CASE STUDY: Furukawa EFLEX Square Cable Ducting Solves Space and Cost Challenges for a High-Density Data Centre

Taylor Williams

11 hours ago

CASE STUDY Furukawa EFLEX Square Cable Ducting Solves Space and Cost Challenges for a High-Density Data Centre

The Situation

In 2024, E-Tech Components successfully assisted a 90MW Tier 3 data centre (LON01) in North London. Our team supported major drainage and underground ductwork for a new substation within the wider data centre infrastructure, serving Building 1, a 20MW, four–data-hall facility within a high-density, two-building campus. Below is some top-level information about the site and its new data centre cable ducting system:

Location: Brent Cross, London Borough of Barnet, UK
Programme: January 2024 – May 2024 (19 weeks)
Site Size: 8.92 acres | 86,527 sq. m
Wider Impact: £1 billion of investment into the local economy during construction

Client’s Pain Points

The client required a cable ducting system that could perform in a constrained, fast-moving data centre environment while supporting future scalability. Key concerns included:

Limited space across a high-density campus
Tight construction timelines with no tolerance for delays
The need to accommodate design changes without rework
Minimising excavation, trench size and installation disruption
Long-term durability and protection for critical power and data cabling

The Challenge

For a Tier 3 data centre, cable infrastructure must meet the highest standards for resilience, safety and future-readiness. The ducting solution for Building 1 had to be:

Compact and space-efficient
Quick to install to maintain programme certainty
Flexible enough to adapt to evolving layouts
Robust enough to support underground ductwork (multi-rack cable routes)
Fully compliant with relevant industry standards

Any delays or design constraints would risk impacting the wider campus delivery schedule.

Why They Chose E-Tech

E-Tech Components was selected for its technical expertise, reliability and collaborative approach. By working closely with all project stakeholders, E-Tech ensured:

Clear technical guidance from design through to delivery
Guaranteed product availability and on-time supply
Full accessory support to avoid installation bottlenecks
Practical solutions tailored to real site constraints

Our proven experience in data centre infrastructure gave the client confidence that the cable ducting system would be delivered safely, efficiently and without compromise.

Our Solution: EFLEX Square – Data Centre Cable Ducting by Furukawa Electric

EFLEX Square is a modular, stackable ducting solution ideal for underground multi-rack cable routes in data centre infrastructure.

Built to ENATS 12/24 Class 1, EFLEX Square enables faster, cleaner installs while maximising space and protection. Besides data centres, this proven solution is trusted across Europe and the Middle East for use in highways, rail networks, stadiums and airports.

By supplying Furukawa EFLEX Square, the system’s flexibility allowed our client to create custom layouts without bends or spacers, speeding up installation and minimising trench size.

Furukawa EFLEX Square Duct

Why Choose Furukawa EFLEX Square?

Water-Tight to IP67
Dust-Proof
Strong and Durable
Easily Installed
Stackable
Lightweight and Versatile
Cost-Saving
Flame-Resistant
Space-Saving

Flexible Underground Ductwork (Cable Ducting) for Data Centres

Underground ductwork (cable ducting) safely routes power and data. This is crucial for complexes where uptime, organisation and protection matter most. Ducting shields cables from weather, leaks, contamination, impact and interference, keeping networks protected, organised and future-ready.

Furukawa EFLEX Square – A Smarter Way to Bury Cable

EFLEX Square comes in 5 sizes with a full range of accessories. It allows data centres to design multi-rack duct layouts without costly bend pieces or spacers. It seamlessly integrates with Green Trough to deliver a complete, top-tier cable management solution.

Stackable units only need small trenches with no spacers – ideal for tight sites
Just 6.4kg for a 5.3m (100 series) unit – easy to handle on-site
Withstands 25-tonne loads buried at just 300mm – shallower trenches, lower costs
Bends up to 10× its inner diameter – no expensive bend pieces needed
Chemical-resistant for long-term reliability underground
Easy to configure with 5 size options and IP67-rated watertight push-fit connectors

Installation Method

Installing flexible underground ducting is straightforward but requires careful planning to ensure safety and compliance.

Underground Cable Ducting Guide	Download the Installation Manual

Testing

Threat	Protection Level
Water Ingress	IP67-rated connectors; moisture-activated Aqua seals
Rodents	HDPE material offers a strong physical barrier
Dust / Dirt Ingress	Sealed design protects interior from dust and soil intrusion

EFLEX Square Accessories & Complete Cable Ducting System

To complete your Furukawa EFLEX system installation, E-Tech Components supplies a full range of compatible accessories designed for seamless connection, protection and flexibility.

	Furukawa EFLEX Square Duct Sizes 50, 75, 100, 130 and 150 — robust, flexible underground ductwork (ducting) for fast cable installation.
	Furukawa AQUA Square Adaptor Jointing mechanism used to connect cut EFLEX Square Duct ends when adjusting length.
	Furukawa AQUA Square Male Adaptor Converts a pipe section to male for insertion into a female part.
	Furukawa AQUA Connector Includes AQUA-Nut and AQUA-Mouth to connect EFLEX Square / Round ducts to chambers or catchpits.
	Furukawa Male to Male Adaptor Converts female ends to male, linking two EFLEX female connectors or a female end to a Long Bell Mouth.
	Furukawa Converter to EFLEX Round Adaptor connecting EFLEX Square male ends to other pipe types.
	Furukawa Long Bell Mouth Connects EFLEX Square to chambers / catchpits — available in three lengths for wall thickness.
	Furukawa Bell Block Concrete resin block for interfacing EFLEX with concrete or polymer chambers.
	Furukawa Temporary Plug Used with the EFLEX Square Long Bell Mouth and standard EFLEX Square units to prevent dirt, sand or soil from entering the duct during installation.