Data Center Power Distribution Equipment - Construction and Operation

• Electrical engineers
• Critical facilities engineers
• Facility engineers
• Electrical maintenance technicians
• Electrical contractors
• Electrical project managers
• Commissioning engineers
• Data center operations personnel
• Field service technicians
• Maintenance supervisors

Data Center Power Distribution Equipment Course Outline

DAY 1 (6 Hours)

Module 1: The Data Center Critical Power Chain

• Overview of the full power path: utility service to MV switchgear to transformers to LV switchgear to standby generators to transfer switches (ATS/STS) to UPS systems to distribution (busway/PDU) to rack-level power to IT load
• Roles and responsibilities at each stage of the chain
• Reading a simplified data center one-line diagram
• Key terminology: normal power, standby power, critical load, non-critical load, A/B power paths

Module 2: Codes & Standards Part 1 — Enforceable Electrical Codes

• NEC Article 645: scope, applicability, and why most IT rooms don't actually require it
• NEC Article 708 (COPS): risk assessment, mitigation strategy, and testing/commissioning requirements
• NFPA 75: the companion standard referenced by NEC 645
• NFPA 110 and NFPA 111: emergency and standby power system classifications referenced by NEC 708
• NFPA 70B: preventive maintenance practice referenced by NEC 708

Module 3: Codes & Standards Part 2 — Industry Standards & Reliability References

• ANSI/TIA-942-C and ANSI/BICSI 002: how these two voluntary standards complement each other
• Uptime Institute Tier Standard as a proprietary, voluntary framework rather than an adopted code
• IEEE Std 493 (Gold Book): reliability analysis for industrial and commercial power systems
• IEEE Std 3006.7: reliability practices for 7×24 continuous-power facilities
• Class discussion: matching the appropriate standard to the project scenario

Module 4: Tier Classification and Redundancy Models

• Four-tier framework: Basic Capacity, Redundant Capacity, Concurrently Maintainable, Fault Tolerant
• Redundancy models: N, N+1, 2N, and 2N+1
• Distribution path requirements for higher-reliability facilities
• Redundancy vs. concurrent maintainability

Module 5: Load Estimation, Capacity Planning & Diversity

• Estimating IT and mechanical loads for new or expanding facilities
• Diversity factors and actual demand versus nameplate capacity
• Planning for phased growth without overbuilding
• Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) as a design and operating metric

Module 6: Utility Service and Medium-Voltage Design Considerations

• Single vs. dual utility feeds and redundancy options
• Medium-voltage switchgear and its role in system reliability
• Service entrance considerations: metering, protective relaying, and utility interconnection
• Group discussion: matching utility service strategy to reliability requirements

DAY 2 (6 Hours)

Module 7: Standby and Backup Power Systems

• Generator sizing, paralleling, and synchronization basics
• Standby vs. emergency classifications under NFPA 110 and NFPA 111
• Fuel storage, runtime planning, and load-step considerations
• Generator failure scenarios and redundancy strategies

Module 8: UPS Systems and Battery Backup Strategy

• UPS topologies and reliability objectives
• VRLA vs. lithium-ion battery considerations
• Ride-through requirements and generator start time
• UPS sizing for present load and future growth

Module 9: Reliability Engineering — Single Points of Failure & Concurrent Maintainability

• Identifying single points of failure
• Applying concurrent maintainability principles
• Group exercise: identifying failure points on a sample one-line diagram

Module 10: Reliability Engineering — Sequence of Operations & Metrics

• Utility failure sequence: UPS ride-through, generator start, synchronization, ATS transfer, and return to utility
• Introduction to MTBF and MTTR reliability metrics
• Applying reliability metrics to design and maintenance decisions

Module 11: AI/HPC Loads and Emerging Design Trends

• High-density AI/HPC loads and rapid load changes
• Effects on transformer and UPS sizing
• Retrofitting existing facilities for higher power densities
• Emerging data center electrical design trends

Module 12: Capstone Case Study, Course Review & Q&A

• Group case study applying redundancy, standards, and reliability concepts
• Review of key concepts from Days 1 and 2
• Open Q&A
• Certificate of completion

COURSE SCHEDULE

Start: 10 a.m. Eastern Time
Finish: 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time