Chapter 09: Structural

Question 1

What types of loads on the structure – as defined in ASCE 7 – should be considered while designing a data center?

Answer 1

• Dead loads, soil loads, hydrostatic pressure loads
• Live loads
• Flood
• Snow
• Rain
• Ice
• Seismic
• Wind

Question 2

What are the minimum floor loading requirements for a data center floor?

Answer 2

7.2 kPa (150 lbf/ft^2) with 1.2 kPa (25 lbf/ft^2) hanging dead load (weight that can be supported from the underside of the floor or roof.

Question 3

What should be the minimum superimposed live load for the battery room floors?

Answer 3

1221 to 2441 kg/m^2 (250 to 500 lbf/ft^2)

Question 4

What should the minimum suspended dead load for the roof areas over battery rooms?

Answer 4

146 kg/m^2 (30 lbf/ft^2)

Question 5

What measure is commonly used for wind-loading calculations in the design of data centers?

Answer 5

The enhanced Fujita Scale level of EF3.

Question 6

What mitigation strategies should be in place to ensure that a data center can function following a major seismic event?

Answer 6

• Use base isolation for access floors
• Provide anchorage for generators, chillers, fans, switchgears, piping and conduit, and racks
• Consider using passive dampers to provide base isolation and building energy dissipation.

Question 7

What mitigation strategies should be in place to protect a data center from the ice impact from the ice shedding from the adjacent communication or broadcast towers?

Answer 7

• Armoring the lower roof
• Locating the facility outside the ice shedding area
• Adding heating elements on the tower to preclude the formation of ice.

Question 8

What is the most common type of terrorist attack?

Answer 8

A blast or explosion from some manner of vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED)

Question 9

Regarding terrorism, what does the acronym “VBIED” mean?

Answer 9

vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED)

Question 10

What are some anti-terrorism measures that should be considered when designing a data center?

Answer 10

• The security and physical site barriers that will help to maximize distance that a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) can be from the data center.
• How to include the blast-resistant design features in the structure
• The screening processes that will occur at the location.

Question 11

What is the most common use of the Enhanced Fujita Scale?

Answer 11

To measure wind-loading calculations

Question 12

Using a base isolation for access floors and dampers to provide base isolation and building energy dissipation are strategies to ensure a data center can function following what event?

Answer 12

A major seismic event

Question 13

Adding heating elements on the tower to preclude the formation of ice is one measure against what possibility?

Answer 13

the ice impact from the ice shedding from the adjacent communication or broadcast towers could have on the data center.