DCD Data Centre Design Course

Data Centre Design Training

3 Day Classroom Course, Online Course 21 hrs

In this Data Centre Design Course you will learn the best practices for infrastructure design and layout of a data centre or computer room. We guide you through the design process as only a data centre designer can. Using the practical experience derived by Capitoline from designing and auditing computer rooms and data centres this course focuses on the best practices in the specification, sizing and design of data centres

A Data Centre Design Course based on real project experience

Using the practical experience derived by Capitoline from designing and auditing computer rooms and data centres the DCD Data Centre Design Course focuses on the best practices in the specification, sizing and design of data centres.

This was the first ever data centre design course. Many have followed in Capitoline’s footsteps but none have been better.

Data centre design and auditing is what our instructors do when they are not training. If you have a question they will have the answer.

What will you learn?

This comprehensive data centre design course covers everything from defining the best rack layout for your computer room to understanding the size of the UPS and generator required to provide back-up power.
You will learn how cooling systems work, which cooling system is best for your facility and what capacity it needs to be.
Data centre design and auditing is what our instructors do when they are not training. If you have a question they will have the answer.

Simply the best learning experience

Many Data Centre Managers only experience a few facilities in their career. Our instructors see new facilities every month. If you have a question they will have the answer.

The course is packed with information and exercises to help you in understanding all aspects of data centre infrastructure.

If anything is not clear then our instructors are available to answer your questions. They are data centre consultants with many years experience in design and auditing so you can learn from their practical experience.

The course is kept continuously up to date and explains in detail the relevance of US, UK, European and International standards and how to apply them. Our instructors are actively involved in the committees developing European and American data centre standards.

You can take this course online or by attending a classroom course.

Our training is recognised internationally find out more here.

Available as an Online Course Subscription

Access to the online data centre facilties auditor course is provided by subscription.

All course subscribers have access to online animated, narrated lessons supported by detailed notes. Find out more about the features of online courses here.

Renewing your annual subscription gives you continued access to the course material to use as a reference. If you have an active subscription you will automatically get access to the latest updated versions of the course.

Available as a Classroom Course

When you book on the classroom data centre design course you will also be given access to the online data centre design course course Subscription for one year. Access will be granted on receipt by Capitoline of your payment (Note: If booking through a 3rd party this may be later than your payment to them). Attendees of the classroom course will also receive a searchable personal electronic copy of the course material.

When you take the Classroom course there are also exercises to help you learn

  • How to pick the best location for your data centre?
  • What is the best way to lay out the different data centre spaces in the building?
  • How do we lay out the racks in the computer room to maximise energy efficiency and space?
  • Calculate cooling requirement of a typical computer room and plan your cooling redundancy model
  • Work out the power requirements of a typical computer, size UPS and generators and plan your redundancy model
  • Calculate number of racks and power requirements from a list of IT equipment
  • Quizzes and a final exam to confirm learning and progress

Who should take this course?

  • IT managers and directors
  • Data centre managers and directors
  • Facilities managers
  • Engineers and consultants involved in data centre specifications

Get Certified – Certificate and Logo

If you complete this DCD data centre design course and pass the exam you will be awarded a certificate and the right to use the DCD logo and the DCD designation after your name whilst your certificate is valid. The certificate will expire three years from the date of issue of the certificate. In order to renew certification, it will normally necessary to pay for and take a renewal examination and to be subscribed to the appropriate course. Near the end of your certificate expiry we will send a reminder to your registered email address to explain the process.

