WHY TIERS?

> The Tier Classifcation System is the only benchmarking system developed by and for data center owners.
> Tiers is not one size fts all, but allows for many ways to meet the criteria. You and your team determine the
best solution for your project.
> Tiers has been proven worldwideno conficts with local code or regulation in over 40 countries.
Ensuring Uninterruptible Uptime: Power In, Heat Out, Always
SM
Uptime Institute is the only organization worldwide that Certifes data center designs, facilities, and operations to the Tier
Classifcation System (I-IV) and Operational Sustainability criteria. Tier Certifcation is an unbiased, third-party validation
of the Tier level that benefts both enterprise and third-party data centers. Tier Certifcations have been awarded
worldwide to corporations across all industries, governments, and universities.
Tier Certifcation recognizes organizational accomplishmentthe data center capital investment will yield sustained
uptime to support the business. Weakness in the data center infrastructure translates to lost capital investment. Tier
Certifcation assures all stakeholders that the data center investment has been protected against such loss.
Tier Certifcation also recognizes industry achievementa competitive diferentiator from self-certifcations that are
often misleading. Tier Certifcations elevate a data center to a preeminent and highly visible position in the industry.
Tier Certifcation satisfes the need for an unbiased, due diligence assessment, thereby raising client confdence and
reducing the duration and cost of the contracting process.
Uptime Institute Tier Certifcation is unique in the industry in its rigor and comprehensiveness, difering from a number of
other compliance assessments that rely on a sampling or representative analysis. Tier Certifcation provides an analysis
of each and every system down to the level of valve positions and panel feeds.
Certifcation provides assurances that there are not shortfalls or weak links anywhere in the data center infrastructure.
There is no efective way to ensure consistency in engineering concepts at the detailed level and allow shortcuts
or substitutes. The Tier Certifcation process was developed with the consequences of failure in mindin terms of
infrastructure investment and market perception.
http://uptimeinstitute.com/TierCertifcation
We made the decision to choose Tier Certification as the global standard to
design and build our data center. Our research showed strong evidence of
Tier Certification benefiting hundreds of advanced data center development
worldwide. Comparing total investment, it is very important to have the
whole data center project, design and build, scope under a global leading
standard from the very beginning. We truly believe Tier Certification is the
right choice for us.
Dr. Yu Feng, GouTai JunAn
Securities General Manager,
Information Technology Centre Development (China)
UPTIME INSTITUTE Certifications Summary
Tier Certifcation seamlessly incorporates into the project schedule. The process
ensures that defciencies in the design are identifed, solved, and tested before
operations commence.
UPTIME INSTITUTE CERTIFIED
IV
TIER
DESIGN
TM
IV
FACILITY
TIER
TM
UPTIME INSTITUTE CERTIFIED
OPERATIONS
Operational Sustainability Certifcation is the fnal phase, to identify the behaviors
and risks beyond design and construction that impact the ability of a data center
to perform over the long term. Operational Sustainability Certifcation recognizes
operational excellence and mitigation of operator errorsthe leading cause of
data center outages.
Ensuring Uninterruptible Uptime: Power In, Heat Out, Always
SM
TIER CERTIFICATION OF CONSTRUCTED FACILITY
PROCESS
Uptime Institute team of consultants gathers data on site
over multiple days in order to validate the facilitys Tier
objective.
> Consultants confrm that the facility
was constructed as designed
> Site functionality demonstrations
are observed
> The successful completion of the
on-site review culminates with
Uptime Institute awarding a letter,
foil, and plaque of Tier Certifcation
of Constructed Facility
TIMELINE
> Coordination of site visit
> Team deployed to data center site location
> On-site assessment of installed infrastructure
equipment and observations of site functionality
> Team returns to ofces
> Data analysis and report writing in ofces
> Reports delivered to Client in locked PDF
> Teleconference to ensure understanding of report
fndings
> Letter, foil, and plaque of Facility Certifcation
awarded
UPTIME INSTITUTE Certifications Process & Timeline
TIER CERTIFICATION OF DESIGN DOCUMENTS
PROCESS
Uptime Institute team of consultants reviews 100%
drawings in our ofces.
> Tier issues are documented without incurring travel
time and expense
> Tier defciencies are delivered via PDF report
> A second review is included to close resolved issues
> The successful completion of the review culminates
with Uptime Institute awarding a letter and foil of
TierCertifcation of Design Documents
TIMELINE
> Coordination of design
drawing delivery
> E-mail or courier of full
design document package to
Uptime Institute ofces
> Review of documents
> Report writing
> Delivery of report to Client in locked PDF
> Teleconference to ensure understanding of report
fndings
> Revision of drawings by design team to address
identifed issues
> Review of revised drawings to validate that all
outstanding Tier issues have been resolved
> Letter and foil of Design Certifcation awarded
OPERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION
PROCESS
Uptime Institute team of consultants reviews data of
site and on site over multiple days in order to evaluate
the efectiveness of each component of Management &
Operations and Building Characteristics.
> Consultants review Tier Certifcation deliverables
> Site Location risk assessed
> On-site assessment to validate specifc behaviors and
risks
> Defciencies and recommendations are delivered via
PDF report
> The successful completion of the review culminates
with Uptime Institute awarding a letter, foil, and plaque
of Tier Certifcation of Operational Sustainability
TIMELINE
> Coordination of site visit
> Review of Tier Certifcation, Site Location risks, and
preparation of agenda and needs list
> Team deployed to data center site location
> On-site tour, staf meetings, and assessment of
behaviors and risks; survey the local area to identify
Site Location risks; debrief management
> Team returns to ofces
> Data analysis and report
writing in ofces
> Reports delivered to Client
in locked PDF
> Letter, foil, and plaque of
Operational Sustainability
Certifcation awarded
Tier Certifcation specifcally applies toand recognizesfunctionality and capacity that is demonstrated on the design
documents for Tier Certifcation of Design Documents, and infrastructure that is installed/implemented during the site visit
for Tier Certifcation of Constructed Facility.
All Tier Certification of Design Documents awards
issued after 1 January 2014 will expire two years after
the award date. This will not impact Tier Certification
of Design Documents issued prior to this policy
change or currently contracted and under way.
All Tier Certification of Operational Sustainability
awards issued after 1 January 2014 will expire as
follows: three years for Gold from the award date, two
years for Silver, and one year for Bronze. This will not
impact Tier Certification of Operational Sustainability
issued prior to this policy change or currently
contracted and under way.
UPTIME INSTITUTE CERTIFIED
IV
TIER
DESIGN
TM
Company
Site
Expires 1 January 2016
UPTIME INSTITUTE CERTIFIED
GOLD
TIER
OPERATIONS
TM
Company
Site
Expires 1 January 2017
IV
FACILITY
TIER
TM
UPTIME INSTITUTE CERTIFIED
Company
Site
1 January 2014

