Demand for data centre capacity has grown quickly, driven by cloud services and, more recently, by the computing needed for artificial intelligence. The construction that follows is weighted heavily towards mechanical and electrical work rather than structure.

Those packages are large, technically demanding and time critical, which puts specialist subcontractors in a strong bargaining position and lengthens lead times for key plant.

Pressure on programmes and prices

Long lead times for switchgear, chillers and standby generation feed straight into programme risk. Early contractor involvement and early ordering of long lead items are becoming the norm rather than the exception.

The critical path on a data centre often runs through the plant order, not the building.

For claims specialists, the risk tends to cluster around delay to long lead items, design change during construction, and the interface between several specialist packages running at once. Clear records and a disciplined change process are worth more than any contractual argument after the event.