Learn MVAC (Mechanical Ventilation and Air-Conditioning) Design for Critical Infrastructure

July 16th, 2018 06:03 AM

Air-Conditioning System Design for Critical Infrastructure (2-day)
(1 and 8 September 2018 - Approved CPD Course by CIBSE UK)


This is a 2-day advanced course for engineers who design or handle MVAC (Mechanical Ventilation and Air-Conditioning) equipment for mission-critical buildings / data center projects.

The course highlights design principles such as psychrometric chart, cooling load calculation / estimation, etc. and the design considerations such as air distribution, availability / redundancy, common mistakes, Computer Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model, integration with MEPs (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing systems), etc.

You'll be able to make informed decisions about the best choices of cooling systems for mission-critical purposes and how system can best meet your project goal and SLA (Service Level Agreement).


Date: 1 and 8 September 2018 (Saturdays)
Time: 10:00 - 17:30
Venue: 14/F, On Lok Yuen Building, 25-27A Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong
Fee: Special rate for CIBSE / HKIE all membership classes

 
> Datacom Equipment Power Trends and Cooling Applications

  -- Load trends and their application
  -- Air cooling of computer equipment
  -- Liquid cooling of computer equipment
  -- Air cooling of computer equipment
  -- Liquid cooling of computer equipment
 
> Design Consideration

  -- Design criteria
  -- HVAC load
  -- Computer room cooling
  -- Air distribution
  -- Liquid cooling
  -- Availability and redundancy
  -- Controls
  -- Integration with other MEP (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) system
  -- Computer Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
 
> Testing and Commissioning

  -- Air cleanliness test
  -- Heat load test
  -- Factory acceptance test
  -- Site acceptance test
  -- Integrated performance test (IST)
 
> Energy Efficiency

  -- Power usage effectiveness
  -- Chilled water plant optimization
  -- Water side and air side equipment
  -- Part load operation
  -- Controls and energy management
  -- LEED certified data center
  -- Building energy code
 
> Sustainable Design

  -- Combined heat power plant (CHP)
  -- Solar cooling
  -- Geothermal cooling
  -- Evaporative cooling
  -- Air side economizers
  -- Desiccant unit


For details, please visit www.stmedia-asia.com/newsletter_6.html.






Get Ready to Become a Registered Specialist Contractor (Ventilation)
(15 and 22 September 2018 - 15th Round)


Designed for enterprises in ventilation / air-conditioning engineering - Technical Director (TD), Authorized Signatory (AS) or other officers, the course introduces the register requirement, interview technique, Buildings Ordinance, ventilation and fire safety, occupational safety, health and environmental protection, etc.

It helps engineers and enterprises to facilitate compliance with the Buildings Ordinance and to get ready to become a Registered Specialist Contractor for Ventilation Works (RSC-V).


Date: 15 and 22 September 2018 (Saturdays)
Time: 9:00 - 13:00 / 13:30

Venue: Room 201, 2/F, School of Continuing Education (SCE), Hong Kong Baptist University,
136A Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong (Exit B1, Tsim Sha Tsui Station or Exit D, Jordan Station)


Fee: Early bird discount available for payment & application made before July 27, 2018The RSC-V preparatory course is also available online - www.stmedia-asia.com/aircon.html.




Enrollment & Registration

Kindly complete and return an Application Form for seat reservation. Online Registration is also acceptable. Your seat will be confirmed once the payment is allocated. Thank you.
 

About the Organizer

Strategic Media Asia Limited (SMA) is one of the approved CPD course providers of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) UK. Our mission is to provide an interactive environment and opportunities for the members of critical facilities industry and building services engineers to exchange professional views and experience.

For details, please visit www.stmedia-asia.com/about.html.



P.S. Think your team might also be interested? Pass it on ›


Strategic Media Asia Limited
Connecting IT, Facilities and Design

T (852) 2117 3893  |  F (852) 2184 9978
Room 403, 4th Floor, Dominion Centre, 43 - 59 Queen's Road East, Hong Kong
http://www.stmedia-asia.com  |  http://green-data.blogspot.com 

Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Electrical System Design

July 10th, 2018 06:43 AM

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is used frequently when working across multiple disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering, and also with other stakeholders such as architects and contractors. Data Center Design with BIM is one of the obvious examples to facilitate and streamline complex design teamwork and coordination.

Consulting engineers, on the other hand, are facing with the same challenges, including the increment of speed and complexity of projects, which evolve codes and standards and a continual push for the electrical discipline to advance in BIM.


While BIM has been around for 20 years and is used regularly by architects and both structural and civil engineers, adoption by mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and fire protection engineering firms has only started to take off in more recent years. Today, as more architects require all parties working on a project to engage with BIM, consulting engineers are demanding the tools necessary to advance BIM in the electrical space, such as the ability to access more information online and easier access to BIM models and manufacturer support and expertise.

An overall view of a building shows a single mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection (MEP/FP) design model representing accurate location and overall dimensions of equipment and systems. This image is rendered from a single Revit model containing MEP/FP disciplines along with IT and audio-visual (AV) disciplines representing accurate location and overall dimensions of equipment and systems.


