PN-3-0092 Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for ...cfroundtable.org/meetings/31803/TIA-942_(PN_3_0092)_Draft _1_0... · PN-3-0092 (to become TIA/EIA–942) 2 1 Telecommunications

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PN-3-00925

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Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard7

for Data Centers8

Draft 1.09

February 6, 20031011

NOTICE:12

This contribution has been prepared to assist the TR-42 Standards Committee. It is offered to the13Committee as a basis of discussion and is not a binding proposal on the members of the TR-42.1.14The proposed requirements presented in this document are subject to change in form and15technical content after more study. Members of the TR-42.1 specifically reserve the right to add16to, or revise, the statements contained herein.17

This document is a working draft for review and use by the TR-42.1 members only. It is intended18to serve as the basis for discussion and further development of the TIA/EIA-568-B.1 Commercial19Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard.20

NOTE – This document is copyright protected and should not be reproduced in21whole or in part without the permission of the Telecommunications Industry22Association.23

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Intellectual Property Statement

The individuals preparing this contribution do not know of patents, the use of which may beessential to a standard resulting in whole or part from this contribution.

Copyright Statement

The contributors grants a free, irrevocable license to the Telecommunications IndustryAssociation (TIA) to incorporate text contained in this contribution and any modifications thereofin the creation of a TIA standards publication; to copyright in TIA’s name any standardspublication even though it may include portions of this contribution; and at TIA’s sole discretion topermit others to reproduce in whole or in part the resulting TIA standards publication.

PN-3-0092 (to become TIA/EIA–942)

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Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard1

for Data Centers2

Table of contents3

FOREWORD.................................................................................................................................... 94

1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 115

1.1 PURPOSE .......................................................................................................................... 1161.2 SPECIFICATION OF CRITERIA............................................................................................... 1171.3 METRIC EQUIVALENTS OF US CUSTOMARY UNITS ................................................................ 1281.4 LIFE OF THIS STANDARD..................................................................................................... 1291.5 RELATIONSHIP OF DATA CENTER SPACES TO OTHER BUILDING SPACES ................................. 12101.6 TIERING............................................................................................................................. 13111.7 CONSIDERATION FOR PROFESSIONALS INVOLVEMENT .......................................................... 1312

2 SCOPE ................................................................................................................................... 1413

2.1 GENERAL .......................................................................................................................... 14142.2 NORMATIVE REFERENCES .................................................................................................. 1415

3 DEFINITION OF TERMS, ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS, AND UNITS OF16MEASURE ..................................................................................................................................... 1517

3.1 GENERAL .......................................................................................................................... 15183.2 DEFINITION OF TERMS ........................................................................................................ 15193.3 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................ 19203.4 UNITS OF MEASURE............................................................................................................ 2121

4 DATA CENTER DESIGN PROCESS .................................................................................... 2222

4.1 GENERAL .......................................................................................................................... 2223

5 DATA CENTER TELECOMMUNICATIONS SPACES.......................................................... 2324

5.1 GENERAL .......................................................................................................................... 23255.2 DATA CENTER STRUCTURE ................................................................................................. 2326

5.2.1 Major elements......................................................................................................... 23275.2.2 Typical data center topology .................................................................................... 24285.2.3 Collapsed data center topologies............................................................................. 24295.2.4 Distributed data center topologies............................................................................ 2530

5.3 COMPUTER ROOM REQUIREMENTS...................................................................................... 26315.3.1 General..................................................................................................................... 26325.3.2 Location.................................................................................................................... 27335.3.3 Access...................................................................................................................... 27345.3.4 Architectural design.................................................................................................. 2735

5.3.4.1 Size ................................................................................................................................... 27365.3.4.2 Guidelines for other equipment.......................................................................................... 27375.3.4.3 Ceiling height..................................................................................................................... 27385.3.4.4 Treatment .......................................................................................................................... 27395.3.4.5 Lighting.............................................................................................................................. 28405.3.4.6 Door................................................................................................................................... 28415.3.4.7 Floor loading...................................................................................................................... 28425.3.4.8 Signage ............................................................................................................................. 28435.3.4.9 Seismic considerations...................................................................................................... 2844

5.3.5 Environmental design............................................................................................... 2845


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5.3.5.1 Contaminants .................................................................................................................... 2815.3.5.2 HVAC................................................................................................................................. 2925.3.5.3 Continuous operation ........................................................................................................ 2935.3.5.4 Standby operation ............................................................................................................. 2945.3.5.5 Operational parameters..................................................................................................... 2955.3.5.6 Positive pressure ............................................................................................................... 2965.3.5.7 Batteries ............................................................................................................................ 2975.3.5.8 Vibration ............................................................................................................................ 298

5.3.6 Electrical design ....................................................................................................... 3095.3.6.1 Power ................................................................................................................................ 30105.3.6.2 Standby power................................................................................................................... 30115.3.6.3 Bonding and grounding ..................................................................................................... 30125.3.6.4 Fire protection.................................................................................................................... 30135.3.6.5 Water infiltration................................................................................................................. 3014

