Business dependencies
State what the room supports and what happens when it stops. Which systems must stay running, who depends on them, and how long an interruption is tolerable. This single section drives most of the design decisions that follow, including whether an on premise room is the right answer at all.
Current equipment and growth
List what you run today, rack by rack where possible, and what you expect to add over the next two to three years. Headcount plans, new applications and mergers all change the load. A room sized only for today becomes a problem project within its first upgrade.
Site and landlord access
Note the building, the floor, the route equipment must travel, and any landlord conditions on works, noise or outdoor units. Say who approves access and when work can happen. In Lagos especially, delivery windows, parking and lift capacity are real constraints, not footnotes.
Critical power and runtime expectations
Write down what should happen when the grid drops. Which loads stay on UPS, how long they must run, and whether a generator takes over. If you do not know your current runtime, say so plainly. It is a common starting point and our critical power work begins with measuring it.
Cooling, cabling, fire and access interfaces
A server room touches systems owned by others. Note the existing air conditioning, structured cabling, fire detection and suppression, and door access control, and who maintains each. The brief should say which interfaces are in scope and which stay with the building or your ICT team.
Budget and timing
Give a budget band and a target window, even a rough one. Suppliers can then propose options that fit instead of guessing. Expect the accurate figure to come from a costed design and bill of quantities after an assessment, not from the first conversation.
Named specialists and handover evidence
Ask who will actually do the electrical, mechanical and fire work, and expect those people or partners to be named in the quotation. Define the evidence you want at the end. Tests run with you present, as built records, an asset list and a maintenance schedule are reasonable requests. Our design and build service describes what that handover looks like.
The next step
If you would rather talk it through, request an assessment. A short scoping conversation establishes the environment and access, and coverage, output, fee, responsibilities and timing are agreed in writing before anything is booked.
Further reading
Primary references for background reading. Listing them here is not an endorsement.