The value of BIM is that it gets the right information to all the right people at the right time, enabling collaboration, productivity, and insight. However, there are some challenges, particularly in the electrical space, that must be overcome for BIM to reach its full value.

A partial model view shows electrical equipment, mechanical/plumbing equipment ducts and piping, along with a related pump schedule.


One key challenge to BIM adoption in the electrical space is the lack of accurate, relevant, and standardized BIM content. To date, to move forward with BIM implementation, many firms have had to develop their own content libraries - often by downloading from a repository of manufacturers' products online.

This poses challenges, as many products are subject to frequent manufacturer updates; which means that maintaining an up-to-date content library becomes difficult. For example, if a user downloads an electrical panelboard and leaves it on his or her hard drive for several years, the product information in the BIM environment will quickly become outdated as the downloaded content remains static, yet the actual product continues to evolve.

It's critical that product data remains up-to-date in BIM models. BIM is not just a design tool that stops being used after the construction phase of a project; rather, it is an overall lifecycle tool that uses the information from conception through design and commissioning and into operation and maintenance of the building.

The power of BIM lies in the information. At any point in the lifecycle of a project, the information must be accurate to help reduce time-consuming errors and rework. Additionally, it must be accessible from virtually anywhere, at any time, and by all the project stakeholders - and it must be actionable to help inform the decision-making process with simulation and analysis.

Bridging the gap between BIM environments and product data is critical to the advancement of BIM in the electrical space.



About us

Strategic Media Asia (SMA) is one of the approved CPD course providers of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) UK. The team exists to provide an interactive environment and opportunities for members of ICT industry and facilities' engineers to exchange professional views and experience.

SMA connects IT, Facilities and Design. For the other design considerations, please visit 

(1) Site Selection,
(2) Space Planning,
(3) Cooling,
(4) Redundancy,
(5) Fire Suppression,
(6) Meet Me Rooms,
(7) UPS Selection,
(8) Raised Floor,
(9) Code & Standards,
(10) Transformers and Harmonic Distortion,
(11) Multi-mode UPS Systems,

(12) Electrical Rooms,

(13) Generator Systems, etc.

All topics focus on key components and provide technical advice and recommendations for designing a data center and critical facilities.

Join the the Site Tour + 2 Days Course in Mission-Critical Facilities Design

June 20th, 2018 06:18 AM

Half Day Data Center Site Tour (Tier III+)

Sponsored by OneAsia Network Limited (www.oneas1a.com)

The half-day site tour is arranged to demonstrate the critical power, cooling facilities and data center management solutions by a new Tier III+ data center in Hong Kong. The tour also provides an interactive environment and opportunities for the our engineers to exchange professional views on mission-critical facilities with a hands-on and immersive experience.



* Pre-registration required
* 10-minute walk from Kowloon Bay MTR Station
* Grand opening in November 2017

For the site tour details, please visit www.stmedia-asia.com/data-center-tour.html.

Critical Facilities & Data Center Design Consideration: Generator Systems Design (3)

June 4th, 2018 02:21 AM

Further to the the topics of Paralleled Generator System and Generator Ratings, generator sizing is important for your critical facilities. Design engineers should learn how generator-sizing calculations are performed, whether by hand or using software.

Most generator manufacturers provide generator-sizing software to assist design engineers and generator system specifiers. Although the generator-sizing software is a very handy tool, the design engineer must evaluate the load and performance characteristics before selecting one generator set over another.

It should be noted that generator rating results are manufacturer-specific and may need to be derated for ambient temperature, altitude, and harmonics. Voltage dip and frequency response will vary between generators from different manufacturers.


To perform manual generator-sizing calculations, the following information is required for each load:-

Load starting information:
starting kilowatts (SkW), starting kilovolt-amperes (SkVA), and starting power factor (PF)

Load running information:
running kilowatts (RkW), running kilovolt-amperes (RkVA), and running power factor (PF)


For motor loads, this information can be derived from nameplate data:
horsepower, efficiency, locked-rotor kVA/horsepower, motor-starting PF, and running PF

In addition, nonlinear load (miscellaneous load) characteristics would be required to appropriately size the generator alternator and select the optimum exciter type. The generator loading sequence will determine how the SkW, SkVA, RkW, and RkVA are summed to find the generator's total SkW, SkVA, RkW, and RkVA. The generator is subsequently selected to meet the minimum RkW, RkVA, SkW, and SkVA required from the manufacturer's generator specification sheets.


Here is the sizing calculation method (roughly):-


MOTOR LOAD: Equations to calculate SkVA, SkW, RkVA, and RkW:

SkVA = motor hp x locked-rotor kVA/hp (Motor Code, refer to the table of  below)
SkW = SkVA x starting motor PF (Power Factor)
RkW = motor hp x 0.746 kW/hp/efficiency (1 Electrical Horsepower (hp) = 0.746 KW)
RkVA = RkW / running motor PF

MISCELLANEOUS LOAD: Equations to calculate SkW and RkW:

SkW = SkVA x starting PF
RkW = RkVA x starting PF (Load kVA remains constant: kVA = SkVA = RkVA)

About us

Strategic Media Asia (SMA) is one of the approved CPD course providers of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) UK. The team exists to provide an interactive environment and opportunities for members of ICT industry and facilities' engineers to exchange professional views and experience.