5.4 ENTRANCE ROOM REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................... 30155.4.1 General..................................................................................................................... 30165.4.2 Location.................................................................................................................... 31175.4.3 Quantity .................................................................................................................... 31185.4.4 Access...................................................................................................................... 31195.4.5 Entrance conduit routing under raised floor ............................................................. 31205.4.6 Access provider and service provider spaces.......................................................... 31215.4.7 Architectural design.................................................................................................. 3222

5.4.7.1 General.............................................................................................................................. 32235.4.7.2 Size ................................................................................................................................... 32245.4.7.3 Plywood backboards ......................................................................................................... 32255.4.7.4 Ceiling height..................................................................................................................... 33265.4.7.5 Treatment .......................................................................................................................... 33275.4.7.6 Lighting.............................................................................................................................. 33285.4.7.7 Door................................................................................................................................... 33295.4.7.8 Signage ............................................................................................................................. 33305.4.7.9 Seismic considerations...................................................................................................... 33315.4.7.10 HVAC............................................................................................................................. 33325.4.7.11 Continuous operation .................................................................................................... 34335.4.7.12 Standby operation ......................................................................................................... 34345.4.7.13 Operational parameters................................................................................................. 3435

5.4.8 Electrical design ....................................................................................................... 34365.4.8.1 Power ................................................................................................................................ 34375.4.8.2 Standby Power .................................................................................................................. 34385.4.8.3 Bonding and grounding ..................................................................................................... 3439

5.4.9 Fire protection .......................................................................................................... 35405.4.10 Water infiltration ....................................................................................................... 3541

5.5 MAIN DISTRIBUTION AREA................................................................................................... 35425.5.1 General..................................................................................................................... 35435.5.2 Location.................................................................................................................... 35445.5.3 Facility requirements ................................................................................................ 3545

5.6 HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION AREA........................................................................................ 35465.6.1 General..................................................................................................................... 35475.6.2 Location.................................................................................................................... 36485.6.3 Facility requirements ................................................................................................ 3649

5.7 ZONE DISTRIBUTION AREA .................................................................................................. 36505.8 EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION AREAS ....................................................................................... 36515.9 TELECOMMUNICATIONS ROOM ............................................................................................ 37525.10 DATA CENTER SUPPORT AREAS .......................................................................................... 37535.11 RACKS AND CABINETS ........................................................................................................ 3754

5.11.1 Hot & cold aisles....................................................................................................... 37555.11.2 Equipment placement............................................................................................... 38565.11.3 Placement relative to floor tile grid ........................................................................... 38575.11.4 Floor tile cuts ............................................................................................................ 39585.11.5 Installation of racks on access floors ....................................................................... 3959


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5.11.6 Clearances ............................................................................................................... 3915.11.7 Specifications ........................................................................................................... 392

5.11.7.1 Ventilation...................................................................................................................... 3935.11.7.2 Cabinet and rack height................................................................................................. 4045.11.7.3 Cabinet depth ................................................................................................................ 4055.11.7.4 Adjustable rails .............................................................................................................. 4065.11.7.5 Rack and cabinet finishes.............................................................................................. 4075.11.7.6 Power strips................................................................................................................... 408

5.11.8 Racks & cabinets in Entrance room, main distribution areas and horizontal9distribution areas .................................................................................................................... 4110

6 DATA CENTER CABLING SYSTEMS .................................................................................. 4211

6.1 DATA CENTER CABLING SYSTEM STRUCTURE....................................................................... 42126.2 HORIZONTAL CABLING ....................................................................................................... 4313

6.2.1 General..................................................................................................................... 43146.2.2 Topology................................................................................................................... 44156.2.3 Horizontal cabling distances .................................................................................... 4416

6.2.3.1 Maximum lengths for copper cabling ................................................................................. 45176.2.4 Recognized cables ................................................................................................... 4618

6.3 BACKBONE CABLING........................................................................................................... 46196.3.1 General..................................................................................................................... 46206.3.2 Topology................................................................................................................... 4721

6.3.2.1 Star topology ..................................................................................................................... 47226.3.2.2 Accommodation of non-star configurations ....................................................................... 4823

6.3.3 Redundant cabling topologies.................................................................................. 48246.3.4 Recognized Cables .................................................................................................. 48256.3.5 Backbone cabling distances..................................................................................... 4926

6.4 CHOOSING MEDIA .............................................................................................................. 49276.5 CENTRALIZED OPTICAL FIBER CABLING ................................................................................ 5028

6.5.1 Introduction............................................................................................................... 50296.5.2 Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 5130

7 DATA CENTER CABLING PATHWAYS............................................................................... 5331

7.1 GENERAL .......................................................................................................................... 53327.2 SECURITY FOR DATA CENTER CABLING................................................................................ 53337.3 TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTRANCE PATHWAYS .................................................................... 5334

7.3.1 Entrance pathway types........................................................................................... 53357.3.2 Diversity.................................................................................................................... 53367.3.3 Sizing........................................................................................................................ 54377.3.4 Routing ..................................................................................................................... 5438

7.4 ACCESS FLOOR SYSTEMS (RAISED FLOORS) ........................................................................ 54397.4.1 General..................................................................................................................... 54407.4.2 Cable trays for telecommunications cabling ............................................................ 54417.4.3 Access floor performance requirements .................................................................. 55427.4.4 Floor tile cut edging .................................................................................................. 55437.4.5 Cable types under access floors .............................................................................. 5544

