Data Center Construction Safety Rails: Hilmerson Supports Meta’s $1B Beaver Dam Project

When it comes to data center construction, safety systems must perform at the same scale and reliability as the infrastructure itself.

Mortenson, a nationally recognized general contractor, is developing a $1 billion, 700,000-square-foot Meta data center in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Spanning multiple years from 2025 through 2027, the project requires data center construction safety rails that deliver consistent leading-edge fall protection across changing phases, elevations, and work zones.

To meet those demands, Mortenson selected the Hilmerson Safety Rail System™ — an engineered, reusable solution designed specifically for modern data center construction environments.

Aerial rendering of Meta’s data center campus in Beaver Dam, Wis. Courtesy of Meta

The Challenge: Leading-Edge Fall Protection for Data Center Construction

Large-scale data center construction presents unique safety challenges. Crews routinely work at height around open slab edges, floor transitions, and active work zones — often under aggressive schedules where inefficiency quickly compounds.

• Traditional job-built wooden guardrails struggle to keep up. They are:
• Labor-intensive to install and maintain
• Prone to inconsistency and human error
• Wasteful and non-reusable
• Difficult to relocate as work progresses

Mortenson needed OSHA-compliant data center construction safety rails that could be installed quickly, reused repeatedly, and trusted across a long-term, high-value project — without slowing crews down.

The Solution: Data Center Construction Safety Rails by Hilmerson

For the Meta Data Center project, Mortenson deployed 800 linear feet of the Hilmerson Safety Rail System™, utilizing four HLM Mobile Guardrail Kits equipped with mobile carts, weighted bases, heavy-duty steel pallets, and mobile dollies.

Designed specifically for leading-edge fall protection, these data center construction safety rails delivered clear advantages over traditional wood rail systems:

• Engineered, OSHA-compliant construction safety rail system that exceeds standards
• Rapid installation and relocation to support phased data center construction
• Weighted base options that eliminate drilling, patching, and surface damage
• Galvanized, heavy-duty steel construction built for repeated, long-term use
• Self-contained rail kits that streamline inventory, storage, and transport

Instead of rebuilding guardrails as the project evolved, Mortenson was able to redeploy the same safety rail system across multiple phases — improving consistency, reducing waste, and saving valuable labor hours.

Built for Reuse, Efficiency, and Long-Term ROI on Data Center Projects

Multi-year data center projects demand safety solutions that deliver value well beyond a single phase. The Hilmerson Safety Rail System™ is designed to move with the job.

As site conditions change, the system:

• Breaks down quickly
• Stores cleanly on mobile carts
• Reinstalls without rework or retraining
• Maintains OSHA-compliant rail height every time

By eliminating the recurring costs associated with job-built wooden guardrails, Mortenson gained a reusable data center construction safety rail system that reduces labor hours, minimizes downtime, and delivers measurable ROI over the life of the project.

Setting a New Standard for Data Center Construction Safety

As demand for data centers continues to grow nationwide, projects like Meta’s Beaver Dam campus highlight the need for modern, engineered data center construction safety rails that can keep pace with today’s build environments.

By replacing job-built wood guardrails with American-made, reusable construction safety rail systems, Mortenson is setting a higher standard — improving worker protection, increasing efficiency, and controlling long-term costs while maintaining OSHA compliance.

Project Details

• General Contractor: Mortenson
• Project: Meta Data Center
• Location: Beaver Dam, WI
• Project Value: $1 Billion
• Project Duration: 2025–2027
• Hilmerson Safety Products Deployed:
  • 800 LF of Hilmerson Safety Rail System™
  • 4 HLM Kits with mobile carts
  • Weighted bases, steel pallets, and mobile dollies

Looking for Data Center Construction Safety Rails?

If you’re planning a data center project and need OSHA-compliant, reusable safety rails designed for speed, durability, and long-term ROI, the Hilmerson Safety Rail System™ is built to perform.