Alehman and DonPhilips, thanks for quick reply.
My boss told me that he will gives me a new project involving dada center, It rooms design to try. This is my first time to involve in this kind of building. I may have several questions later for you guys, i.e. any specific rules, NEC, building codes articles need to be aware of when doing this type of design, grounding concern as other tricks that inpsector / plan reviewer will look into. Thanks!
Those are very broad questions so the first thing you need from your client is the program. Are you simply providing power, will this power need to be clean, will it need to be continuous, and for how long should it be continuous? Will there be special protection systems, like water or gaseous systems, special detection systems, interconnection between these systems? Will the client have requirements beyond the minimum code or some other standard?
As far as the specific rules, codes, etc., you will have to get the version that will be in effect at the time you think your client will be making application for permits. Some jurisdictions are on the 2005 NEC, some the 2008. Some are on the 2003 IBC, some the 2006 IBC. Knowing when the jurisdiction will adopt the next code may help you avoid surprises. Another option is to use the most current code and if something was relaxed in the later version, you can contact the building official to see if he or she recognizes this newer code as an alternative compliance method.
As far as tricks to get past the plans examiner, make sure the design meets the code. Some look more closely than others and some do not have a strong electrical background (like me). A good set of construction documents should not have too much trouble getting approved. If you do get a correction letter, make the changes and resubmit. If you have an interpretation issue, talk to the reviewer to figure out where that person is coming from. In some cases, it helps to read the commentary to the code to better understand the interpretation. If you just get a letter with comments, and the comments do not have a code reference, as for it. Typically, a reviewer only enforces the code and cannot impose their design preferences on a project.
Inspectors inspect the work against the approved drawings. If you have good drawings, and a good contractor, inspections go very well. Gaps in the documents that the contractor misses and the inspectors catches can get costly for someone - normally the client in the form of change orders.
Seek advice from your boss - asking questions is part of the learning process including learning which questions to ask.
Ist How big are you going to be ? Generally data centres are designed to watts a square meter specification. Ive seen 750w/m2 and 1500w/m2 This applies to the way that the hall handles the temperature rise. The temperature must be maintained within a certain bandwidth no matter the outside conditions. So you are looking to provide cooling to suit that sort of loading level. Now considering power supply, If you are supplying 750 w/m2 this means that for every m2 there will be a load of 750w so you need to supply that load demand. Then you have to cool that load so you will be adding more watts ontop of that figure in real terms. Good thing is that you really only need to provide a no break supply for the critical 750w/m2 portion of that sum. the other loads dont need to be on 100% and can survive a short break say until your diesels kick in.
Once you have satisfied your power requirements for both load and cooling you will need to look at distribution - how do you get the power to the load overhead or underfloor? How are you doing the power dual string redundancy so that should one supply fail you have a second supply there to support the load? Again careful consideration as you are doubling your copper requirements! A true backedup site will be heavy in cost for what it does but will support your load well.
UPS units what types ? Bigger sites can use diesel integrated UPS sets but they are weak if you have an engine fail you can be left without that UPS unit best using diesel farms and individual UPS for your critical load thus you can chop and change as and when required. maintenance becomes less frought aswell and you are not running close to the wind if you have a set down for an extended repair.
Data centres are an involved design and you have to identify first the amount of load you have to support - and also future proof this say by adding anouther 50% on what you think you need. Ensure that you have enough and that you make the site as bullit proof as possible as you can. Think on failures - what if that fails what effect does it have ? that sort of thing and build in some inherent protection. Belt and braces as they say.....