7.5 OVERHEAD CABLE TRAYS ................................................................................................... 55457.5.1 General..................................................................................................................... 55467.5.2 Cable tray support .................................................................................................... 56477.5.3 Coordination of cable tray routes ............................................................................. 5648

8 DATA CENTER REDUNDANCY ........................................................................................... 5749

8.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 57508.2 REDUNDANT MAINTENANCE HOLES AND ENTRANCE PATHWAYS............................................. 57518.3 REDUNDANT CARRIER SERVICES......................................................................................... 58528.4 REDUNDANT ENTRANCE ROOM ........................................................................................... 58538.5 REDUNDANT MAIN DISTRIBUTION AREA ................................................................................ 5854


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8.6 REDUNDANT BACKBONE CABLING........................................................................................ 5918.7 REDUNDANT HORIZONTAL CABLING ..................................................................................... 5928.8 REDUNDANT ELECTRONICS................................................................................................. 593

ANNEX A (INFORMATIVE) CABLING APPLICATION DISTANCES......................................... 604

A.1 GENERAL .......................................................................................................................... 605A.1.1 T-1, E-1, T-3 and E-3 circuit distances..................................................................... 616A.1.2 TIA 232 and TIA 561 console connections .............................................................. 637A.1.3 Other application distances...................................................................................... 648A.1.4 Cross-connections.................................................................................................... 659A.1.5 Separation of functions in the main distribution area ............................................... 6510

A.1.5.1 Twisted-pair main cross-connect ....................................................................................... 6611A.1.5.2 Coaxial main cross-connect............................................................................................... 6612A.1.5.3 Optical fiber main cross-connect ....................................................................................... 6613

A.1.6 Separation of functions in the horizontal distribution area ....................................... 6614A.1.7 Cabling to telecommunications equipment .............................................................. 6615A.1.8 Cabling to end equipment ........................................................................................ 6716

A.2 FIBER DESIGN CONSIDERATION........................................................................................... 6717A.3 COPPER DESIGN CONSIDERATION ....................................................................................... 6718

ANNEX B (INFORMATIVE) TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE19ADMINISTRATION........................................................................................................................ 6820

B.1 GENERAL .......................................................................................................................... 6821B.2 IDENTIFICATION SCHEME FOR RACKS AND CABINETS ............................................................ 6822B.3 IDENTIFICATION SCHEME FOR PATCH PANELS....................................................................... 6823B.4 PATCH PANEL LABELING ..................................................................................................... 6924B.5 CABLE AND PATCH CORD LABELING..................................................................................... 6925

ANNEX C (INFORMATIVE) CARRIER INFORMATION.............................................................. 7026

C.1 CARRIER COORDINATION.................................................................................................... 7027C.1.1 General..................................................................................................................... 7028C.1.2 Information to provide to carriers ............................................................................. 7029C.1.3 Information that the carriers should provide............................................................. 7030

C.2 CARRIER DEMARCATION IN THE ENTRANCE ROOM ................................................................ 7131C.2.1 Organization ............................................................................................................. 7132C.2.2 Demarcation of low-speed circuits ........................................................................... 7133C.2.3 Demarcation of T-1 circuits ...................................................................................... 7434C.2.4 Demarcation of E-3 & T-3 circuits ............................................................................ 7435C.2.5 Demarcation of optical fiber circuits ......................................................................... 7536

C.3 COORDINATION OF EQUIPMENT PLANS WITH OTHER ENGINEERS ........................................... 7537C.4 SIZING THE DATA CENTER................................................................................................... 7638

ANNEX D (INFORMATIVE) SITE SELECTION........................................................................... 7739

D.1 GENERAL .......................................................................................................................... 7740D.2 ARCHITECTURAL SITE SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS............................................................. 7741D.3 ELECTRICAL SITE SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................... 7842D.4 MECHANICAL SITE SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS.................................................................. 7843D.5 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SITE SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS................................................... 7844D.6 SECURITY SITE SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS ...................................................................... 7945D.7 OTHER SITE SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS........................................................................... 7946

ANNEX E (INFORMATIVE) DATA CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE TIERS................................. 8147

E.1 GENERAL............................................................................................................................... 8148E.1.1 Redundancy overview................................................................................................... 8149E.1.2 Tiering overview ............................................................................................................ 8150

E.2 REDUNDANCY.................................................................................................................... 8151


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E.2.1 N - Base requirement ............................................................................................... 811E.2.2 N+1 redundancy....................................................................................................... 822E.2.3 N+2 redundancy....................................................................................................... 823E.2.4 2N redundancy ......................................................................................................... 824E.2.5 2(N+1) redundancy .................................................................................................. 825E.2.6 Concurrent maintainability and testing capability..................................................... 826E.2.7 Capacity and scalability............................................................................................ 827E.2.8 Isolation .................................................................................................................... 828E.2.9 Data center tiering .................................................................................................... 829

E.2.9.1 Tier 1 data center – basic .................................................................................................. 8210E.2.9.2 Tier 2 data center – redundant components...................................................................... 8311E.2.9.3 Tier 3 data center - concurrently maintainable................................................................... 8312E.2.9.4 Tier 4 data center - fault tolerant........................................................................................ 8313