SMA connects IT, Facilities and Design. For the other design considerations, please visit 

(1) Site Selection,
(2) Space Planning,
(3) Cooling,
(4) Redundancy,
(5) Fire Suppression,
(6) Meet Me Rooms,
(7) UPS Selection,
(8) Raised Floor,
(9) Code & Standards,
(10) Transformers and Harmonic Distortion,
(11) Multi-mode UPS Systems,

(12) Electrical Rooms,

(13) Generator Systems, etc.

All topics focus on key components and provide technical advice and recommendations for designing a data center and critical facilities.

Critical Facilities & Data Center Design Consideration: Generator Systems Design (2)

June 4th, 2018 02:20 AM

We have explored the Configurations and Bnefits of a Paralleled Generator System.  Let's review the Generator Ratings (this article) and the Generator Sizing.

Standby Power Rating: The generator set is capable of providing emergency power at times when no other source is available. ISO-8528-1 limits the 24-hour average load factor to 70% of the emergency nameplate rating. No overload capacity is available for the standby or continuous-power-rated generators. The ISO standard gives no limit to run time in the event of a utility power outage. However, manufacturers have limits on their generator run time typically in the range of 200 to 500 hours for an entire year. Standby generators typically operate around 50 hours/year with maximum expected usage of 200 hours per year.

Prime Power Rating: Generator sets rated for prime power are designed for supplying electric power in lieu of commercially purchased power from a utility. These include applications like rental generator sets supplying power for temporary use as well as applications that are typically remote from a utility grid, such as wilderness outposts, remote mining, and petroleum exploration operations. ISO limits the 24-hour average load factor to 70% of the prime rating nameplate. Prime-rated power is capable of providing the power for an unlimited time period to a varying load. Overload is also allowed but only at 10% of the rated value, which is permitted to only once in 12 hours.

Continuous Power Rating: With a continuous power rating, the generator can again provide a power supply for an unlimited period-but only to a non-varying load. But the average output power comes out to be between 70% to 100% of the rated power output. The load should be "relatively steady," which means that there should be no significant variations in it; otherwise, the prime power rating could be a better option to consider. A continuous-rated generator usually does not have any overload capability.



About us

Strategic Media Asia (SMA) is one of the approved CPD course providers of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) UK. The team exists to provide an interactive environment and opportunities for members of ICT industry and facilities' engineers to exchange professional views and experience.

SMA connects IT, Facilities and Design. For the other design considerations, please visit 

(1) Site Selection,
(2) Space Planning,
(3) Cooling,
(4) Redundancy,
(5) Fire Suppression,
(6) Meet Me Rooms,
(7) UPS Selection,
(8) Raised Floor,
(9) Code & Standards,
(10) Transformers and Harmonic Distortion,
(11) Multi-mode UPS Systems,

(12) Electrical Rooms,

(13) Generator Systems, etc.

All topics focus on key components and provide technical advice and recommendations for designing a data center and critical facilities.

Critical Facilities & Data Center Design Consideration: Generator Systems Design (1)

May 4th, 2018 02:32 AM

Let's recap the basic concept of mission-critical facilities:-

(1) Uptime Four-Tier Levels
(2) Critical Supply Diagrams and Configurations

The terms “N, N+1 and 2N”, typically refer to the number of power supply and cooling components that comprise the entire data center infrastructure systems. An “N” system is not redundant at all. N+1 and 2N, represent increasing levels of component redundancies and power paths, roughly mapping to the Tiers 2-4.

A paralleled generator system uses two or multiple generators to form a large-capacity generator system. Paralleling multiple generators is achieved by synchronizing the output of the generators and connecting them to a paralleling switchgear (PSG) common bus. Synchronizing the output of the generators requires all of the paralleled generators to have the same voltage, frequency, and phase rotation.

With closed transition back to the utility, PSG will parallel the generators and synchronize the generator output with the utility source for a short duration before transitioning back to utility power. When connecting the generators in parallel or synchronizing with the utility, the following criteria must be met:

• Matched / proper frequency
• Matched / correct phase rotation
• Phase voltages in phase and within specified voltage range

Typical parameters that determine synchronization include a voltage difference of less than 5%, a frequency difference of less than 0.2 Hz, and a maximum phase angle of 5 electrical degrees between the sources.

Closed transition is used when it is desirable to transfer loads with zero interruption of power when conditions permit. It is used when the generator system transfers back to the utility and when load testing the generators with building loads. Closed transition can be either a soft load transfer or a make-before-break transfer. The PSG soft-load transfer synchronizes and operates the generators in parallel with the utility and transfers loads in increments between the two sources, thereby minimizing voltage or frequency transients on the generator plant and utility distribution system.

The typical soft-load-transfer overlap time is around 2 seconds. The make-before-break transfer will parallel the generators and perform a transfer of load from the generator to the utility. This can be the transfer of one large block load or the transfer of multiple block loads having time delays between the block loads. Time-delay transfer can either be programmed through the PSG or the downstream automatic transfer switches (ATS). Typical ATS make-before-break transition overlap time is usually less than 100 milliseconds.


To simplify the design of a paralleled generator system, identical generators should be used with the same manufacturer, ratings, type, output rating and alternator pitch.

