DATA CENTER TIERS

GOAL OF DATA CENTER:

TO REDUCE/AVOID DOWNTIME.
Tiers
 Each data center tier ranking consists of several
criteria and requirements that primarily focus on
a data center’s infrastructure, levels of
redundancy, and promised level of uptime.
A Tier I data center is the simplest of
the 4 tiers, offering little (if any) levels
of redundancy, and not really aiming to
promise a maximum level of uptime.
*Single path for power and cooling to
the server equipment, with no
redundant components.

*Expected uptime levels of 99.671%

(1,729 minutes of annual downtime)
 PACU

GENERATOR
GRID

DATA
UPS CENTER
The next level, a Tier II data center has more
measures and infrastructure in place that
ensure it is not as susceptible to unplanned
downtime as a Tier 1 data center.
*Will typically have a single path for
both power and cooling, but will utilize
some redundant components.

*These data centers will have some

backup elements, such as a backup
cooling system and/or a generator.

*Expected uptime levels of 99.741%

(1,361 minutes of annual downtime)
 GENSET 1 GENSET 2
PACU 1 PACU 2

GRID

UPS 2

UPS 1
DATA
CENTER
In addition to meeting the requirements for
both Tier I and Tier II, a Tier III data center is
required to have a more sophisticated
infrastructure that allows for greater
redundancy and higher uptime.
*Multiple power and cooling distribution
paths to the server equipment. The
equipment is served by one distribution
path, but in the event that path fails,
another takes over as a failover.

*Expected uptime levels of 99.982% (95

minutes of annual downtime)
 GENSET 1 GENSET 2

PACU 1 PACU 2
GRID 2
GRID 1

UPS 2

UPS 1
DATA
CENTER
At the top level, a Tier IV ranking represents
a data center that has the infrastructure,
capacity, and processes in place to provide a
truly maximum level of uptime.
*Fully meets all requirements for Tiers I, II,
and III.

*Redundancy in everything: Multiple cooling

units, backup generators, power sources,
chillers, etc. If one piece of equipment fails,
another can start up and replace its output
instantaneously.

*Expected uptime levels of 99.995% (26

minutes of annual downtime)
 GENSET 1 GENSET 2 GENSET 3 GENSET 4

PACU 1 PACU 2 ACU BACK-UP

GRID 2
GRID 1

UPS 4
UPS 2

UPS 1 UPS 3
DATA
CENTER
COOLING SYSTEM
 UPBLAST
&
NORMAL ACU
IN-ROW ACU COOLING
DOWN BLAST
PACU
RAISE FLOOR SYSTEM
PURPOSE:
1. CABLE MANAGEMENT
PURPOSE:
2. AID IN AIRFLOW
PURPOSE:
2. AID IN AIRFLOW
RAISE FLOOR SYSTEM COMPONENTS
RAISE FLOOR PANEL
STRINGERS AND PEDESTALS
HOW BIG YOUR PACU/ACU BE?
PACU/ACU CAPACITY SIZING –

RECALL: POWER DEFINITION

 THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY SPENT IN A GIVEN TIME
 THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY CONVERTED FROM ONE FORM TO ANOTHER
PACU/ACU CAPACITY SIZING
Recall:
 Latent and sensible heat are types of
energy released or absorbed in the
atmosphere. Latent heat is related to
changes in phase between liquids,
gases, and solids. Sensible heat is
related to changes in temperature of a
gas or object with no change in phase.
 PACU/ACU CAPACITY SIZING
Recall:
 Sensible heat
When an object is heated, its temperature rises as heat is added. The increase in heat is
called sensible heat. Similarly, when heat is removed from an object and its temperature falls,
the heat removed is also called sensible heat. Heat that causes a change in temperature in an
object is called sensible heat.
 Latent heat
All pure substances in nature are able to change their state. Solids can become liquids (ice to
water) and liquids can become gases (water to vapor) but changes such as these require the
addition or removal of heat. The heat that causes these changes is called latent heat.
 Latent heat however, does not affect the temperature of a substance - for example, water
remains at 100°C while boiling. The heat added to keep the water boiling is latent heat. Heat
that causes a change of state with no change in temperature is called latent heat.
PACU/ACU CAPACITY SIZING –
ROOMS/OFFICES

12 000 BTU/hr = 1 TR

9500 BTU/hr = 1HP
 PACU/ACU CAPACITY SIZING –
DATA CENTER
TYPE OF
ITEM INTERNAL HEAT LOAD HEAT Unit
1 TOTAL EQUIPMENT LOAD (Number of racks * LOAD per rack) SENSIBLE kW
2 LIGHTING LOAD - w/m2 * Floor area (REFER TO TABLE) SENSIBLE kW
3 PEOPLE LOAD (61W * Number of People) SENSIBLE kW
4 PEOPLE LOAD (53W * Number of People) LATENT kW
EXTERNAL HEAT LOAD

5 FRESH AIR INFILTRATION THROUGH LEAKAGES: WALLS, WINDOW,

FLOORS, CEILING. (See Formula and Table for reference) SENSIBLE kW
7 SAFETY FACTOR - 25% of EQUIPMNET LOAD (referring to item#1) SENSIBLE kW
WHAT TO DO?
GET TOTAL HEAT LOAD and CONVERT TO TR or HP.
1TR = 3.517KW
LIGHTING LOAD
Heat Leakage Formula
Heat Leakage Table
PACU/ACU CAPACITY SIZING –
ELECTRICAL ROOMS
ITEM INTERNAL HEAT LOAD TYPE OF HEAT Unit
1 UPS LOAD (Number of UPS * LOAD per UPS) - See UPS formula table. SENSIBLE kW
2 LIGHTING LOAD - w/m2 * Floor area (REFER TO TABLE) SENSIBLE kW
3 PEOPLE LOAD (61W * Number of People) SENSIBLE kW
4 PEOPLE LOAD (53W * Number of People) LATENT kW
EXTERNAL HEAT LOAD
FRESH AIR INFILTRATION THROUGH LEAKAGES: WALLS, WINDOW, FLOORS,
5
CEILING. (See Formula and Table for reference) SENSIBLE kW
7 SAFETY FACTOR - 25% of EQUIPMNET LOAD (refering to item#1) SENSIBLE kW
WHAT TO DO?
GET TOTAL HEAT LOAD and CONVERT TO TR or HP.
1TR = 3.517KW
PACU/ACU CAPACITY SIZING –
OFFICES/ROOMS