Course Content

Introduction to data centres

  • What is a Data Centre?
  • Limiting factors on design
  • Technical Standards
  • What will it cost?
  • Ratings, Tiers and Classes for reliability
  • Data Centre Efficiency – PUE

Building a New Data Centre

  • The steps in the process of building a new data centre
  • The role of the designer
  • Where most of the money goes
  • The importance of handover documentation and commissioning

IT Systems

  • The basic building blocks of the IT systems and their function
  • How changing technology affects design
  • Differences between Telecoms Equipment and IT (Data) Equipment
  • Principles for improving cooling efficiency of the IT equipment

Spaces and places

  • Ideal locations
  • Engineered spaces needed for a data centre
  • Architectural requirements
  • Sizing the computer room from an IT requirement
  • Calculating floor strength
  • Room heights
  • Access and DDA requirements
  • Fire escapes and emergency lighting
  • Other facilities management issues

Raised access floors

  • Calculating floor strength
  • Distributed and point loads
  • Standards
  • Correct sealing
  • Calculating floor heights
  • Zinc whisker contamination

Racks and computer room layouts

  • Hot and cold aisle concept
  • 7 and 8 tile pitch models
  • Server and communications racks
  • 2 and 4 post designs

Air-conditioning

  • Air conditioning and cooling principles
  • Laws of thermodynamics
  • Precision v comfort cooling
  • Available technologies
  • DX v central chiller options
  • Dry cooler
  • ASHRAE, TIA and CIBSE requirements
  • Low humidity problems
  • Ventilation and filtration requirements
  • New TUI Tier definitions of cooling
  • Energy saving techniques e.g. dry cooler, air economiser, water economiser
  • Solar thermal gain
  • How to calculate heat loads and aircon sizing
  • kW v tons v BTU of cooling
  • How much heat comes from IT equipment
  • Hot aisle/cold aisle options
  • Enclosed cold and hot aisles
  • Other rack cooling options
  • Side to side cooling for large Cisco switches
  • Water cooled racks
  • CO2 cooled racks
  • Spot cooling
  • Air flow calculations
  • Rating, Tiering, Class requirements
  • CFD analysis

Power

  • EN50600/TIA942 & N, N+1 and 2N power models
  • EU Code of Conduct requirements
  • AC v DC
  • Power, kW and kVA
  • Power factor issues
  • Single v 3 phase distribution
  • Rating, Tier and Class 1-4 models
  • Calculate power needs: UPS and generator sizing
  • UPS options: Off-line, on line dual conversion, delta, transformerless, Battery and kinetic energy systems
  • Emergency Power Off requirements
  • Power Distribution units

Earthing, Grounding and Bonding

  • European, USA and world standards
  • EN 50310 and TIA 607
  • Grounding bars
  • Equipotential bonding
  • Signal reference grids

Fire Systems

  • Fire safety plans
  • Fire detection methods
  • Aspirating smoke detection (VESDA)
  • Integrating fire, BMS, HVAC and power systems
  • Fire suppression techniques
  • Inert gas v halocarbon techniques
  • Water mist and low oxygen (hypoxic) methods
  • Low risk fire cabling (US and European)

Security

  • Security Standards
  • CCTV methods
  • Access control
  • Physical security measures

IT Cabling Systems

  • Evolution of computers, LANs and cabling
  • International cabling standards
  • Definitions of Cat 3, Cat5, Cat6, Cat6A and Cat 7
  • Cabling Components
  • High Speed Networking
  • Defining screened and unscreened (shielded and unshielded) cables
  • Cable sizes
  • Copper & Fibre connectors and patch panels
  • Pre-terminated cabling solutions
  • Fibre Optics
  • Matching LANs to cables
  • Defining optical fibres e.g. OM3, OM4 etc
  • Latest OM4 and OS2 fibres
  • Advantages of optical fibre
  • Value engineering cable and LAN plant
  • Cabling System Design
  • 2, 3 and 4 connector systems
  • The ISO 11801 hierarchical model
  • Intelligent patching options
  • Rating and Class 1 -4 requirements
  • Different cabling models
  • Best generic designs
  • US v EU standards and terminology

Cable Containment

  • Separation of services to EU and USA standards
  • Calculating fill factors
  • Cable containment options
  • Effect of different cable sizes
  • Fire stopping

Monitoring Systems DCIM and BMS

    • BMS Vs DCIM
    • System costs
    • Key functions of BMS and DCIM
    • Key implementation considerations