If paralleling of dissimilar generators is required because of existing onsite conditions, the design of a paralleled generator system becomes much more complex. Each generator configuration must be evaluated and dissimilar components, such as speed control, voltage regulation, and alternator, must be retrofitted to match.

"Pitch" is the term used to define the mechanical design characteristics of the alternator. Paralleling a generator of 2/3-pitch alternator design with a generator of 5/6-pitch alternator design will result in circulating neutral currents. The circulating current will be disruptive to protective device operation and may damage alternators.


Configurations


The electrical loads must be classified into emergency loads, required standby loads, and/or optional standby loads that classified loads are separated, and the generator sets are sized so one generator can serve the emergency and required loads purpose.(see the following Figures)

One generator supplies emergency power to emergency loads, required standby loads and optional standby loads.

Multiple generators in parallel supply power to emergency loads,  required standby loads and optional standby loads.

Kindly note paralleled generator systems that rely on a single master control for signals to start and close to a paralleled bus actually replace one failure point with two, as the master control and the communication link between the master control and the generator systems each represent Single Points of Failure. A well-engineered paralleling system will have dual hot-backup control systems, redundant communication pathways, redundant best battery select dc power supplies, multiple breakers, multiple power pathways, and a well-documented procedure for system recovery whenever a component fails.

Benefits of Parallel Generator Systems


Paralleling multiple sources provides increased reliability, flexibility in load management, and maintenance capabilities with little to no disruption. Multiple generators paralleled to a common bus can better serve emergency and business critical loads, particularly for system response time and dynamic load response once in operation. However, more complex, parallel generator standby systems have significant advantages with respect to reliability and redundancy. These advantages include redundancy, efficiency and ease of maintenance and serviceability.

Redundancy: 

The redundancy inherent in the parallel operation of multiple generators provides greater reliability than a single generator unit for critical loads. If an N+1 configuration is adopted, one generator can be offline for maintenance while serving the required loads. Furthermore, providing a running spare, an N+1 generator configuration will increase the reliability of the generator system from 98% to 99.96% reliability.

Efficiency: 

Variations in power demand can cause a single larger generator to run at loads of less than 30% of capacity. The optimum operational point is between 75% and 80% of its rated value. The paralleling control system can be equipped with a generator load control that can add and remove generators in response to the actual load/demand of the system. If the load changes and demand reach 90% of running capacity, for example, an additional generator can be started, synchronized, and paralleled to the bus with no time delay.

Maintenance and Serviceability:

Maintenance can be performed without interrupting the availability of the generator system because one generator can be removed from the system to undergo scheduled or unplanned maintenance while the other generators are available to supply the loads.



Go to the next articles:
Generator Systems Design (2) - Generator Ratings
Generator Systems Design (3) - Generator Sizing


About us

Strategic Media Asia (SMA) is one of the approved CPD course providers of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) UK. The team exists to provide an interactive environment and opportunities for members of ICT industry and facilities' engineers to exchange professional views and experience.

SMA connects IT, Facilities and Design. For the other design considerations, please visit 

(1) Site Selection,
(2) Space Planning,
(3) Cooling,
(4) Redundancy,
(5) Fire Suppression,
(6) Meet Me Rooms,
(7) UPS Selection,
(8) Raised Floor,
(9) Code & Standards,
(10) Transformers and Harmonic Distortion,
(11) Multi-mode UPS Systems,

(12) Electrical Rooms,

(13) Generator Systems, etc.

All topics focus on key components and provide technical advice and recommendations for designing a data center and critical facilities.

Learn How to Design Electrical Systems for Mission-Critical Infrastructure (14 - 15 June 2018)

May 1st, 2018 10:54 PM

RELIABILITY & REDUNDANCY MATTER - Your facilities and IT infrastructure are complex that are different from general buildings and require special design and operation knowledge and skill. Understanding the design considerations and avoiding costly downtime are critical.

Subscribe to our Knowledge Blog (http://green-data.blogspot.com or http://data-center-design.tumblr.com), share your view and get monthly readings online. All topics focus on key components and considerations of designing / operating mission-critical facilities and infrastructure:-

(1) Site Selection,
(2) Space Planning,
(3) Cooling,
(4) Redundancy,
(5) Fire Suppression,
(6) Meet Me Rooms,
(7) UPS Selection,
(8) Raised Floor,
(9) Code & Standards,
(10) Transformers and Harmonic Distortion,
(11) Multi-mode UPS Systems,

(12) Electrical Rooms, etc.

Course in Electrical Design for Mission Critical Supply (2-day)
(14 - 15 June 2018, approved CPD course by CIBSE UK)


Mission critical facilities have particular power requirements that significantly impact how they are designed and operated. You will gain insight into the critical supply system, from power components to distributions and efficiency; from power requirements to sizing, design, testing and commissioning:-


-- Concept on primary supply and secondary supply
-- Power flow in mission critical supply system
-- Features of major equipment for critical supply

    > Uninterrupted power supply and power storage
    > Backup generator
    > Automatic transfer switch
    > Static transfer switch
    > Isolation transformer

-- Efficiency assessment
-- Power quality review
-- Configuration diagram of critical supply (N+1 / 2N) design & analysis
-- Review of cable sizing to incorporate harmonics content
-- Earthing system design
-- Testing and commissioning requirements
-- Brief of Systems Merging Appraisal Test (SMAT)


The course details about the power system components that support typical data centers or mission-critical infrastructure. It prepares individual to fully understand the high voltage systems' design & build by exploring the international best practices and the instructors' experience.

