Practical Guide to Preparing Edge Sites and Installing Micro Data Centers

Overview

The document targets edge sites and micro data centers up to about 10 kW of IT load. Its starting point is that attention usually goes to the IT stack while the physical infrastructure is neglected, which raises downtime and cost risk. The guide is therefore written as a checklist rather than a textbook, walking through site survey, power provisioning, cooling selection, network connectivity and start-up in that order.

The site survey measures the delivery path: elevator and door dimensions, plus rolling and concentrated static floor load. The power section matches receptacle type to UPS rating: a 3 kVA single-phase UPS typically needs a NEMA L5-30 (US) or IEC C19-class connection, while a 5 kVA unit typically needs IEC C19 or a hardwired feed. That lets the electrical fit be questioned before the equipment is ordered.

Cooling selection is tied to load bands. A ventilated enclosure in office space can handle up to about 4 kW; beyond that active cooling is needed. Split or ductless systems typically cover about 6-12 kW, and in-rack mounted cooling units about 3.5 kW. The record describes a range of options from passive ventilation to split and in-rack units; a detailed sizing method, or design above 10 kW, is outside the paper's scope.

Key points

1. Scope is edge sites and micro data centers up to about 10 kW of IT load.
2. A ventilated enclosure in office space handles up to about 4 kW; beyond that active cooling is needed.
3. Split/ductless systems typically cover about 6-12 kW.
4. In-rack mounted cooling units cover about 3.5 kW.
5. A 3 kVA single-phase UPS typically needs NEMA L5-30 (US) or IEC C19-class connection.
6. A 5 kVA UPS typically needs IEC C19 or a hardwired connection.
7. The site survey covers elevator and door dimensions and rolling and concentrated static floor load.

Using it in design

• In the edge template, allow a ventilated enclosure when IT load is 4 kW or less.
• Recommend split or in-rack DX cooling in the 4-12 kW range.
• Require a dedicated cooling design above 12 kW.
• Add a guided site-survey form for novice users: path dimensions, floor rolling load and receptacle type by UPS kVA.

Who should read it

IT and facilities teams building a small server room at a branch-office, retail or industrial edge site.

Related standards

• IEC 60309
• NEMA WD 6
• EN 50600-2-3

Publication details

Authors

Victor Avelar; Paul Lin

Publisher

Schneider Electric

Year

2020

Document number

WP 288

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