Design criteria for data center 3

[zeemas]

Hi all

Can anyone help me in order to find out the structural design criteria for a Data Center??

Thanks
Zee

 

[kslee1000]

Don't know what is contained in a data center. But wouldn't be interior is more important than the shell? You need to gather more information about the function and process flow of it, in order to identify areas that would make one structural system is better than the other. Also, from those information you may realize some restrictions, such as sound to a music hall, vibration to an elevated dance floor, thus to form the criteria. The question in this manner just too broad without any substance to comment on.

 

[Den32]

Yes, what are you looking for in particular?

Floor Loads?

'Data' Center is broad - is this a Computer Lab? Science Lab? School?

 

[zeemas]

It will be a large data center for computer lab.

I have collected some information and i was particularly looking for floor loads, raised floor criteria, MEP tray loads, Cooling pipe loads if they are supported by racks or the design paramters if they are passing through the slabs.......etc.

Thanks for comments.

I will also keep posting the information i gather.

Zee

 

[civilperson]

Most data centers have false floors for under floor wiring of the computers. These sit on a structural floor 15-18" beneath the finish floor. The false floor panels are removed for maintenance and installation of new components. HVAC is hung from the structural floor above and is commonly exposed, (depending on the architect). Floor to floor height averages 12 feet. Vibration criteria is commonly assigned to clean room and assembly areas of chip manufacturing if this is part of the data centers function.

 

[hokie66]

The most important thing to consider in designing a data centre is that the contents value far exceeds the value of the enclosing building. As structural engineer, you have control over only the structure itself, but you should be conservative in that regard. Mass of equipment should be provided to you by the owner, and this should be added to the code required floor live loads.

The most important thing is probably watertightness, which should be the responsibility of the architect, but is something you should be aware of. A low slope roof with internal drains over computer equipment is asking for trouble.

 

[kslee1000]

Floor loads - will be furnished by equipment vendors through requests from the owner. A ball park easimate on the uniform floor live load is about 150 psf, similar to that for telecommunication centers.

The remaining items would require inputs from the equipment vendors, and project electrical engineers. Also, archetects, and HVAC engineers play very important roles as well. Structural group generally has the least say on these matters.

I would anticapate interior raised floors, equipment racks, and cable trays. Keep in mind that the final equipment weight could very well exceeds that listed on the initial submittal, and revisions on interior arrangement are a frequent phenonmenon, so, be conservative (on assumptions)and generous (on material sizes) in preliminary design, and always anticipate changes.

 

[zeemas]

Thank you guys. For all your good tips.

Can anyone of you suggest Cost per square foot only for Structure?

Thanks.

 

[joan271273]

ASHRAE has taken the lead on data center design. They have a complete book on structural design for data centers

 

[msquared48]

I agree with Hokie.

HOWEVER...

Remember that with time, technology changes, and so does building useage. Regardless what load you do decide on, post it permanently and conspicuosly in the building, in your calcs and on the drawings to CYA. (I hate lawyers)

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[BSE05]

I have been involved with data centers over the last 30 years or so. The last one I was involved with really suprised me. I was told that as technology increased the centers would become smaller because equipment would be smaller. What I didn't expect was that the data center would stay the same size and the equipment density would jump. In electrical terms 10 to 20 times, which has a cooling and weight equivalent.

So the short answer is get the layout and info on the equipment before sizing a structural floor.

If you are asking how much to charge, you probably shouldn't be doing it in the first place.