Tia-942 Checklist
Sinikka Curz
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First of all, UTI does have a checklist. However, it is an internal checklist which is used by their own engineers to go through designs in a systematic way. This checklist is not shared with the general public, even though it would be helpful for everybody to have it, in order to get a better understanding about the details of the UTI demonstration/test criteria. This goes back to one of my previous articles about what real standards are, i.e. open and transparent.
ANSI/TIA-942 is a combination of descriptions of what needs to be achieved to meet defined rating levels as well as supplemental annexes to provide guidance on how to achieve this. However, make no mistake, purely applying the table of annex-F as a checklist for conformity without considering the rest of the standard will give you an ugly surprise during an audit as the table is a supporting element to the standard, it is not intended to be a complete checklist for all requirements of the standard. This is a classic mistake of inexperienced consultants/auditors offering consulting/audit services and proudly pull out a copy of the table, putting a tick in every box and then declare a site to conform to ANSI/TIA-942. These consultants/auditors have clearly not understood the standard and/or do not understand how audits should be conducted. Unfortunately in EPI we have seen data centre owners in "tears" when during an audit we found major non-conformities which were overlooked by these kinds of consultants. Be aware of whom you choose for consulting and audit engagements and make sure they apply the ANSI/TIA-942 appropriately.
Here is an example of how it works in the real world, which is very different than what is portrayed by consultants favouring Uptime. ANSI/TIA-942 states that for a Rated-3 data centre there should be 2 utility feeds which can come from a single substation. What about if you have only one utility feed? You could still meet Rated-3 if you can prove that you meet the overarching statement of being CM. So, if you have generators and you can prove that during planned maintenance you can switch to the generators then you could still be meeting Rated-3 requirements. Of course, there will be a number of other criteria which you will need to address to ensure that the generator is capable of continuous support of the load over extended period of time etc. but in essence you certainly can meet Rated-3 despite not having followed the exact word in the table that says you need two utility feeds. Inexperienced consultants/auditors do not understand this, Certified consultants/auditors will understand this so make sure you put your design work in capable hands. Consultants favouring Uptime often will try to scare the customer with the "you will never be able to comply to ANSI/TIA-942 as the table tells you that you must have XYZ". It is kind of hilarious to see that the same type of consultants declare that the annexes are not part of the ANSI/TIA-942 standard but yet try to scare a customer of not meeting the items listed in the very same table they say are not part of the standard...
Data centers have to stay up and running. Outages can be expensive in both financial and reputational terms. Data centers need to be organized to prevent such problems or at least to detect them at the earliest possible moment, including:
Even if data center buildings seldom scale physically, their internal organization must facilitate scaling in power and storage capacity with new systems and handling peak user demands. This includes:
This data center checklist is naturally a general one. Do you have an additional best practice for your own data center? Tell us about it in the Comments section below.
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A common challenge faced by CIOs and managers looking for a colocation facility to host their hybrid IT deployment is finding the best facility for their requirements. Contract terms and pricing aside, this is no straightforward matter due to the need to sort through details such as technical capabilities, specifications, and accreditations.
The ANSI/TIA-942 standard is recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and specifies detailed guidelines for planning and building telecommunications infrastructure such as multi-tenant data centres. The standard is regularly updated through the work of a designated sub-committee, and is designed through a consensus-based approach. The latest version is TIA-942-B, and was published in June 2017.
With detailed and granular specifications, TIA-942 is often praised for its transparency and for providing guidance in terms of predefined checklists and clear descriptions to help meet the desired outcome. And the fact that it was crafted as a standard means that it works well as a framework to adhere to without having to reinvent the wheel, and offers a standard nomenclature that data centre providers when specifying their design goals.
TIA-942 is a global standard designed by a committee through a collaborative process to include the latest best practices. The onus is on data centre operators to ensure they engage experienced data centre architects and engineers that understand the TIA-942 standard. The absence of certifying body that is authorised to test a completed facility means that adherence to the standard can only be said to be self-declaratory in nature, however.
With specifications crafted by data centre experts, UTI takes a more hands-on approach where their engineers validate the design before construction, followed by actual tests conducted at the completed facility. Considering the need to uphold the reputation of its accreditation, UTI will only certify data centres found to meet its requirements. Of course, this does mean more work for data centre providers as both design and constructed facility must pass a rigorous validation process to get accredited.
In the realm of information technology, data centers serve as the foundational infrastructure for businesses worldwide, and their design, construction, and operation are crucial for ensuring robust performance, security, and reliability. Data center standards play a central role in outlining the best practices and methodologies for achieving these objectives. These standards, created by international bodies and industry groups, provide comprehensive guidelines covering everything from the architectural planning of the facility to the implementation of security protocols, ensuring that data centers operate at optimum efficiency and minimal risk.
The assortment of data center standards includes widely recognized benchmarks such as ANSI/TIA-942, ISO/IEC 22237-series, and ANSI/BICSI 002-2019, each offering a detailed framework for different aspects of data center requirements. These standards address a broad range of needs including general design, security measures, energy efficiency, environmental considerations, and operational procedures to establish a resilient and sustainable IT infrastructure. By adhering to such frameworks, organizations can guarantee that their data centers are capable of supporting current and future technological demands while mitigating downtime and potential threats.
Data center design is a multi-faceted discipline that requires meticulous planning to meet the rigorous standards of modern IT infrastructure. As enterprises depend heavily on the reliability and efficiency of their data centers, every element from architectural design to security protocols is critical.
The core infrastructure in data centers encompasses robust electrical and mechanical systems, along with efficient cooling solutions. These systems are integral to the uptime and sustainability of data centers, ensuring that power is effectively distributed and managed with redundancy measures such as backup power in place.
Data centers rely on a continuous, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to maintain operations. Electrical systems must have redundancy, typically N+1 or 2N, to avoid any single point of failure that could lead to downtime. The implementation of energy-efficient solutions, such as Energy Star-rated UPS systems, contributes to the overall sustainability of the infrastructure.
Mechanical systems in data centers include all components that support the mechanical functions such as fire protection and ventilation. They form a pivotal part of the physical infrastructure designed to safeguard against operational failures. These systems must comply with national and local codes to meet regulatory standards that ensure the safety of the facility.
Efficient cooling solutions are critical for maintaining the proper operating temperatures of data center equipment. Advances in technology enable the deployment of cooling systems that adapt to the load, reducing waste and increasing energy efficiency. The design of these systems often targets the elimination of hot spots and the optimal distribution of cooled air.
In the context of data center operations, achieving operational excellence is pivotal. It involves adhering to stringent standards, establishing rigorous maintenance protocols, and implementing comprehensive monitoring and management systems to ensure quality, consistency, and reliability.
Regular maintenance is essential for the longevity and reliability of data center operations. Scheduled maintenance ensures that all equipment is operating efficiently and prevents potential failures. A robust set of procedures typically aligns with standards such as ISO 9000 and ISO 14000, focusing on quality management and environmental management, respectively.
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