Uptime Institute, the Global Data Center Authority

,
provides independent thought leadership, certification,
education, and professional services for the global
industry. Uptime Institute is focused on improving data
center performance and efficiency through industry-
leading collaboration and innovation, and serves all
shareholders of the data center industry, including
enterprise and third-party operators, manufacturers,
providers, and engineers. This collaborative approach,
combined with Uptime Institutes capability to recognize
trends on a global basis and to interface directly with
owners, results in solutions and innovations freed from
regional constraints for the benefit of the worldwide data
center industry.
Questions?
info@uptimeinstitute.com
+1 206.706.4149
PROGRESS REVIEWS
Progress reviews at signifcant design milestones (e.g., 30, 60, 85%) are supplemental to Tier Certifcation, but ensure that
there are not surprises, delays, or rework at the 100% design stage.
TIER GAP ANALYSIS
Summary review and commentary of design documents to identify capital-level gaps within the Tier objective. This is not
a Certifcation, but a report of the major, capital-level defciencies to the Tier objective. This allows the owner a preview
to understand the large Tier issues and most efectively evaluate the appropriate investment in both the site infrastructure
and the Tier Certifcation process. A Tier Gap Analysis includes a single review of the design documents in our ofces.
SUPPLEMENTS TO TIER CERTIFICATION
EDUCATION FOR OWNERS & OPERATORS
The Accredited Tier Specialist (ATS) course is a curriculum and professional designation for the beneft of the
individuals directly responsible for data center uptime and the experts that support them. ATS provides intensive
instruction on both of the Tier Standards (Topology and Operational Sustainability) in order to ensure accurate and
successful management-level application.
EDUCATION FOR ENGINEERS
The Accredited Tier Designer (ATD) course is a technically focused curriculum for the further education of the
individuals responsible for data center design.
WHY UPTIME INSTITUTE?
> FIRST & ONLY to consult and Certify to the Tier Classifcation System and Operational Sustainability Standards
> DATA CENTER SPECIALISTS serving those organizations with the highest uptime requirements
> NON-BIASED, vendor-neutral, 100% customer-focused leading-edge support
UPTIME INSTITUTE Certification Supplements
The Tier Certifications are a source of pride,
motivation, and inspiration for Mobily. We look
forward to more years of productive collaboration
with Uptime Institute.
Essam O. Jubair, Mobily Vice President,
Buildings & Facilities (Saudi Arabia)
For further information visit the Web site at
http://uptimeinstitute.com/professional-services
and
http://uptimeinstitute.com/contact-us
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