All sections are conducted by Chartered Engineers (CEng) who have more than 20 years experience in electrical engineering, project management, sustainable engineering and facility engineering for critical services.


Date: 14 - 15 June 2018 (Thursday - Friday)
Time: 10:00 – 17:30
Venue: 19/F, New Victory House (Officeplus), 103 - 93 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
(Near Exit A2, Sheung Wan Station)

Fee: Special rate for CIBSE / HKIE all membership classes

For course details, please refer to http://www.stmedia-asia.com/newsletter_6.html.



Enrollment & Registration

Kindly complete and return an Application Form together with a crossed cheque made payable to “Strategic Media Asia Limited” - Room 403, 4th Floor, Dominion Centre, 43 - 59 Queen's Road East, Hong Kong.


About the Organizer

Strategic Media Asia Limited (SMA) is one of the approved CPD course providers of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). Our mission is to provide an interactive environment and opportunities for the engineers to exchange professional views and experience on critical infrastructure and data center services.

SMA connects IT, Facilities and Design. For details, please visit www.stmedia-asia.com/about.html.


Adverse Weather Arrangement - Events in the morning, afternoon or evening will be cancelled if typhoon signal No. 8 or above or black rainstorm warning is still hoisted after (or is announced by the Hong Kong Observatory to be hoisted at / after) 6:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. respectively. Delegates will be notified when the class will be made up as soon as possible.



P.S. Think your team might also be interested? Pass it on >

Strategic Media Asia Limited
Connecting IT, Facilities and Design

T (852) 2117 3893 | F (852) 2184 9978

Room 403, 4th Floor, Dominion Centre, 43 - 59 Queen's Road East, Hong Kong
http://www.stmedia-asia.com | http://green-data.blogspot.com

Data Center Design Consideration: Electrical Rooms (2)

April 9th, 2018 12:31 AM

So far we have reviewed few types of general interior electrical spaces that factor into new building design in Part (1) - Data Center Design Consideration: Electrical Rooms - Working Spaces, Dedicated Spaces and Main Equipment Rooms.

Let's further explore the considerations of Distribution Pathways and Local/Branch Equipment Rooms when designing MEP spaces.



Distribution Pathways

Distribution pathways are needed for interconnecting all the electrical equipment and end-user devices, and the pathways will affect where rooms are located. Conduits can be routed above the equipment, below ground, or in the ceiling space of the floor below, though overhead conduits need space within the rooms to leave the equipment and transition to the desired route going to other parts of the building (see picture below). The routing of the feeders and how they enter/exit the distribution equipment must be evaluated during design and reconfirmed during the shop drawing review, as this will impact how the equipment is constructed and affect its physical size.

Conduit pathways need to be considered when designing electrical rooms to ensure proper clearances are met and that the distribution is efficient.


Below grade conduit routing needs to be coordinated with other utilities and footing/foundation elements. The restrictions that these place on the routing may impact the layout of the equipment in the room and the size of the space needed. Similarly, beams on the floor above or below the equipment may require an offset of conduit or shifting of the equipment to allow for the conduit installation to effectively occur.

Horizontal pathways can define the placement of electrical rooms, as other building elements may impede these routes and affect installation. Structural beams and large ductwork can become obstacles, especially in tandem with high ceilings. Large-volume spaces like gymnasiums and atriums require extra care as to how conduit will be routed across or around these areas, especially when the entering/exiting pathway would be lower in elevation than the ceiling.

Vertical risers are typically accommodated in either one of two ways—through shafts (pull boxes may be required depending on the height of the building and conduit layout) or stacked electrical closets. Stacked closets allow for the busway or conduits that distribute power throughout the building to be run through these spaces for a more efficient and less expensive installation. If these closets are constructed with 2-hour-rated partitions, the stacked rooms can provide the code-required circuit protection for EPSS feeders and fire alarm circuits without having to rely on more costly wiring methods.


Local/branch Equipment Rooms

A third space type, the local/branch equipment room, is often referred to as an electrical closet (see picture below). Distribution panels, branch circuit panels, and low-voltage transformers are typically located in these spaces and directly serve the end-user loads: lighting, receptacles, and small equipment. Lighting control system panels and devices (and other electrical system devices) are sometimes also located in these rooms. Given the amount of change that occurs in buildings over their lifespan, extra wall space should always be provided in these rooms for future equipment.

The electrical closet is arranged to meet multiple requirements. First, all code clearances have been met. Additionally, it provides a vertical pathway for feeders extending up through the building.


In multistory buildings, these spaces should be stacked. The placement of electrical closets within a building’s footprint is often an item of much debate and discussion with the rest of the design team. The NEC has set restrictions on piping and ductwork routed through these rooms (i.e., dedicated spaces). Conduit needs to be routed out of the room to the floor or area served; minimizing branch circuit lengths help avoid excessive voltage drop and reduce distribution costs. These rooms should be located as close to the center of the area served, with conduits routed out in all directions.

