Data Center Projects: Commissioning
Schneider Electric · Paul Marcoux
Schneider Electric WP 148 describes commissioning as the step where power, cooling, fire, security and management systems are tested as one integrated system, and recommends rack-level heat simulators for testing.
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Overview
In the paper, commissioning sits in the implementation phase of the Prepare-Design-Acquire-Implement project process, after components are started up individually and before orientation and training. The scope is not just product start-up but power, cooling, fire suppression, security, management, building/grounds and their interactions. Inputs are the design documents, criticality targets, redundancy levels and vendor start-up results. Delivery, installation and individual start-up come first.
Outputs are a test script, an error log, as-built drawings and a commissioning report, reused for trending day-one performance and for training. Test scripts are step-by-step pass/fail sequences, for example ATS closed-transition transfer tests. As a rule of thumb about 2% of overall project cost is budgeted for commissioning, with a typical return of about 5 to 10% in overall data center performance.
For high density the paper favours rack-mounted resistive heaters over a central load bank: central load banks test the electrical path but under-test CRAC/CRAH airflow. Heaters with adjustable kW and airflow, plugged into the real rack PDUs, commission distribution and cooling together. Commissioning is likened to insurance, with periodic recommissioning as the business changes. The paper has no L1 to L5 naming; it gives scope and inputs/outputs, and it dates from 2011, so newer load types such as liquid cooling are not addressed.
Key points
- Rule of thumb: budget about 2% of overall project cost for commissioning; typical return about 5 to 10% in overall performance.
- Commissioning follows component start-up and precedes orientation/training.
- Integrated test scope covers power, cooling, fire suppression, security, management, building/grounds and their interactions.
- Central load banks test the electrical path but under-test CRAC/CRAH airflow.
- Rack-mounted heaters with adjustable kW and airflow, plugged into real rack PDUs, test distribution and cooling together.
- Outputs: test script, error log, as-built drawings and commissioning report, reused for day-one trending and training.
- Test scripts are step-by-step pass/fail sequences (e.g. ATS closed-transition transfer).
Using it in design
- Default the commissioning budget to about 2% of capex.
- Generate an integrated test-script skeleton from the single-line diagram: each ATS/STS/UPS/generator transfer becomes a pass/fail step.
- Use the common L1 to L5 sequence as the plan skeleton (this naming is industry convention, not from this paper).
- For L4/L5 size rack load-bank heaters per rack at design kW and CFM.
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Who should read it
Project managers, operations teams and design engineers planning commissioning.
Related standards
- ASHRAE Guideline 0
- ASHRAE Guideline 1.1
- ASHRAE Standard 202
- Uptime Tier Certification of Constructed Facility
- EN 50600-2-1
Publication details
- Authors
- Paul Marcoux
- Publisher
- Schneider Electric
- Year
- 2011
- Document number
- WP 148
- 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
Paul Marcoux (2011). Data Center Projects: Commissioning. Schneider Electric. WP 148. https://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_Doc_Ref=SPD_DBOY-6NJNK6_EN
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