The ALC is designed to operate normally at a maximum outside temperature of 45 degrees Celsius. It currently draws about 2.8MW of power and is expected to draw up to 4MW when it reaches capacity.
Because of its scale, the ASX chose not to use battery-powered uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), opting instead for three HITEC diesel rotary UPS units, each capable of generating 1.6MW. Each DRUPS unit can hold up to 63 litres of fuel; the ASX stores enough fuel on-site to keep the facility running for up to 72 hours.
In case of a fire, the ASX has 270 tanks of Argonite on site that cost more than $700,000 to refill in total. The exchange's core technology is replicated in real-time in its secondary facility in Bondi; however, co-location customers are responsible for their own disaster recovery arrangements. Only about six customers are co-located in both Bondi and the ALC.
The ASX leases about half of the three-storey ALC building from site owner Securus, a Singaporean firm that also owns part of the data centre that hosts the Singapore Exchange (SGX).
iTnews toured Securus' half of the building in August 2012. Much of Securus' space is used by Brisbane colocation provider iseek and fitted out with similar UPS, CRAC, fire suppression and roof-top chiller equipment.
(Image credit: ASX)