BREEAM International New Construction 2016 — Data Centre Annex (Pilot), Annex 1 and Annex 2

Overview

This annex brings data-centre-specific assessment issues to BREEAM International NC 2016 and replaces the BREEAM Data Centres 2010 scheme. Annex 1 revises assessment issues for new builds and extensions where data centre use is the majority function; Annex 2 is the criteria and scoping annex. Buildings where data centre use is not the majority function are out of scope. Notable items include an energy and water disclosure credit, free-cooling credits and airflow-management requirements.

The Man 06 Reporting and Disclosure credit asks for concrete commitments: disclose operational PUE, facility and data-hall energy, renewable energy (private wire versus grid), ERF, capacity and free-cooling hours for at least 3 years, at least quarterly. The water credit applies to open-loop cooling only and requires WUE disclosure quarterly for at least 3 years; closed-loop cooling is scoped out. Grid renewables bought without a dedicated private wire earn no credit toward building performance.

PUE categories depend on the metering point: PUE1 at UPS output, PUE2 at PDU output, PUE3 at the IT equipment. CLC/TR 50600-4-2 guidance chooses by expected PUE: above 1.5, PUE1-3 are acceptable; 1.2-1.5 needs PUE2 or 3; below 1.2 needs PUE3. A highly efficient facility therefore has to measure its own efficiency down to small losses. Because the annex is at pilot stage, item numbers and credit details may change in later versions.

Key points

1. Launched as a pilot in November 2019; replaces BREEAM Data Centres 2010.
2. Energy disclosure: operational PUE, facility and hall energy, renewables (private wire/grid), ERF, capacity and free-cooling hours; >= 3 years, at least quarterly.
3. Water disclosure (open-loop only): WUE quarterly for >= 3 years; closed-loop scoped out.
4. PUE categories: PUE1 at UPS output, PUE2 at PDU output, PUE3 at IT equipment.
5. CLC/TR 50600-4-2: expected PUE > 1.5 -> PUE1-3; 1.2-1.5 -> PUE2 or 3; < 1.2 -> PUE3.
6. Grid renewables without a dedicated private wire are not credited toward building performance.
7. Out of scope where data centre use is not the majority function.

Using it in design

• Metering rule: if projected PUE is below 1.2 require IT-level (PUE3) metering; at 1.2-1.5 require at least PDU-output (PUE2); otherwise UPS-output (PUE1) is acceptable.
• Report free-cooling hours from the climate/economiser model.
• Separate private-wire from grid renewables in carbon and REF reporting.

Who should read it

Data centre designers targeting BREEAM and the engineers who set the metering plan.

Related standards

• BREEAM International NC 2016
• EN 50600-4-2
• CLC/TR 50600-99-1
• ISO/IEC 30134-2

Publication details

Authors

BRE Global

Publisher

BRE Global

Year

2019

Document number

SD233 Annex 1/2

Document language

English

Source type

Expert / community

Access

Free to read

Licence

Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document

Citation