Chapter 08: Architectural

Question 1

What areas of a data center are most vulnerable to water ingress?

Answer 1

Anything on or below the first floor of the building.

Question 2

What is the minimum clear access height, from finished floor to any ceiling obstructions, required for a building section in a data center?

Answer 2

3 m (10’)

Question 3

What should be the minimum slab to structure height for a data center building?

Answer 3

4.5 m (15’)

Question 4

What are the advantages of constructing a data center in the grade kevel (ground floor) of a building?

Answer 4

Equipment access and floor loading considerations.

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of constructing a data center on the upper floors of a building?

Answer 5

• Equipment access
• Floor loading considerations
• Structural instability in areas with major lateral force issues (hurricane, wind seismic)

Question 6

What equipment shall be in the command center?

Answer 6

A command center shall house environment monitoring equipment and computer systems monitors.

Question 7

What is the size and weight of the equipment for which the computer/ telecommunications equipment delivery pathway, including doors, shall be designed?

Answer 7

Delivery pathways shall be designed for equipment as large as 3 m (10’) long by 1.2 m (4’) deep by 2.4 m (8’) high, weighing greater than 3400 kg (7500 lbs)

Question 8

What is the typical time frame for a data center to significantly change its ITE inventory?

Answer 8

3 to 5 years

Question 9

What is the maximum opening size for a glazed opening in a computer room door

Answer 9

Glazing within doors shall not exceed 0.065m^2 (100”^2).

Question 10

What shall be the minimum thickness for data center doors?

Answer 10

45 mm (1.75 in)

Question 11

What is the minimum access floor height required above the slab?

Answer 11

450 mm (18”)

Question 12

What is the minimum clearance that shall be maintained from the sprinklers to raceways, cabinets, and racks to ensure they do not disrupt the sprinkler distribution pattern subject to the AHJ?

Answer 12

450 mm (18”)

Question 13

What should the minimum access floor height above the slab for computer rooms with higher power density equipment where the underfloor space is used for cooling?

Answer 13

900 mm (36”)

Question 14

What is the minimum recommended ceiling height for computer room spaces (from slab-to-slab)?

Answer 14

4.5 m (15’ or greater)

Question 15

What is the minimum ceiling height from the finished floor to any obstruction in data center computer rooms and telecommunication spaces?

Answer 15

3 m (10’)

Question 16

What should be used with floor slabs to act as a moisture barrier and to prevent dusting and particulating?

Answer 16

A non-penetrating seal such as an epoxy.

Question 17

What building types are defined by the International Building Code are suitable for housing a critical data center?

Answer 17

Type I, II, or III

Question 18

In what situations may the local access providers require access to the computer room?

Answer 18

• The entrance room is a portion of the computer room.
• The computer room houses access provider equipment such as DWDMs, SONET multiplexers, or any circuit provisioning equipment.
• The carrier demarcation points (e.g., DS-1 or DS-3 DSX panels) reside in the computer room.

Question 19

If a data center is located in a multi-tenant building, how can you ensure the safety and reliability of data center operations?

Answer 19

The data center shall be located away from the hazards and mutual access points with other tenants.

Question 20

If batteries are in a dedicated battery room, where should the battery room be located?

Answer 20

Adjacent to the closest electrical room.

Question 21

What is the minimum fire rated required for media storage?

Answer 21

A 2-hour rating

Question 22

What is the maximum slope for ramps from horizontal for movement of cabinets with equipment?

Answer 22

8 degrees

Question 23

What should be the minimum width of a ramp used for equipment access in a data center?

Answer 23

900 mm (36”)

Question 24

What facilities are required to be located near the electrical and UPS room?

Answer 24

The main building electrical room and the generator.

Question 25

The proposed building architecture must take into consideration space for a variety of support equipment. List three.

Answer 25

• Generator(s)
• Fuel tank(s)
• HVAC heat rejection systems

Question 26

What are some additional security requirements for data centers that house ITE from multiple users?

Answer 26

Additional physical security such as walls or cages at the partition levels or electronic controls.

Question 27

What is a “lights-out” philosphy?

Answer 27

A light-out approach is to have no personnel working within the data center on a normal basis.

Question 28

How may a “lights-out” approach impact a data center’s design?

Answer 28

A “lights-out” data center will require sophisticated and secure remote monitoring and control capability. The design will also have to address the operational challenges such as coordinating the delivery of supplies and ITE to a facility that has no personnel on-site on a regular basis.

Question 29

It is required that a 24/7 operational data center shall have __________ facilities with in the data center.

Answer 29

Break