Avoid specific adjacency to other building elements. Often, closets are targeted for location next to mechanical shafts, but the need to get duct-work and/or piping out of these becomes challenging and conflicts with the electrical equipment’s dedicated space. Similarly, locations next to stairs or elevator shafts present other challenges and limit the routing of conduits out of the electrical rooms. Locating electrical rooms next to these, especially if placed between, should be carefully evaluated to ensure there is enough space and flexibility for conduits.


Additional Space Needs

Outside of working- and dedicated-space needs, there are many special considerations for electrical rooms that depend on building programs as well as exterior spaces that will directly impact how the electrical systems are designed. The needs and expectations associated with an office building are very different from that of a data center or hospital with regard to the electrical distribution systems. Redundancy and resiliency are essential for mission critical-type facilities. Flooding due to natural disasters is a key element in determining equipment placement. These equipment should be located above the anticipated flood levels. This ensures ongoing continued operations during and after an event.

Mission critical and safety-critical installations require added redundancy to ensure the continuity of business operations. Redundancy of systems requires more space, as the equipment is separated into different rooms in different parts of the building. Having panels that are part of a redundant distribution arrangement (A and B sources) located adjacent or in close proximity to each other in the same electrical room greatly minimizes the value that the intended redundancy offers. The redundant equipment should be located in separately rated spaces, with the A sources and distribution located apart from the B sources and distribution.





Additional clearance requirements include allowing for future equipment to be moved into a room or allowing for the eventual replacement of that same equipment. While code may only require 3 or 4 ft of clearance in front of a piece of equipment, the physical dimension of the equipment could be larger. Because of this, the only way to effectively remove and reinstall a replacement is to leave an area that is larger than the footprint of the equipment.

Getting equipment from the exterior of a building to its final location may not always be a concern during the initial building construction, but it will certainly be an issue during later time periods of equipment modifications, additions, or replacement. The entire pathway from the building exterior, including doorways, may need to be enlarged due to the height or width of the equipment. If the equipment is located on a floor level that is below- or abovegrade, then area wells, reinforced floors, and a pathway or removable sections of the exterior wall assembly may be required.





Buildings are expected to have a life well beyond the initial install, and yet future growth and conduit installation are rarely considered. This automatically infers change, which will likely come in the form of added equipment and conduit. Initial planning and system design should account for this by including spare breakers, additional distribution sections, and oversized-conduit rack supports.



About us

Strategic Media Asia (SMA) is one of the approved CPD course providers of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) UK. The team exists to provide an interactive environment and opportunities for members of ICT industry and facilities' engineers to exchange professional views and experience.

SMA connects IT, Facilities and Design. For the Data Center Design Consideration, please visit 

(1) Site Selection,
(2) Space Planning,
(3) Cooling,
(4) Redundancy,
(5) Fire Suppression,
(6) Meet Me Rooms,
(7) UPS Selection,
(8) Raised Floor,
(9) Code & Standards,
(10) Transformers and Harmonic Distortion,
(11) Multi-mode UPS Systems, and 

(12) Electrical Rooms (I) and (II)

All topics focus on key components and provide technical advice and recommendations for designing a data center and critical facilities.

Critical Infrastructure and Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance

April 3rd, 2018 04:52 AM

The Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance (BEEO) has come into full operation in Hong Kong since 21 September 2012. There are 3 key requirements of the Ordinance:-

(1) The developers or building owners of newly constructed buildings should ensure that the 4 key types of building services installation therein, namely, air-conditioning installation, lighting installation, electrical installation as well as lift and escalator installation, comply with the design standards of the Building Energy Code (BEC). 

(2) The responsible persons (i.e. owners, tenants or occupiers etc.) in buildings should ensure that the 4 key types of building services installation therein comply with the design standards of the BEC when “ major retrofitting works ” are carried out. 

(3) The owners of commercial buildings (including the commercial portions of composite buildings, e.g. shopping malls under residential storeys) should carry out energy audit for the 4 key types of central building services installation therein in accordance with the Energy Audit Code (EAC) every 10 years.

Mission-critical facilities and data centers are complex that are different from general buildings and require special design and operation knowledge and skill.


Developed by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the 3-day Data Center Energy Practitioner (DCEP) credential program helps engineers to evaluate the energy status and efficiency opportunities in the critical facilities. It also works with engineers to comply with the energy efficiency ordinance anywhere.

Successful candidates who complete the program in 3 days and pass the exams will gain Data Center Practitioner (DCEP) status. Their names and contact information will be available on the official website (http://datacenters.lbl.gov/dcep) as well as the certificates.

