Data Center Services

Organizations that plan, build, or operate data centers need reliable performance data to confirm that critical systems meet requirements for uptime, cooling capacity, electrical reliability, cybersecurity, and long-term resilience. These factors influence continuity of service, power use, and a facility’s ability to scale with rising digital and AI-driven workloads.

At Intertek, we provide data center testing, inspection, commissioning, and certification services that evaluate how facilities perform under electrical load, thermal demand, environmental conditions, and ICT requirements. Our teams work across North America with building science, electrical and mechanical engineering, enclosure performance, information and communications technology, cybersecurity, and integrated commissioning expertise. We support owners, developers, architects, engineers, contractors, and operators as they meet applicable standards, reduce project risk, and document performance from early design through go-live and ongoing operation.

How Intertek Supports Data Center Owners and Operators

Intertek delivers coordinated data center testing, inspection, commissioning, and certification. We support new data center construction, expansions, retrofits, colocation environments, hyperscale facilities, and enterprise data centers. Our goal is to provide dependable technical data and documentation used by project teams throughout design, construction, and operations.

What You Can Expect From Intertek

• Accredited data center specialists across North America
• Integrated testing, inspection, commissioning, and certification services
• Electrical, mechanical, cooling, enclosure, and ICT system evaluation
• Field diagnostics, troubleshooting, and operational assessments

Detailed technical documentation for design teams, operators, and regulatory authorities.

What are the Three Phases of a Data Center Project?

The three phases are Design, Build, and Commission.

Data centers perform best when evaluated across these connected phases.

• Design establishes system intent, site conditions, environmental factors, and operational requirements.
• Build verifies materials, construction practices, enclosure performance, mechanical systems, electrical installations, and information and communications technology networks.
• Commission confirms that all systems operate as intended under load and support continuous operation.

Intertek provides independent support across each phase to reduce risk, confirm compliance, and prepare facilities for reliable performance.

What Challenges do Data Centers Face?

Global data center demand continues to grow rapidly, with the market valued at about $348 billion in 2024 and projected to grow by more than 11 percent annually through 2030. This expansion is increasing the need for verified performance across electrical, mechanical, enclosure, information and communications technology, and cybersecurity systems.

Industry forecasts estimate global data center power demand may reach 130 gigawatts by 2028, making electrical reliability and commissioning performance central to project success. AI-driven workloads and higher rack densities are also creating new requirements for liquid cooling, power quality validation, airflow management, and operational redundancy.

Intertek helps project teams address these challenges through lifecycle evaluation grounded in standards from ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers), IEEE, ISO, NFPA, BICSI, and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology).

External references

• ASHRAE TC 9.9 Thermal Guidelines: https://www.ashrae.org
• IEEE Standards Association: https://standards.ieee.org
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework: https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework
• ISO Standards: https://www.iso.org
• NFPA Standards: https://www.nfpa.org
• EPA Indoor Air Quality: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq

What trends are driving change in data centers?

AI infrastructure adoption, higher heat loads, rapid build timelines, and rising energy requirements are influencing how data centers are designed, tested, and commissioned.

How does Intertek Support the Design Phase?

What services are included in the Design phase?

Intertek provides mechanical, electrical, building science, environmental, and information and communications technology evaluations that help project teams confirm system intent and reduce early design risk.

• Engineering and peer review for mechanical, electrical, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC R), acoustic, fire, and building systems
• Environmental and geotechnical due diligence for site and subsurface conditions
• Building enclosure engineering and consulting for air, water, thermal, and structural performance
• Acoustic, fire, failure analysis, and roofing consulting
• Site selection support, including geotechnical investigations and hazardous materials assessments
• Industrial hygiene evaluations and indoor environmental quality assessments

Internal Intertek links

• Geotechnical Engineering, Surveys & Drilling Services: https://www.intertek.com/building/geotechnical-engineering/
• Environmental Consulting Solutions: https://www.intertek.com/building/environmental
• Building Sciences & Enclosure Consulting: https://www.intertek.com/building/building-sciences/

Design Phase Summary Table

This table outlines design phase services that establish performance requirements and reduce early uncertainty.

Design Area	What Intertek Provides	Why It Matters
Engineering Review	Mechanical, electrical, HVAC R, acoustic, and life safety evaluations	Confirms systems align with expected operating conditions
Enclosure Consulting	Air, water, thermal, and structural analysis	Reduces air leakage, moisture, and thermal risks
Environmental Due Diligence	Subsurface, indoor air quality, and hazardous materials review	Confirms site suitability and regulatory needs
Geotechnical Services	Soil and subsurface investigation	Supports foundation and structural design
Building Science	Failure analysis and roofing assessment	Identifies vulnerabilities before procurement

How does Intertek support the Build Phase?

