Server Room Standards

The following standards are used for design of new data center/ ICT rooms or transfer of data center equipment to new locations. Space Requirements The sizes of the various types of rooms are determined on the basis of the institutions space requirements for installing essential equipment such as network electronics servers telephone e!changes cooling systems electrical distribution panels generic cabling systems and future e!pansions or pro"ects. #$% Cooling units and electrical distribution panels can be installed against walls. There must be sufficient clearance to enable normal servicing and the removal and insertion of defective and new units. The distance between electrical distribution panel and active or passive ICT equipment should be at least $ &&& mm. #$% Computer racks should have seismic bracing and proper grounding. Computer racks should have adequate clearance per manufacturer specifications 'but no less than ()* front and +,* rear clearance-. #,% The amount of clearance dictated by ./0 1&$2( states that the 3smallest clearance at all surfaces on racks and cabinets where access is required shall be $.4 m5. In small rooms it may be appropriate to install racks against walls. 6efore a decision is made one should ensure that all installation and future e!pansion can be carried out by access from the front of the rack. #$% /!it requirements for the computer room shall meet the requirements of the 37uthority 8aving 9urisdiction5. #4% Cabling 6oth horizontal and vertical pathways shall be established so as to achieve rational and organized cable installation. ICT rooms and in particular specialized rooms such as entrance facility rooms equipment rooms and telecommunications rooms should be constructed close to both vertical and horizontal pathways. In new buildings and renovation pro"ects pathways shall be constructed with at least +&: reserve capacity. ;eparate pathways should generally be constructed for electrical power supply and telephony cables. <athways for high=priority non=interruptible power supply must be carefully assessed so as to achieve optimal supply reliability. >outing of electrical power and telephony/data cables in common conduits should only be carried out in e!ceptional circumstances. It is important that the overall separation requirements form the basis of common routing arrangements. If common routing of power telephony and data cabling cannot be avoided the pathways should be divided up using plates 'dividers- made of the same material as the cable racks. ?ividers must be mechanically stable and shall be at least as high as the ma!imum stacking height of the cable racks. #+% ;tandard ?i@inico suggests overhead cable tray to be split to a three layers reading from bottom to the topA signal power and fiber. #(% Architectural Requirements The construction of walls roofs and floors should be adequate with respect to security fire and environmental considerations. ;erver room should be separated from outside area by a fire=rated wall. Bire proof category of walls and door depends on local regulations. Calls roofs and floors must be of sufficiently solid construction to prevent unauthorized access and to bear the requisite loads. Bor these purposes reinforced concrete reinforced Deca walls or a combination of plywood/plasterboard and steel sheet should be considered. 7ll structural elements which abut onto an institutions ICT rooms shall be constructed as a separate fire cell and shall at all times satisfy the current regulations pursuant to the <lanning and 6uilding 7ct. #$% If noise level of the data center is sufficiently higher than the recommended level for work places necessary measures should be taken for sound proofing. If false ceiling is used tiles should be well fi!ed so they do stay tight at their places and not fly around the room in case of gaseous fire e!tinguishing system is launched. #1% The minimum ceiling height shall be 4 ,&& mm from the upper surface of a completed floor 'ordinary floor or raised floor- to the underside of any ceiling=mounted installations 'cable racks sprinkler heads light fittings air

ducts etc.-. The only e!ception is for wire racks for patch cables. There shall be at least (&& mm clearance from the tops of cable racks to the underside of any ceiling=mounted installations. In practice there may be problems fitting out server rooms with a minimum ceiling height of 4 ,&& mm and the overall height must be assessed based on the number of racks ventilation ducts and so on. #$% ?oors should be (4* to ()* wide and )E tall. #,% ?oors should be without doorsills hinged to open outward 'code permitting- or slide side=to=side or be removable. ?oors shall be fitted with locks and have either no center posts or removable center posts to facilitate access for large equipment. #4% ?oors in separating structural elements must be of the same fire classification as the walls. 8ydraulic door closers are recommended but only obligatory in stairwells. #$% >oom should not have windows 'for security sound and environmental management reasons-. #,% The design of transport areas 'height and width of doors corridors and lifts strength of floors etc.- must be such that equipment can be transported between ICT rooms using and hand pallet trolleys and should be without any obstruction. #$% In all ICT rooms walls ceilings floors and floors beneath raised floors shall be treated with anti=dust agents and have smooth washable surfaces. Bloor coverings shall have anti=static or conductive properties and shall be earthed to prevent the accumulation of static charges. The resistance between any point in the floor covering and earth shall be from $ to $& @F. #$% Lighting Requirements 7ll ICT rooms shall be fitted with good work lighting. Dight fittings shall be installed so as to illuminate the outsides and insides of racks as well as between racks. ;ome light fittings should function as emergency lighting in the event of failure of the normal power supply. >equirements for light intensityA $. 8orizontal planeA 1&&=)&& lu!. 4. Gertical planeA 4&& lu!. Electrical Safety Requirements @a!imum electrical density of computing equipment in a server room should not e!ceed +&& watts per square foot. /lectrical control equipment such as power distribution or conditioner systems and H<; up to $&& kG7 shall be permitted in the computer room with the e!ception of flooded=cell batteries. H<; larger than $&& kG7 and any H<; containing flooded=cell batteries should be located in a separate room e!cept as required by the 789. /quipment not related to the support of the computer room 'e.g. piping ductwork pneumatic tubing etc.- shall not be installed in pass through or enter the computer room. #4% H<; units using valve=regulated batteries emit gases 'hydrogen and o!ygen- when the internal pressure e!ceeds a certain level. Chen hydrogen and o!ygen issue into the battery room an e!plosive mi!ture may arise if the hydrogen concentration in the air e!ceeds (: by volume. 6attery rooms shall be ventilated so that the hydrogen concentration is always below this level if any. 7 shared room with ventilation would be unfavorable with regard to fire e!tinguishing 'gas=based e!tinguishing systems call for airtight rooms-. #$% Fire Safety Requirements >oom should have an adequate fire suppression system 'a 3pre=action5 type system is highly recommended-. >oom should be fire rated if cabling and cooling systems are combined in the same space above the ceiling or below the floor. #,% The fire protection systems and hand=held fire e!tinguishers shall comply with .B<7=21. 7 clean agent fire e!tinguisher is recommended for the computer room as it avoids the dry chemical powder of ordinary 76C fire e!tinguishers which can impact associated equipment. This impact goes beyond that of the fire and usually requires a significant clean up effort. The minimum level of protection required by code includes an ordinary sprinkler system along with the appropriate clean=agent fire e!tinguishers. This ;tandard specifies that any sprinkler systems be pre=action