Level 1 Practitioners ("Generalist") - Day 1

To have a good understanding of 3 data center disciplines (HVAC - Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Electrical and IT-equipment) and provide broad recommendations based on the high-level DC Pro (Data Center Profiler) Tools and techniques

- Generalist Training Introduction
- Data Center Profiler (DC Pro) Overview
- IT Equipment
- Air Management
- Cooling Systems
- Electrical Systems
- Assessment Process Manual
- Data Center Profiler (DC Pro) Case Study
- End of Generalist Training / Exam (2-hour, open-book exam)


Level 2 Practitioners ("HVAC-Specialist") - Day 2 & 3

To address HVAC energy opportunities using in-depth Air Management Assessment Tool

- HVAC Specialist Training Introduction
- Air Handlers and Air Conditioners
- Liquid Cooling
- Chilled Water Plants
- Cooling System Controls
- Assessment Process
- Modeling Data Center HVAC Systems
- Environmental Requirements
- Airflow and Temperature Management
- DOE Air Management Tool
- End of HVAC Specialist Training / Exam (3-hour, open-book exam)


Program Speaker

Dr. Bob Sullivan, a Worldwide Eminent Educator and a Data Center Infrastructure Specialist, is the concept creator of Hot Aisle-Cold Aisle. He is the winner of Data Center Dynamics 2016 - Outstanding Contribution to the Data Center Industry Award. TechTarget named Dr. Bob is one of "five people who changed the data center" in August 13, 2010.


Program Details

Date: 16 - 18 May 2018 (Wednesday - Friday)
Time: 09:00 - 18:00
Venue: 19/F, New Victory House (OfficePlus), 103 - 93 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Course materials, examinations and applications fees are all included.
For local registration details, please visit www.stmedia-asia.com/data-center-energy-practitioner-dcep.html.



About us

Strategic Media Asia (SMA) is one of the approved CPD course providers of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) UK. The team exists to provide an interactive environment and opportunities for members of ICT industry and facilities' engineers to exchange professional views and experience.

SMA connects IT, Facilities and Design. For the Data Center Design Consideration, please visit 

(1) Site Selection,
(2) Space Planning,
(3) Cooling,
(4) Redundancy,
(5) Fire Suppression,
(6) Meet Me Rooms,
(7) UPS Selection,
(8) Raised Floor,
(9) Code & Standards,
(10) Transformers and Harmonic Distortion,
(11) Multi-mode UPS Systems, and 

(12) Electrical Rooms

All topics focus on key components and provide technical advice and recommendations for designing a data center and critical facilities.

Data Center Design Consideration: Electrical Rooms (1)

March 21st, 2018 04:53 AM

Switchboards, switchgear, transformers, generators, and UPSs require space for installation, maintenance, heat dissipation and future expansion (if possible). The wiring, busways, and raceways that distribute the electrical power must be accounted for now or in the future.

Electrical engineers should coordinate with mechanical engineers, architects, structural engineers, and others involved in the design of electrical rooms. Documentation and monitoring of electrical system’s equipment and how it connects to the rest of the facility must be accurately maintained.

We are going to explain the applicable code requirements and evaluate the design criteria for appropriate electrical-room size to accommodate present and future needs. Furthermore, we analyze the requirements for coordinating with structural, architectural, fire protection, and HVAC requirements.

   

Electrical rooms and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) spaces are often an afterthought when it comes to building design and planning, either relegated to locations that are left over or deemed undesirable for other planning purposes. This shortsightedness can have unfortunate consequences on the cost, operations, and flexibility of the systems for the future.

NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC) dictates the minimum amount of space needed around the equipment for access, operations, safety reasons, and conduit installation. Together, with the actual equipment sizes, this defines the overall minimum dimensional requirements of the room.





There are three types of general interior electrical spaces that factor into new building design: (1) main equipment rooms, (2) distribution pathways, and (3) local/branch equipment rooms. Code-required working space and dedicated space needs must be met. This article will outline important considerations for these spaces in the early stages of building design as they relate to building type, intended occupancy, size, and future expectations of both the building and the electrical systems.


Working Spaces


Let’s see the different between working and dedicated space as stated by the NEC (see picture below). The working space helps safeguard a clear working zone around all equipment and ensures protection for any workers or occupants within the room. This includes defining minimum width, depth, and height requirements for the working space, which varies due to voltage and the specific equipment. The higher the voltage of the equipment, the greater the depth of the working space. The width should be equal to the width of the equipment and no less than 30 in., while allowing for opening any doors or hinged panels to a full 90 deg. The height should be 6 ft 6 in. from the floor, or the height of the equipment if greater than 6 ft 6 in.

The style and construction type of the electrical equipment dictates whether only front access is required, or if rear and/or side access also is required. For each point of access to a piece of equipment, the minimum working clearances must be provided.

The dedicated space (depicted in red) and the working clearances (depicted in blue) are shown in a new emergency distribution room.


Dedicated Spaces


Dedicated space is a zone above the electrical equipment. It’s reserved to provide future access to the electrical equipment, protection of the electrical equipment from foreign systems, and for installing conduit/other raceways supporting incoming and outgoing circuits. The requirement for dedicated space applies primarily to switchgear, switchboards, panelboards, and motor control centers. The space should be equal in width and depth to the equipment size and extend from the floor to a height of 6 ft above the equipment (or to a structural ceiling, whichever is lower). No equipment or systems foreign to the electrical installation are allowed in this zone by the NEC.

The medium-voltage switchgear sections and unit substation transformers in a large data center installation require additional space and clearances.


The area above the dedicated space may contain foreign systems, provided proper protection prevents damage from drips, leaks, or breaks in these systems. However, it’s good practice to avoid having these systems installed in electrical rooms altogether.

