Tag: data center

Figure 1: Typical arrangement for data centers showing the yard equipment and chillers on roof top. Courtesy: WSP

Emergency, Standby, Backup

Know the electrical, power components in a data center

Figure 1: Isometric overview of a data center site illustrating key cooling infrastructure components, including adiabatic chillers, cooling towers, mechanical room and server layout. Courtesy: ChemTreat

Best practices for water treatment in data center cooling

Figure 7: Data center projects located in California include additional compliance processes. Courtesy: Bill Kosik, WSP

Energy Efficiency

When can municipalities use codes to make their own rules?

Figure 6: A data center has many types of spaces, including those directly supporting the information technology equipment. These spaces are defined in ANSI/TIA Standard 942A and NFPA 70: National Electrical Code, Article 645. Courtesy: Bill Kosik, WSP

Codes and Standards

How to coordinate IECC, ASHRAE 90.1 and ASHRAE 90.4 for data centers

Figure 2: The illustrated schematic provides a generic representation of the typical primary hydronic loop distribution to rack-mounted coolant distribution units (CDUs). It is advisable that the piping material and connection accessories be chosen according to the CDU manufacturer's requirements for each project. Additional engineering efforts may be necessary to determine how to circulate the water and control the temperature and that may require changing the piping arrangements per project. Courtesy: Dynaten

HVAC/R and Mechanical

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most read articles: May 2025

Figure 2: A typical fire riser room in the Vantage Data Center building. Courtesy: Southland Industries

Fire and Life Safety

Fire protection systems to ensure safety for data centers

Figure 2: A typical fire riser room in the Vantage Data Center building. Courtesy: Southland Industries

Codes and Standards

Data center codes and standards focus on efficiency and flexibility

Figure 1: Modern data centers need to house increased automation, computing and power needs as the industry shifts. Courtesy: Southland Industries

How to design data centers for current and future uses

Figure 4: In addition to changing the compliance process in ASHRAE 90.4 from 2016 to 2022, the mechanical load component (MLC) values are more stringent across all climate zones. ASHRAE acknowledged that the MLC values in the 2016 edition needed to be lowered to ensure reasonable energy efficiency. Courtesy: Bill Kosik, WSP

ASHRAE 90.4 created to boost data center energy efficiency

Table 1: Timeline of important events in data center energy efficiency. Courtesy: Bill Kosik, WSP

How can ASHRAE TC 9.9 influence data center design?