E.3 ARCHITECTURAL AND STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS............................................................. 8414E.3.1 General..................................................................................................................... 8415E.3.2 Architectural tiering................................................................................................... 8516

E.3.2.1 Tier 1 (architectural) .......................................................................................................... 8517E.3.2.2 Tier 2 (architectural) .......................................................................................................... 8518E.3.2.3 Tier 3 (architectural) .......................................................................................................... 8519E.3.2.4 Tier 4 (architectural) .......................................................................................................... 8620

E.4 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS................................................................................ 8721E.4.1 General electrical requirements ............................................................................... 8722

E.4.1.1 Utility service entrance and primary distribution ................................................................ 8723E.4.1.2 Standby generation ........................................................................................................... 8724E.4.1.3 Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) .................................................................................. 8825E.4.1.4 Computer power distribution.............................................................................................. 8926E.4.1.5 Building grounding and lightning protection systems......................................................... 9127E.4.1.6 Signal reference grid ......................................................................................................... 9128E.4.1.7 Other electrical considerations .......................................................................................... 9229

E.4.2 Electrical tiering ........................................................................................................ 9230E.4.2.1 Tier 1 (electrical)................................................................................................................ 9231E.4.2.2 Tier 2 (electrical)................................................................................................................ 9332E.4.2.3 Tier 3 (electrical)................................................................................................................ 9433E.4.2.4 Tier 4 (electrical)................................................................................................................ 9534

E.5 MECHANICAL SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................. 9535E.5.1 General mechanical requirements ........................................................................... 9536

E.5.1.1 Environmental air.............................................................................................................. 9537E.5.1.2 Ventilation air.................................................................................................................... 9638E.5.1.3 Computer room air conditioning........................................................................................ 9639E.5.1.4 Leak detection system...................................................................................................... 9640E.5.1.5 Building management system........................................................................................... 9641E.5.1.6 Plumbing systems ............................................................................................................ 9642E.5.1.7 Emergency fixtures........................................................................................................... 9743E.5.1.8 HVAC make-up water....................................................................................................... 9744E.5.1.9 Drainage piping ................................................................................................................ 9745E.5.1.10 Fire protection systems ................................................................................................. 9746E.5.1.11 Water suppression – preaction suppression.................................................................. 9847E.5.1.12 Gaseous suppression - clean agent gaseous suppression ........................................... 9948E.5.1.13 Hand held fire extinguishers .......................................................................................... 9949

E.5.2 Mechanical tiering .................................................................................................... 9950E.5.2.1 Tier 1 (mechanical)........................................................................................................... 9951E.5.2.2 Tier 2 (mechanical)......................................................................................................... 10052E.5.2.3 Tier 3 (mechanical)......................................................................................................... 10053E.5.2.4 Tier 4 (mechanical)......................................................................................................... 10154

E.6 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS ............................................................. 10155E.6.1 General................................................................................................................... 10156

E.6.2 Telecommunications tiering............................................................................................. 10157E.6.2.1 Tier 1 (telecommunications) ............................................................................................ 10158E.6.2.2 Tier 2 (telecommunications) ............................................................................................ 10259E.6.2.3 Tier 3 (telecommunications) ............................................................................................ 10260


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E.6.2.4 Tier 4 (telecommunications) ............................................................................................ 1031

ANNEX F (INFORMATIVE) DATA CENTER DESIGN EXAMPLES......................................... 1212

F.1 SMALL HOSPITAL DATA CENTER DESIGN EXAMPLE .............................................................. 1213F.1.1 Data center space layout ....................................................................................... 1214F.1.2 Limited survey of hospital data centers:................................................................. 1225

F.2 CORPORATE DATA CENTER DESIGN EXAMPLE .................................................................... 1226F.3 INTERNET DATA CENTER DESIGN EXAMPLE ........................................................................ 1247

ANNEX G (INFORMATIVE) BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES ........................................ 1278

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List of figures1

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Figure 1: Relationship of component in a data center ................................................................... 133Figure 2: Example of a basic data center topology........................................................................ 244Figure 3: Example of collapsed data center topology.................................................................... 255Figure 4: Example of a distributed data center topology with multiple entrance rooms. ............... 266Figure 5: Example of hot aisles, cold aisles and cabinet placement ............................................. 387Figure 6: Data center topology....................................................................................................... 438Figure 7: Typical horizontal cabling using a star topology............................................................. 449Figure 8: Typical backbone cabling using a star topology............................................................. 4710Figure 9: Centralized optical fiber cabling...................................................................................... 5111Figure 10: Telecommunications Infrastructure Redundancy ......................................................... 5712Figure 11: Cabling distances ......................................................................................................... 6413Figure 12: Cross-connection circuits to IDC connecting hardware cabled to modular jacks in the14

T-568A 8-pin sequence .......................................................................................................... 7215Figure 13: Cross-connection circuits to IDC connecting hardware cabled to modular jacks in the16

T-568B 8-pin sequence .......................................................................................................... 7317

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List of tables19

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Table 1: Contamination limits......................................................................................................... 2921Table 2: Maximum length of horizontal and equipment area cables ............................................. 4622Table 3: Maximum circuit distances with no customer DSX panel ................................................ 6123Table 4: Reduction in circuit distances for customer DSX panel................................................... 6124Table 5: Reduction in circuit distances per patch panel or outlet .................................................. 6225Table 6: Maximum circuit distances for the typical data center configuration ............................... 6226Table 7: Maximum backbone for the typical data center configuration ......................................... 6327Table 8: Cabling distances............................................................................................................. 6528Table 9: Tiering reference guide .................................................................................................. 10529

