[Equest-users] Modeling Typical IT Rooms AC Units

[Andy Phelps]

Will:

 

I couldn't agree more with you on Section 2.3.  However, what matters is not what I think, but the LEED/USGBC review team.  

 

In my experience, I've modeled data rooms in offices as a System 3/4 for the baseline and as scheduled for the design case.  I've modeled small rooms with a mini-split DX unit, and also for larger rooms with CRAC style units (Liebert, DataAire, etc).  I haven't had any issues with this in the review process.  In addition, from some internet research, it appears that architects/engineers are getting large-scale data centers certified, so they must be wanting us to split data center HVAC usage from server/process usage.  

 

Sorry that I do not have any more insight than this, but I do understand your frustration with data rooms/centers and applicability to 90.1.  

 

I would also point you to some addenda for 90.1 that does mention data centers and outlines some requirements (addenda BU).  It looks like these Liebert units would meet the requirements for efficiency in this addenda.  For the purposes of LEED certification, I would caution to read all addenda, since LEED doesn't let you pick and choose addenda, there may be some addenda out there that might hurt your energy savings percentage.  

 

Andy

 

From: equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Will Mak
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 8:47 AM
To: equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: [Equest-users] Modeling Typical IT Rooms AC Units

 

Hey all,

 

I'm working on a LEED energy model for an office building that has a couple standard sized data rooms for server storage. They will be served by a couple air cooled Liebert units. I started inputting information about the units in the proposed design model and requested EER information from our vendor. The EER value was provided but also pointed me towards ASHRAE 90.1-2007 Section 2.3 as the reason why EER values aren't typically provided for these types of units (he claims the cooling of the server rooms would be considered process cooling):

 

ASHRAE 90.1-2007 Section 2.3 - The provisions of this standard do not apply to:

a.       Single-family houses, multi-family structures of three stories or fewer above grade, manufactured houses (mobile homes), and manufactured houses (modular)

b.       Buildings that do not use either electricity or fossil fuel, or

c.        Equipment and portions of building systems that use energy primarily to provide for industrial, manufacturing, or commercial processes.

 

I've typically model the scheduled units on the proposed design model and System Type 3 or 4 on baseline model. However, if the above Section 2.3 applies, should we be modeling the systems that serve IT rooms in an office building as "process energy" and be equal?

 

William Mak, LEED AP BD+C
Mechanical Design Engineer

EPSTEIN
Architecture
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600 West Fulton Street
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D: (312) 429-8116
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