sprinklers. 7dvanced detection and suppression systems beyond minimum code requirements include air sampling smoke detection systems pre=action sprinkler systems and clean agent suppression systems. #4% ICT rooms containing active equipment shall never be used as storerooms. Inly rooms designated as storerooms shall be used for storing ICT equipment. Inflammable materials should not be stored in rooms abutting to ICT rooms. #$% Security Requirements Inly authorized personnel shall have access to the various rooms. Traffic in and out should be logged. #$% The room should have at least one phone. #,% HVAC Requirements 7ll ICT rooms should be airtight i.e. any ventilation must be facilitated using regulated ventilation systems. The use of automatic fire e!tinguishing systems demands airtight rooms. 7ll cable penetrations shall be fireproofed using approved products and the installation shall be documented. #2% >oom cooling and humidity control should be via an independent 7C system 'i.e. not connected to main building system- with a return air design point temperature and relative humidity of 24JB 'K4JB- and (1: 'K1:- respectively. There should be sufficient clearance 'minimum (E- between the 7/C unit and computer racks in order to avoid potential damage from water leaks as well as to allow for maintenance access. Cater ingress in data center should be avoided. Chere risk of water ingress e!ists a means of evacuating water from the space shall be provided 'e.g. a floor drain-. 7ny water and drain pipes that run through the room should be located away from and not directly above equipment in the room. #4% ?rains should be fitted with non=return valves. #$% >oom design should include appropriate planning for the removal of 7C unit condensate 'either via gravity or pump-. ;ufficient cooling redundancy should be considered and installed if possible. #,% Power Requirements The room should have separate dedicated power panels for both computer equipment and the 7/C system. @echanical and electrical systems should be designed for long=term ma!imum e!pected room utilization 'though not to e!ceed +&& watts per square foot-. /lectrical system should be designed to provide an isolated ground dedicated neutral and a grounding grid. #,% /mergency/backup power should not be tied into the building life safety system. The department must supply and maintain separate backup power 'e.g. H<; or generator- if desired. ;erver room electrical distribution system should have easily accessible shunt trip capabilities for emergency shutdown. #,%

References 1. 3HB; $&+A >equirements for the ?esign of ICT rooms >evision ( of 9anuary 4&$+

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Telecommunications Infrastructure ;tandard for ?ata Centers TI7=L(4 7pril 4&&1 HB;$&4 3>equirements for Meneric Cabling ;ystems5. 9anuary 4&$+ ?i@inico Chris 4&&,. Telecommunications Infrastructure. ;tandard for ?ata Centers. 7.;I/TI7=L(4 <M=42 4) .ygaard ;tein 4&$&. >equirements for the design of ICT rooms. 6est <ractice ?ocument. <roduced by H.I./TT led working group on physical infrastructure '.o HB;$&+-. httpA//www.terena.org/activities/campus=bp/pdf/gn+=na+=t(= ufs$&+.pdf HC;? ;erver >oom ;tandards HB; $&( 3Bire <revention >equirements for ICT >ooms5.

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Improper Docation of fire suppression system nozzle Dizards may cause short circuiting of above ceiling cables or power panels Cooden walls are part of server room which may cause fire hazard Ciring of 7/C system is improper and condensate leakage from 7/C pipes occur Cater leakage was observed in rainy season from the roof ;pace requirements for computers near server room are insufficient .o file cabinet is present for proper house keeping of record Balse ceiling is not fire proof and air tight ;tairs at IT room door present fall hazard There is no emergency e!it at IT room and the only e!it is obstructed by wooden stairs .on IT equipment is installed within IT room