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FOREWORD1

(This foreword is not considered part of this Standard.)2

Approval of this Standard3

This Standard was approved by TIA/EIA Subcommittee TR-42.1, TIA/EIA Engineering Committee4TR-42, and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).5

ANSI/TIA/EIA reviews standards every 5 years. At that time, standards are reaffirmed, rescinded,6or revised according to the submitted updates. Updates to be included in the next revision should7be sent to the committee chair or to ANSI/TIA/EIA.8

Contributing organizations9

More than 60 organizations within the telecommunications industry contributed their expertise to10the development of this Standard (including manufacturers, consultants, end users, and other11organizations).12

The TR-42 Committee contains the following subcommittees that are related to this activity.13

• TR-42.1 - Subcommittee on Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling14

• TR-42.2 - Subcommittee on Residential Telecommunications Infrastructure15

• TR-42.3 - Subcommittee on Commercial Building Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces16

• TR-42.4 - Subcommittee on Outside Plant Telecommunications Infrastructure17

• TR-42.5 - Subcommittee on Telecommunications Infrastructure Terms and Symbols18

• TR-42.6 - Subcommittee on Telecommunications Infrastructure and Equipment19Administration20

• TR-42.7 - Subcommittee on Telecommunications Copper Cabling Systems21

• TR-42.8 - Subcommittee on Telecommunications Optical Fiber Cabling Systems22

• TR-42.9 - Subcommittee on Industrial Telecommunications Infrastructure23

Documents superseded24

This Standard is the first edition.25

Relationship to other TIA standards and documents26

The specifications and recommendations of this standard will take precedence for use in data27centers.28

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.1, Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard; Part 129General Requirements30


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• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2, Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard; Part 21Balanced Twisted-Pair Cabling Components2

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.3, Optical Fiber Cabling Components Standard3

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-569-B, Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathways and4Spaces5

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-A, Administration Standard for Commercial Telecommunications6Infrastructure7

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-J-STD-607, Commercial Building Grounding (Earthing) and Bonding8Requirements for Telecommunications9

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-758, Customer-Owned Outside Plant Telecommunications Cabling Standard10

This Standard contains references to national and international standards. Where appropriate,11international standards are used.12

• National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)13

(IEEE C 2)14

• Life Safety Code (NEC)15

(NFPA 101)16

• National Electrical Code (NEC)17

(NFPA 70)18

In Canada, the National Building Code, the National Fire Code, Canadian Electrical Code (CSA19C22.1), and other documents including CAN/ULC S524, CAN/ULC S531 may be used for cross-20reference to NFPA 72, NFPA 70 section 725-8 and section 725-54.21

Useful supplements to this Standard are the Building Industry Consulting Service International22(BICSI) Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual, the Customer-owned Outside Plant23Design Manual, and the Telecommunications Cabling Installation Manual. These manuals24provide recommended practices and methods by which many of the requirements of this25Standard may be implemented.26

Other references are listed in annex G.27

Annexes A, B, C, D, E and F are informative and not considered to be requirements of this28Standard.29


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1 INTRODUCTION1

1.1 Purpose2

The purpose of this Standard is to provide information on the factors that should be considered3when planning and preparing the installation of a data center or computer room. It is intended for4use by designers who need a comprehensive understanding of the data center design including5the facility planning, the cabling system, and the network design. The standard will enable the6data center design to be considered early in the building development process, contributing to the7architectural considerations, by providing information that cuts across the multidisciplinary design8efforts; promoting cooperation in the design and construction phases. Adequate planning during9building construction or renovation is significantly less expensive and less disruptive than after10the facility is operational. Data centers in particular can benefit from infrastructure that is planned11in advance of applications and customer requirements to facilitate staged growth of the network12and preserve initial capital expenditure.13

This document in particular presents an infrastructure topology for accessing and connecting the14respective elements in the various cabling system configurations currently found in the data15center environment. In order to determine the performance requirements of a generic cabling16system, various telecommunications services and applications were considered. In addition, this17document addresses the floor layout topology related to achieving the proper balance between18security, rack density, revenue potential and manageability.19

The standard intends to specify a generic telecommunications cabling system for the data center20and related facilities whose primary function is information technology. Such application spaces21may be dedicated to a private company or institution, or occupied by one or more service22providers to host Internet connections, and data storage devices.23

The diversity of services currently available, coupled with continual addition of new services,24means that there may be cases where limitations to desired performance occur. When applying25specific applications, it is cautioned to consult application standards, regulations, equipment26vendors, and system service suppliers for applicability, limitations, and ancillary requirements.27

This document recognizes that data centers can be categorized according to whether they serve28the private domain (“enterprise” data centers) or the public domain (“internet” data centers).29Enterprise facilities include private corporations, institutions or government agencies, and may30involve the establishment of either intranets or extranets. Internet facilities include traditional31telephone service providers, unregulated competitive service providers and related commercial32operators. The topologies proposed in this document, however, are intended to be applicable to33both in satisfying their respective requirements for connectivity (internet access and wide-area34communications), operational hosting (web hosting, file storage and backup, database35management, and etc.), and value-added services (application hosting, content distribution, and36etc.). Failsafe power, environmental controls and fire suppression, and system redundancy and37security are also common requirements to both types of facilities.38