What services are included in the Build phase?

Intertek supports construction teams with field testing, inspections, building enclosure verification, mechanical system checks, nondestructive examination, and information and communications technology validation to help maintain schedule and quality.

• Construction inspection and monitoring
• Building enclosure field testing for air infiltration, water penetration, and structural performance
• Construction materials, building product testing, and inspection
• Nondestructive examination for steel, piping, tanks, and related components
• Information and communications technology testing for NEBS, Verizon requirements, fiber performance, cabling, and equipment validation
• Mechanical and HVAC R performance evaluations

Internal Intertek links

• Building Envelope Field Testing and Onsite Services: https://www.intertek.com/building/field-testing
• Information Communications Technology (ICT) Solutions: https://www.intertek.com/ict
• HVAC Certification & Equipment Testing: https://www.intertek.com/hvacr/
• Construction Materials Testing & Inspection Services: https://www.intertek.com/building/construction-materials/

Build Phase Summary Table

This table highlights build phase services that support construction quality and performance verification.

Build Area	What Intertek Provides	Why It Matters
Construction Inspection	Field verification of installation and workmanship	Helps prevent rework and scheduling delays
Enclosure Testing	Air, water, and structural field testing	Confirms envelope readiness under pressure or weather load
Nondestructive Examination	Evaluation of steel, piping, and equipment	Detects hidden defects before operation
ICT Testing	Fiber, cabling, and telecom performance	Supports network reliability and system interoperability
Mechanical System Review	HVAC R performance checks	Verifies cooling readiness and system balance

How does Intertek support the Commission Phase?

What services are included in the Commission phase?

Intertek validates that electrical, mechanical, enclosure, information and communications technology, cybersecurity, and environmental systems operate as intended. Commissioning includes functional testing, performance evaluation under load, and documentation for turnover.

• Building enclosure commissioning
• Functional performance testing for electrical and mechanical systems
• Power quality testing, including harmonics, voltage stability and load behavior
• IoT and wireless testing, including FCC compliance and device interoperability
• Cybersecurity assessments, including penetration testing and FIPS 140 2 validation
• Product and systems certification
• Acoustical testing and noise evaluation
• Laser scanning, modeling, and surveying
• Indoor air quality evaluations and WELL Building Standard support
• Decommissioning and property transfer services

Internal Intertek links

• Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx): https://www.intertek.com/building/building-sciences/becx/
• Cybersecurity Certification and Testing Services: https://www.intertek.com/cybersecurity
• Wireless Testing & Certification: https://www.intertek.com/wireless
• IAQ Testing: https://www.intertek.com/building/indoor-air-quality/

Commission Phase Summary Table

This table outlines commissioning services that verify operational readiness and support continuous performance.

Commission Area	What Intertek Provides	Why It Matters
System Commissioning	Functional testing for electrical and mechanical systems	Confirms systems work as intended
Power Quality	Harmonics, load, and voltage evaluation	Helps prevent outages and equipment failures
Cybersecurity	Penetration testing and device validation	Supports data protection and compliance
IAQ and WELL	Air quality and environmental testing	Supports health and operational needs
Asset Documentation	Scanning and modeling	Aids long-term planning

What Specialized or Emerging Services Support Today’s Data Centers?

Higher-density computing loads and liquid or immersion-cooling systems change how cooling and materials need to be evaluated, especially when confirming thermal balance, airflow containment, and material compatibility. AI-ready infrastructure is growing quickly, with density-driven growth expected to exceed 30 percent a year through 2030. As systems run hotter and work harder, projects need more detailed thermal and electrical verification.

Data Center Resources

What advanced services are available?

Intertek provides advanced testing for data centers with high-density computing environments, artificial intelligence workloads, increased security requirements, or non-traditional cooling systems.

• Cybersecurity evaluation
• Electromagnetic compatibility testing
• Battery and energy storage testing
• Liquid cooling and immersion cooling evaluation
• Acoustical evaluation
• Fire resistance and life safety testing
• Wind and structural performance evaluation
• Flood exposure testing
• Weathering and environmental durability testing

Internal Intertek links

• Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Testing: https://www.intertek.com/emc
• Battery Testing: https://www.intertek.com/batteries
• Acoustical Testing: https://www.intertek.com/building/acoustical/
• Fire Resistance Testing: https://www.intertek.com/building/fire-testing/
• Structural Performance Testing: https://www.intertek.com/building/structural-systems/  

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