Reference Designs Simplify and Speed Up Data Center Infrastructure Projects

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Schneider Electric offers a very helpful planning tool called Data Center Reference Designs. You can check them out and download them for free. These data center designs are high-level conceptual plans for how power, cooling, and IT space infrastructure systems are configured and laid out, as well as describe the specific components used for a given set of performance characteristics.

Useful Application for Data Center Design

The online selector allows you to browse and filter the designs based on user selected criteria such as capacity, Tier level, PUE target, cost per watt, and so on. The selector gives you access to the Design Summary PDF for each design which is a 7-page document describing the features and performance characteristics for the facility power, facility cooling, and IT space systems that make up the overall facility. Each summary document includes a standardized description and list of performance attributes making rapid comparisons between designs very easy to do. In addition, an Engineering Package is included, complete with one-line diagrams, piping diagrams, dimensioned floor layouts, and a bill of materials. These documents are available in both DWG and PDF formats. To obtain the Engineering Package for a given design, email ReferenceDesigns@schneider-electric.com and refer to the design’s number located on the top left of the first page of the Summary document.

More Efficient Projects with Validated Data Center Design Concepts

Schneider Electric views reference designs as an excellent tool for data center project teams who are in the early planning phase. A lot of people have trouble initially translating the new IT needs (add an application, add servers, move a data center, consolidate servers or data centers, etc.) into actual physical infrastructure requirements that everyone can understand and agree on. Our reference designs provide a sound framework for discussion and offer a common language for all stakeholders to use. Their 3D images, engineering documentation, and standardized list of attributes makes it very easy for all team members regardless of technical expertise to rapidly visualize and compare design concepts. By coming to solid agreement more quickly on key project parameters (i.e. capacity, criticality, density, growth plan, and budget) using validated design concepts, project teams can move more quickly into and through the detailed design phase where architects and MEP firms (or design/build firms) work their magic to create buildable, localized, and approved detailed designs and construction documents.

Be sure to check our design library often as it continues to grow and evolve rapidly – currently there are designs ranging from as small as 70 kW of power capacity to more than 40 MW. There’s more to come!