DATA CENTER COMMISSIONING:LESSONS LEARNED IN A

DESIGN/BUILD ENVIRONMENT

2014 Commissioning Energy Conference

Las Vegas, NV

Derek De Jesús, CxA, LEED APJeff Jameson, PE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Identify potential conflicts between the

Commissioning Agent and the design/build team.

Identify the process implemented, scope required, and the value added for the Owner.

Highlight the challenges encountered and modifications to the Commissioning process that occurred in order to achieve the project goals.

ASHRAE 90.4P review

INTERESTING FACTS

1 – Emerson Network Power (http://www.emersonnetworkpower.com/en-US/About/NewsRoom/Pages/2011DataCenterState.aspx)2 – Jonathan Koomey, July 2011, http://www.koomey.com/post/8323374335 3 – Data Center Knowledge, April 2012, http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2012/04/25/6-questions-for-your-next-data-center-provider/4 - ComputerWorld, January 2010, http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9144466/Data_center_density_hits_the_wall

• How many data centers exist?– 2011 – 509,147 1

• Electricity Consumption– Doubled from 2000 to 2005 2

– Increased 56% from 2005 and 2010 2

– Range 100W to 400W /sq ft 3

• Operating temperatures4

– 2004 – 72 deg F– 2008 – 81 deg F

DESIGN/BUILD CX APPROACH ACG Process but Speak up and be heard Integrate Commissioning early and

often Expect the same project goals

PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness)CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics)OPR (Owner’s Project Requirements)Tier rating

More meetings; site attention

DESIGN/BUILD CX CHALLENGES

Contracting – Owner or DB/C?

OPR, BOD developed? Blended phases! Fast paced…

ambiguous schedule Reduced

documentation trail

DESIGN/BUILD CX OPPORTUNITIES Improved access to team

and owner Eager and attentive

installing contractorsCooperation

Identifying gaps, supporting the team!

CX SCOPE OF SERVICE CHALLENGES Design reviews

How many and when?Comment responses

Submittal reviewsApproved unless otherwise stated

Schedule Integration

PFC Acceptanc

eStartup BAS Pt-Pt TAB FPT

CX ADDED VALUE Expand the systems to be

CommissionedGrounding, lightning protectionLife safety systems

VESDA Pre-Action

Energy management systems Interface(s) to BAS

Reliability, stability for equipment operations

MORE ADDED VALUE Electrical testing support

Witness and document NETA testingSupport the scheduling of these tests

Test equipmentData loggingTrending IR ScanningLoad banking

Beyond vendor startupPDU Testing and Trending

CASE STUDY REVIEW 57,509 sq ft renovation

6 Pods4 Pods built out; 2 for

future 6MW of electrical

power N+1 design for all

systems DB/C = Owner

CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED Brought on AFTER final design

Still performed a design review Brought on AFTER equipment had

started getting deliveredStill performed a submittal review

Immediate ramp upEstimated schedule to turnover: 6 months

Vague scheduling

CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED Reviewing documents AND

developing documents at the same timeAddressing design concerns

Electrical test witnessing not in Cx scope

Schedule coordination for startup No one had Cx in budget, but it

was a data center…

CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED

B phase CT was broke from factory Testing should have found it Caused breaker to trip at

75% load

CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED

Weather delays Existing building conditions

Leaking roof Strike delays No O&M staff on-board during

projectNo trainingNo witnessing of testing

Inadequate service ground

MECHANICAL SYSTEM Two SMARDT 200-ton Oil free centrifugal

chillers, R-134a, 45° CHW, 400 gpm Each chiller with dual (100-ton each) VFD

compressors Evaporative Condenser with spray pump Economizer pump package

Dedicated chiller primary pumps Additional spare in case of emergency replacement

Two VFD secondary pumps Sized for future data center expansion

Chilled water load monitoring (BTU meter) Package system controller

MECHANICAL SYSTEM Operational benefits

Secondary pump speed control set up to maintain critical branch temperature (or pressure)

Reliability The system has safety modes

of operation to maintain continuous operation (sump dump, emergency sump heating, react to temperature control problems, emergency operation, stand-alone operation, etc.)

ENERGY SAVINGS/GOALS Year round consistent, cooling capability High efficiency using the evaporative

condenser-Dry condenser operation for low outside air

temperature (<40° adj.) operationWet condenser operation for warmer OAT

(>45° (adj.) operation Monitoring of system energy

consumption

MODIFIED PROCESS Spent more time with contractors

completing the PFCs than just reviewing Cx meetings became scheduling

coordination meetingsCx documents proved readiness

Maintained 3 levels of testing to prove acceptanceFPTs ISTs ISOTs

ADDED VALUE Systems outside of Scope

Do what you can when you have the timeShow the value, even if its freeBe reasonable

Greatest single value for electrical Cx….Advocate for primary current injection

testingWitness the testingDocument the resultsSet the breakers per the FINAL Coordination

Study

ASHRAE 90.4P Energy Standard for Data Centers and

Telecommunications Buildings First Advisory Public Review

November 2013Comments are still in review

ASHRAE 90.4P 4.2 – Compliance

Either use 90.4P or 90.1

4.2.2 – Compliance DocumentationMany of the requirements the CxA can

support Labeling of equipment, O&M, Inspections

ASHRAE 90.4P 4.2.4 – Inspections

Requires AHJ to inspect wall insulation after the insulation and vapor retarder

are in place but before concealment roof/ceiling insulation after roof/insulation is in place

but before concealment slab/foundation wall after slab/foundation insulation is

in place but before concealment fenestration after all glazing materials are in place continuous air barrier after installation but before

concealment mechanical systems and equipment and insulation

after installation but before concealment electrical equipment and systems after installation but

before concealment

ASHRAE 90.4P Section 5 Building Envelope

No methods or standards except to comply with 90.1

ASHRAE 90.4P 6.4.1 – PUE

Only provides Mechanical PUEDefined by cities yet some major metro

areas are missing

1 – 42U, 2014, http://www.42u.com/measurement/pue-dcie.htm#What-is-PUE 2 – ASHRAE 90.4P, Page 29, 2013

1

2

ASHRAE 90.4P Summary

No specific mention of CommissioningNo mention of testing to prove energy

consumptionNo mention of any Measurement &

VerificationNothing with regards to improving PUE

rating over time Its all based on Day 0 performance

CONCLUSION Engage in a discussion to clarify and

define expectation upfront Advocate for Electrical Cx beyond

“standard” services Understand the potential of 90.4P

QUESTION & ANSWER

CONTACT INFORMATIONDerek De Jesús

National Commissioning ManagerKJWW Engineering

312-931-3703dejesusdw@kjww.com

Jeff JamesonMechanical Commissioning Agent

KJWW Engineeringjamesonjj@kjww.com