1.2 Specification of criteria39

In accordance with EIA Engineering Publication, EP-7B, two categories of criteria are specified;40mandatory and advisory. The mandatory requirements are designated by the word “shall”;41advisory requirements are designated by the words “should”, “may” or “desirable” which are used42interchangeably in this Standard.43

Mandatory criteria generally apply to protection, performance, administration and compatibility;44they specify the absolute minimum acceptable requirements. Advisory or desirable criteria are45


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presented when their attainment will enhance the general performance of the cabling system in1all its contemplated applications. A note in the text, table, or figure is used for emphasis or for2offering informative suggestions.3

1.3 Metric equivalents of US customary units4

The majority of the metric dimensions in this Standard are soft conversions of US customary5units; e.g., 100 millimeters is the soft conversion of 4 inches.6

1.4 Life of this Standard7

This Standard is a living document. The criteria contained in this Standard are subject to revisions8and updating as warranted by advances in building construction techniques and9telecommunications technology.10

1.5 Relationship of data center spaces to other building spaces11

Figure 1 illustrates the major spaces of a typical data center and how they relate to each other12and the spaces outside of the data center. See clause 5 for information concerning the13telecommunications spaces within the data center.14

This standard addresses telecommunications infrastructure for the data center spaces, which is15the computer room and its associated support spaces.16

Telecommunications cabling and spaces outside of the computer room and its associated support17spaces are illustrated in Figure 1 to demonstrate their relationships to the data center.18


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BUILDING SITE

DATA CENTER

DATA CENTERELECTRICAL &MECHANICAL ROOMS

SUPPORT STAFFOFFICES

OPERATIONSCENTER

TELECOMROOM(S) for datacenter supportspaces

STORAGE ROOMS& LOADING DOCKS

BUILDING SHELL

GENERAL OFFICE SPACE OFFICE BUILDING SUPPORTSPACE

ENTRANCEROOM(S)

TELECOM ROOMS& EQUIPMENTROOMS for spacesoutside data center

COMPUTER ROOM

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Figure 1: Relationship of component in a data center2

1.6 Tiering3

This standard includes specifications for facility requirements for the data center. The normative4requirements specified in this standard are the minimum requirements. However, data centers5are often designed for much higher levels of availability and security. This standard includes6information for four tiers relating to various levels of availability and security of the data center7facility infrastructure. Higher tiers not only correspond to higher availability and security, but also8lead to higher construction costs. Annex E of this standard provides detailed information for each9of the four tiering levels.10

1.7 Consideration for professionals involvement11

Data centers are designed to handle the requirements of large quantities of computer and12telecommunications equipment. Therefore, telecommunications and information technology13professionals should be involved in the design of the data center from its inception. In addition to14the space, environmental, adjacency, and operational requirements for the computer and15telecommunications equipment, data center designs need to address the requirements of the16telecommunications pathways and spaces specified in this standard.17


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2 Scope1

2.1 General2

This Standard specifies the minimum requirements for telecommunications infrastructure of data3centers and computer rooms including single tenant enterprise data centers and multi-tenant4Internet hosting data centers. The topology proposed in this document is intended to be5applicable to any size data center.6

2.2 Normative references7

The following standards contain provisions that, through reference in this text, constitute8provisions of this Standard. At the time of publication, the editions indicated were valid. All9standards are subject to revision; parties to agreements based on this Standard are encouraged10to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the standards indicated. ANSI11and TIA maintain registers of currently valid national standards published by them.12

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.1-2001, Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard:13Part 1: General Requirements14

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-2001, Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard:15Part 2: Balanced Twisted-Pair Cabling Components16

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568.B.3-2000, Optical Fiber Cabling Components Standard17

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-569-A-1998, Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathways18and Spaces19

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-A-2002, Administration Standard for Commercial Telecommunications20Infrastructure21

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-J-STD-607-2001, Commercial Building Grounding (Earthing) and Bonding22Requirements for Telecommunications23

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-758-1999, Customer-Owned Outside Plant Telecommunications Cabling24Standard25

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3 DEFINITION OF TERMS, ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS,1AND UNITS OF MEASURE2

3.1 General3

This clause contains the definitions of terms, acronyms, and abbreviations that have special4technical meaning or that are unique to the technical content of this Standard. Special definitions5that are appropriate to individual technical clauses are also included.6

