Data Center Projects: Advantages of Using a Reference Design

Overview

A reference design consists of a system blueprint, a list of attributes including system-level performance specifications, and ideally a detailed bill of materials. It may cover a whole data centre or a subsection such as an IT pod, IT room, power plant or cooling plant. Graphical documents include electrical, mechanical and IT one-line diagrams, floor layouts showing dimensions and clearances of racks, PDUs, CRAC/CRAHs, UPSs, generators, switchboards and ATSs, and 3D spatial views.

The attribute summary lists estimated cost, IT load capacity, estimated annualized PUE, density capability, power and cooling redundancy, and heat rejection method, so alternatives can be compared like for like. The bill of materials identifies product name, description, part number and quantity for each component, and whether the reference-design vendor supplies it. Effective reference designs are modular and scalable, efficiency-maximizing, balanced across power, cooling and rack capacities, and detailed.

At minimum a reference design is selected from three inputs: total expected IT load, level of redundancy for power and cooling, and density. Local engineering is still needed for permitting and code compliance, localization, cable and pipe schedules, floor and roof loading constraints and water drainage. Fire suppression, physical security and the building structure may not be covered.

The benefits claimed are faster planning, quicker buildable designs and more predictable, reliable operation, and the paper notes that heavy customization erodes them. It offers no numeric benchmark; its value is as a checklist of what a reference design must contain and what it leaves open.

Key points

1. A reference design is a system blueprint, an attribute list with system-level performance specifications and ideally a detailed BOM; it may cover a whole site or a subsection such as an IT pod, room, power plant or cooling plant.
2. Graphics: electrical, mechanical and IT one-lines; layouts with dimensions and clearances of racks, PDUs, CRAC/CRAHs, UPSs, generators, switchboards, ATSs; 3D views.
3. Attribute summary: estimated cost, IT load capacity, estimated annualized PUE, density capability, power and cooling redundancy, heat rejection method.
4. BOM: product name, description, part number, quantity and whether the reference-design vendor supplies it.
5. Selection needs at minimum three inputs: total IT load, redundancy level for power and cooling, density.
6. Engineering is still needed for permits and codes, localization, cable and pipe schedules, floor/roof loading and drainage.
7. Fire suppression, physical security and building structure may not be covered.
8. Effective reference designs are modular and scalable, efficiency-maximizing, balanced and detailed.

Using it in design

• Store reference designs as structured objects with required attribute fields (IT kW range, redundancy N/N+1/2N for power and cooling, density kW/rack, annualized PUE, heat rejection type, estimated cost) plus linked one-lines, layouts and BOM lines (part number, qty, supplier).
• Filter templates by the three selection inputs.
• When a user forks a template, track deviations and flag where customization breaks capacity balance.
• Add a completion checklist surfacing items reference designs leave open: permits, cable/pipe schedules, structural loading, drainage, fire suppression, security.

Who should read it

Planners who want to start a design from a template and teams building a reference-design library.

Publication details

Authors

Patrick Donovan

Publisher

Schneider Electric

Year

2012

Document number

WP 147

Document language

English

Source type

Manufacturer

Access

Free to read

Licence

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

Citation