While installations of equipment greater than 1,000 V generally follow the same principles, some of the specifics vary, requiring additional clearance around the equipment due to the increased hazard that these voltages impose (see picture above). Access to this equipment is preferably limited to only those deemed qualified to be there. For this reason, electrical equipment should be installed in rooms or spaces that are dedicated for that purpose and have controlled access.


Main Equipment Rooms


The main electrical room, or service entrance space, should coordinate with the local electrical utility. For example, main equipment rooms have requirements that dictate access to the space from the exterior for servicing, maintenance, and service feeder installation. The type of equipment installed will also further determine the room requirements. The service entrance room is typically located on an exterior wall for both code and practical reasons; it makes installation easier and minimizes the length of the service entrance conductors. Because the service conductors are usually the largest in the facility, this can have a substantial impact on cost.

Using arc-resistant switchgear will also impact space needs. This equipment will be taller and may have a larger footprint. Engineers will also need to account for the potential exhaust gases and arc flash energy by providing a pathway to expel them and relieve the pressure buildup from inside the switchgear.

If an exterior transformer is used to provide the service to a building, feeders from the transformer enter the building and transition to the main service entrance disconnect, typically a switchgear, switchboard, or panelboard. These feeders are often routed underground into the building through the exterior foundation wall via a coordinated opening. Additional coordination with the structural engineer is needed to avoid footings.

The elevation of the service entrance conduits many times do not naturally align with the equipment to which it is routed. Additional space in the form of increased height or footprint commonly is required to allow for the successful transition and termination of these conduits and conductors. Service installations that require medium-voltage equipment and/or transformers installed indoors will require additional elements including more space, higher fire ratings of the rooms (per NEC Article 450), and increased ventilation.

The location of any exterior equipment also needs to be coordinated with other architectural and landscaping elements. Minimum separation distances are often dictated by local codes/ordinances or utility requirements for proximity to screen walls, fencing, vegetation, paths of egress, or building fenestration.

Generator installations offer additional challenges when it comes to defining space needs. Noise, odor, and vibration factor into the location of this equipment within a building. The equipment should be located to minimize disturbances to building occupants and adjacent properties. Many jurisdictions have specific requirements on noise emissions, which will impact equipment placement and other components needed to meet requirements. Increasing the distance of this equipment from sensitive areas is one way of dealing with the concerns, but this comes with added feeder costs and may prove to be more costly than other options.

Sound attenuation and equipment required to meet specific emissions requirements, such as diesel oxidation catalyst, particulate filters, urea tanks, and selective catalytic reduction units, have significant cost implications and require a large amount of space to install.

Tier 4 versus Tier 2 compliance is usually dictated by an owner’s desire to use a generator for utility peak shaving or other non-critical proposes. It is crucial to have a clear understanding of current and future implications in both of these areas from the outset of a project and to discuss them thoroughly with the building owner.

The weight of a generator and the vibration experienced during its operation will have an impact on the building’s structural design. Generators require a lot of ventilation for cooling and combustion needs; getting air into and out of the room is critical and will impact placement.

With regard to fuel storage, most installations require a volume of fuel that dictates an external fuel tank with interconnecting fuel lines. NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) limits the overall capacity of diesel fuel inside buildings to 660 gal. The relationship of the exterior tank and the generator is also important to minimize pumping requirements and allow for gravity-drain return-fuel piping. This requires the fuel tank to be lower in elevation than the generator.

Direct access to the outside is preferable for maintenance and testing. All of this requires close coordination with the architectural, structural, and mechanical disciplines.

NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems requires the emergency power supply for Level 1 installations to be installed in a separate room, separated from the rest of the building by 2-hour fire-rated construction. While NFPA 110 does allow the emergency power supply system equipment (EPSS; equipment consists of all components from the emergency power supply, or EPS, to the load terminals of the transfer switches) to be installed in the same room as the EPS, it is good practice to keep these separated to help enhance system resiliency. EPS rooms are also prone to additional dust, moisture, temperature fluctuations, and excessive noise during operation that limits the ability to have a conversation and may have a negative impact on other equipment if co-located.

For mission-critical facilities (e.g., financial institutions, data centers, and airports) and other highly sensitive installations, the use of a dry-type, pre-action, or another type of fire protection system that does not rely on a normally wet piping installation is highly recommended. In cold climates, this has an added advantage of preventing pipes from freezing, rupturing, and potentially flooding the EPS room.


Continue Reading: Part (2) - Data Center Design Consideration: Electrical Rooms


About us

Strategic Media Asia (SMA) is one of the approved CPD course providers of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) UK. The team exists to provide an interactive environment and opportunities for members of ICT industry and facilities' engineers to exchange professional views and experience.

SMA connects IT, Facilities and Design. For the Data Center Design Consideration, please visit 

(1) Site Selection,
(2) Space Planning,
(3) Cooling,
(4) Redundancy,
(5) Fire Suppression,
(6) Meet Me Rooms,
(7) UPS Selection,
(8) Raised Floor,
(9) Code & Standards,
(10) Transformers and Harmonic Distortion,
(11) Multi-mode UPS Systems, and 

(12) Electrical Rooms

All topics focus on key components and provide technical advice and recommendations for designing a data center and critical facilities.