3.2 Definition of terms7

The generic definitions in this clause have been formulated for use by the entire family of8telecommunications infrastructure standards. Specific requirements are found in the normative9clauses of this Standard. For the purposes of this Standard, the following definitions apply.10

access floor: A system consisting of completely removable and interchangeable floor panels that11are supported on adjustable pedestals or stringers (or both) to allow access to the area beneath.12

access provider: The operator of any facility that is used to convey telecommunications signals13to and from a customer premises.14

active cross-connect: A facility enabling the termination of cable elements and their15interconnection or cross-connection by electronic means.16

administration: The method for labeling, identification, documentation and usage needed to17implement moves, additions and changes of the telecommunications infrastructure.18

alternate entrance: A supplementary entrance facility into a building using a different routing to19provide diversity of service and for assurance of service continuity.20

backbone: 1) A facility (e.g., pathway, cable or conductors) between any of the following spaces:21telecommunications rooms, common telecommunications rooms, floor serving terminals,22entrance facilities, equipment rooms, and common equipment rooms. 2) in a data center, a facility23(e.g. pathway, cable or conductors) between any of the following spaces: entrance rooms or24spaces, main distribution areas, horizontal distribution areas, telecommunications rooms.25

backbone cable: See backbone.26

bonding: The permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrically conductive path that will27ensure electrical continuity and the capacity to conduct safely any current likely to be imposed.28

building backbone: Cabling for interconnecting telecommunications spaces from the29telecommunications entrance facility to a horizontal cross-connect within a building.30

cabinet: A container that may enclose connection devices, terminations, apparatus, wiring, and31equipment.32

cabinet (telecommunications): An enclosure used for terminating telecommunications cables,33wiring and connection devices with a hinged cover, usually flush mounted in the wall.34

cable: An assembly of one or more insulated conductors or optical fibers, within an enveloping35sheath.36


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cabling: A combination of all cables, jumpers, cords, and connecting hardware.1

centralized cabling: A cabling configuration from the work area to a centralized cross-connect2using pull through cables, an interconnect, or splice in the telecommunications room.3

channel: The end-to-end transmission path between two points at which application-specific4equipment is connected.5

common equipment room (telecommunications): An enclosed space used for equipment and6backbone interconnections for more than one tenant in a building or campus.7

Computer room: An architectural space whose primary function is to accommodate data8processing equipment.9

conduit: (1) A raceway of circular cross-section. (2) A structure containing one or more ducts.10

connecting hardware: A device providing mechanical cable terminations.11

connector (plug), duplex; optical fiber: A remateable device that terminates two fibers and12mates with a duplex receptacle.13

consolidation point: A location for interconnection between horizontal cables extending from14building pathways and horizontal cables extending into furniture pathways.15

cross-connect: A facility enabling the termination of cable elements and their interconnection or16cross-connection.17

cross-connection: A connection scheme between cabling runs, subsystems, and equipment18using patch cords or jumpers that attach to connecting hardware on each end.19

Data center: a building or portion of a building whose primary function is to house a computer room20and its support areas.21

demarcation point: A point where the operational control or ownership changes.22

distribution frame: A structure with terminations for connecting the cabling of a facility in such a23manner that interconnection or cross-connections may be readily made.24

(1) main: When the structure is located at the entrance facility or main cross-25connect and serving the building or campus.26

(2) intermediate: When the structure is located between the main cross-connect27and the telecommunications room.28

electromagnetic interference: Radiated or conducted electromagnetic energy that has an29undesirable effect on electronic equipment or signal transmissions.30

entrance room or space (telecommunications): A space in which the joining of inter or intra31building telecommunications backbone facilities takes place.32

equipment cable; cord: A cable or cable assembly used to connect telecommunications33equipment to horizontal or backbone cabling.34

equipment distribution area: the computer room space occupied by equipment racks or35cabinets.36


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equipment room (telecommunications): An environmentally controlled centralized space for1telecommunications equipment that usually houses a main or intermediate cross-connect.2

fiber optic: See optical fiber.3

ground: A conducting connection, whether intentional or accidental, between an electrical circuit4(e.g., telecommunications) or equipment and the earth, or to some conducting body that serves in5place of earth.6

grounding conductor: A conductor used to connect the grounding electrode to the building's7main grounding busbar.8

horizontal cabling: 1) The cabling between and including the telecommunications9outlet/connector and the horizontal cross-connect. 2) The cabling between and including the10building automation system outlet or the first mechanical termination of the horizontal connection11point and the horizontal cross-connect. 3) in a data center, horizontal cabling is the cabling from12the horizontal cross-connect (in the main distribution area or horizontal distribution area) to the13outlet in the equipment distribution area or zone distribution area.14

horizontal cross-connect: A cross-connect of horizontal cabling to other cabling, e.g.,15horizontal, backbone, equipment.16

Horizontal distribution area: a space in a computer room where a horizontal cross-connect is17located.18

identifier: An item of information that links a specific element of the telecommunications19infrastructure with its corresponding record.20

infrastructure (telecommunications): A collection of those telecommunications components,21excluding equipment, that together provide the basic support for the distribution of all information22within a building or campus.23

interconnection: A connection scheme that employs connecting hardware for the direct24connection of a cable to another cable without a patch cord or jumper.25

intermediate cross-connect: A cross-connect between first level and second level backbone26cabling.27

intermediate distribution frame: See distribution frame.28

intrabuilding telecommunications backbone: A pathway or cable facility for interconnecting29telecommunications service entrance rooms, equipment rooms, or telecommunications rooms30within a building. See building backbone.31

jumper: An assembly of twisted-pairs without connectors, used to join telecommunications32circuits/links at the cross-connect.33

link: A transmission path between two points, not including terminal equipment, work area34cables, and equipment cables.35

main cross-connect: A cross-connect for first level backbone cables, entrance cables, and36equipment cables.37

