooling, and complex procedures are creating new challenges for staff. Corridors, access routes, and safety systems need to suit both people and equipment, while training and protective measures must help staff work safely under demanding conditions.

Climate change and extreme weather are adding further pressures, making resilience essential to protect staff during extended outages or high-stress situations.

Future-ready facilities have to keep up with changes in the workforce. People of different ages and experience levels bring varying skills and expectations, and support systems need to reflect that. Designs must adapt over time, since what works today might not suit tomorrow.

The facilities that will thrive in the coming decades are those designed with people in mind - where engineers can work safely, operators can make clear decisions under pressure, and technicians can maintain critical IT infrastructure without risk.

At RED Engineering, this approach underpins every project, ensuring that both technology and the teams behind it can operate safely and confidently. Talk to RED today to see how human-centred design can make your data centre safer, more efficient, and ready for the future.