For Data Centers a loss of power can bring catastrophe and a huge loss of revenue and reputation. Power outages can result in lost data, corrupt files and damaged equipment. As such, data centers require a backup system that is integrated directly into the power infrastructure to ensure that critical systems stay online even if the lights go out.
12 Hours Minimum
The Uptime Institute Owners Advisory Committee defined 12 hours of minimum fuel storage as a starting point for Tier-defined data centers. The Tier Standard: Topology requires this 12-hour fuel storage minimum for all Tiers at 12 hours of runtime at “N” load while meeting the facility’s stated topology objective. Put another way, the fuel storage must be adequate to support the data center design load for 12 hours while on engine generators while meeting the Concurrently Maintainable or Fault Tolerant objective. Exceeding the 12-hour minimum is an Operational Sustainability issue that requires careful analysis of the risks to the data center energy supply.
Many owners reference the amount of fuel on hand based on total capacity. Just as with engine generators, chillers and other capacity components, the true fuel storage capacity is evaluated by removing the redundant component(s). A common example is an owner’s claim of 48 hours of fuel; however, the configuration is two 24-hour tanks, which is only 24 hours of Concurrently Maintainable fuel. The amount of Concurrently Maintainable or Fault Tolerant fuel establishes the baseline as the amount always available, not the best-case scenario of raw fuel storage.
We have experience with mission-critical emergency power design for data centers across the US. We can provide you with system design and specification within 15 minutes that meet industry standard best practices.
