As the global demand for high-performance data centers continues to grow, Kryton International is drawing attention to the significant risks posed by concrete degradation. The company, a leader in waterproofing and durability solutions for concrete, warns that the increasing adoption of robotics and automation within these facilities makes the need for ultra-durable concrete not just beneficial but essential. With the average cost of a data center outage now exceeding $9,000 per minute, according to Forbes, the stakes for preventing infrastructure failures have never been higher.
Kari Yuers, President & CEO of Kryton International, points out that concrete, often overlooked as a static component, is actually vulnerable to microcracking, water penetration, and abrasion. These issues can lead to severe damage, operational downtime, and reputational harm for data center operators. The problem is exacerbated by the massive amounts of water used for cooling in these facilities, with Google alone reporting over 5 billion gallons of water used in its U.S. data centers in 2022. This, combined with the mechanical wear from robotics, underscores the need for concrete that can withstand such conditions.
Kryton's solutions, such as the Krystol Internal Membrane™ (KIM®) and Hard-Cem® admixtures, offer a way forward by making concrete self-sealing, waterproof, and resistant to abrasion. These innovations are particularly relevant as data centers expand into regions with high water tables or seismic activity, where the risk of concrete deterioration is even greater. By integrating these advanced concrete solutions at the construction phase, data center operators can avoid the high costs and disruptions associated with repairs and equipment replacement, ensuring long-term resilience and efficiency.