Main distribution area: The space in a computer room where the main cross-connect is located.38


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main distribution frame: See distribution frame.1

mechanical room: An enclosed space serving the needs of mechanical building systems.2

media (telecommunications): Wire, cable, or conductors used for telecommunications.3

mode: A path of light in an optical fiber.4

modular jack: A female telecommunications connector that may be keyed or unkeyed and may5have 6 or 8 contact positions, but not all the positions need be equipped with jack contacts.6

multimode optical fiber: An optical fiber that carries many paths of light.7

multipair cable: A cable having more than four pairs.8

optical fiber: Any filament made of dielectric materials that guides light.9

optical fiber cable: An assembly consisting of one or more optical fibers.10

passive cross-connect: A facility enabling the termination of cable elements and their11interconnection or cross-connection by means of jumpers or patchcords.12

patch cord: A length of cable with a plug on one or both ends.13

patch panel: A connecting hardware system that facilitates cable termination and cabling14administration using patch cords.15

pathway: A facility for the placement of telecommunications cable.16

private branch exchange: A private telecommunications switching system.17

pull box: A housing located in a pathway run used to facilitate the placing of wire or cables.18

radio frequency interference: Electromagnetic interference within the frequency band for radio19transmission.20

screen: An element of a cable formed by a shield.21

screened twisted-pair (ScTP): A balanced cable with an overall screen.22

service provider: The operator of any service that furnishes telecommunications content23(transmissions) delivered over access provider facilities.24

sheath: See cable sheath.25

shield: A metallic layer placed around a conductor or group of conductors.26

singlemode optical fiber: An optical fiber that carries only one path of light.27

splice: A joining of conductors, meant to be permanent.28

star topology: A topology in which telecommunications cables are distributed from a central29point.30


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telecommunications: Any transmission, emission, and reception of signs, signals, writings,1images, and sounds, that is, information of any nature by cable, radio, optical, or other2electromagnetic systems.3

telecommunications entrance point: See entrance point (telecommunications).4

telecommunications entrance room or space: See entrance room or space5(telecommunications).6

telecommunications equipment room: See equipment room (telecommunications).7

telecommunications infrastructure: See infrastructure (telecommunications).8

telecommunications media: See media (telecommunications).9

telecommunications room: An enclosed architectural space for housing telecommunications10equipment, cable terminations, and cross-connect cabling.11

telecommunications space: See space (telecommunications).12

topology: The physical or logical arrangement of a telecommunications system.13

uninterruptible power supply: A buffer between utility power or other power source and a load14that requires continuous precise power.15

wire: An individually insulated solid or stranded metallic conductor.16

wireless: The use of radiated electromagnetic energy (e.g., radio frequency and microwave17signals, light) traveling through free space to convey information.18

zone box: An enclosure used to house one or more of the following; a) a consolidation point, b) a19horizontal connection point, c) building automation system outlets.20

Zone distribution area: A space in a computer room where a zone outlet or a consolidation point is21located22

zone outlet: a connecting device in the zone distribution area terminating the horizontal cable23enabling equipment cable connections to the equipment distribution area.24

3.3 Acronyms and abbreviations25

AHJ authority having jurisdiction26

ANSI American National Standards Institute27

AWG American Wire Gauge28

BICSI Building Industry Consulting Service International29

BNC bayonet Neil-Concelman or bayonet navel connector30

CCTV closed-circuit television31

CEC Canadian Electrical Code, Part I32

CER common equipment room33

CPU central processing unit34

CSA Canadian Standards Association International35


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EDA equipment distribution area1

EF entrance facility2

EIA Electronic Industries Alliance3

EMI electromagnetic interference4

EMS energy management system5

ER equipment room6

FDDI fiber distributed data interface7

HC horizontal cross-connect8

HDA horizontal distribution area9

HVAC heating, ventilation and air conditioning10

IC intermediate cross-connect11

IDC insulation displacement contact12

LAN local area network13

MC main cross-connect14

MDA main distribution area15

NEC National Electrical Code16

NEMA National Electrical Manufacturers Association17

NEXT near-end crosstalk18

NESC National Electrical Safety Code19

NFPA National Fire Protection Association20

OC optical carrier21

PBX private branch exchange22

PCB printed circuit board23

PDU power distribution unit24

PVC polyvinyl chloride25

RFI radio frequency interference26

RH relative humidity27

SAN storage area network28

ScTP screened twisted-pair29

SDH synchronous digital hierarchy30

SONET synchronous optical network31

STM synchronous transport model32

TIA Telecommunications Industry Association33

TR telecommunications room34

UL Underwriters Laboratories Inc35

UPS uninterruptible power supply36

UTP unshielded twisted-pair37


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WAN wide area network1

X cross-connect2

ZDA zone distribution area3

3.4 Units of measure4

A ampere5

°C degrees Celsius6

°F degrees Fahrenheit7

ft feet, foot8

Gb/s gigabit per second9

Hz hertz10

in inch11

kb/s kilobit per second12

kHz kilohertz13

km kilometer14

kPa kilopascal15

kVA kilovoltamp16

lbf pound-force17

lx lux18

m meter19

Mb/s megabit per second20

MHz megahertz21

mm millimeter22

nm nanometer23

V volt24

µm micrometer or micron25