What is a potential disadvantage of using a hypoxic-based fire suppression system as a fire
extinguishing system?
C
Explanation:
A hypoxic-based fire suppression system works by reducing the oxygen level in a room to below what
is necessary to sustain combustion. This makes it effective in fire prevention, but it is not suitable for
continuous occupancy by personnel. Low oxygen levels can cause discomfort or even health risks for
people spending extended periods in the space. Therefore, these systems are typically deployed in
areas where continuous human occupancy is not required, such as storage rooms or data halls with
limited personnel access.
Detailed Explanation:
Hypoxic fire suppression systems lower oxygen levels to around 15-16%, which is safe for short
periods but not sustainable for continuous occupancy without risk to health. Data center
environments where staff need to spend long periods monitoring and maintaining equipment would
need alternative systems, like gas-based suppression that allows for safe evacuation rather than
oxygen reduction.
EPI Data Center Specialist Reference:
The EPI Data Center Specialist curriculum emphasizes that fire suppression systems must be chosen
based on occupancy requirements. Hypoxic systems are specifically noted as unsuitable for spaces
requiring continuous human presence due to the low oxygen environment they create.
The humidity in the computer room has changed from about 50% down to 35% Relative Humidity
(RH).
What influence does this have on Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)?
C
Explanation:
As relative humidity decreases, Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) risks increase. Lower humidity levels
reduce the amount of moisture in the air, which normally helps dissipate static charges. When the
humidity drops from 50% to 35%, the likelihood of static electricity accumulating on surfaces rises,
leading to a higher potential for ESD incidents that could damage sensitive IT equipment.
Detailed Explanation:
ESD events are more common in dry environments because there is less atmospheric moisture to
neutralize electrical charges. Maintaining relative humidity above 40% helps minimize the risk of
ESD, which is why data centers often control humidity levels tightly to protect equipment from static
discharge that could cause hardware failures or data loss.
EPI Data Center Specialist Reference:
EPI data center best practices stress the importance of maintaining stable humidity levels to prevent
ESD, particularly in computer rooms. Recommended humidity ranges are typically above 40% to
prevent conditions that would foster static buildup.
A computer room with a raised floor has been designed with racks in a hot/cold aisle setup.
What should you recommend for the placement of down-flow air conditioners?
A
Explanation:
In a hot/cold aisle configuration, placing down-flow air conditioners perpendicular to the cold aisle
ensures that cool air is directed efficiently into the cold aisles where server intakes are located. This
layout allows for optimal cooling performance by aligning the airflow directly with the equipment
intakes, minimizing hot spots and enhancing cooling efficiency.
Detailed Explanation:
With a raised floor design, cold air from the air conditioners is supplied into the cold aisle, where
server intakes are located. Positioning the air conditioning units perpendicular to the cold aisles
ensures that cool air is delivered directly into these aisles, preventing air mixing and optimizing
cooling. This setup takes full advantage of the airflow management strategy inherent to the hot/cold
aisle configuration.
EPI Data Center Specialist Reference:
EPI guidelines on cooling emphasize that down-flow air conditioners should be positioned to
maximize the effectiveness of cold aisle delivery, which improves cooling efficiency and helps
maintain consistent temperatures across server racks.
A computer room needs to be fitted out with a gas-based fire suppression system. The computer
room will be a high-density data center with about 30% of the racks being closed circuit cooling
blade-center racks.
Should the supplier of the fire suppression system be informed on the design of the racks?
C
Explanation:
The design and configuration of racks, particularly high-density and closed-circuit cooling racks,
directly impact the fire suppression system design. Closed-circuit cooling racks, like blade-center
racks, can affect airflow and potentially trap heat, influencing how fire suppression agents are
distributed within the space. Therefore, it is essential to inform the fire suppression system supplier
about the rack design to ensure effective coverage and proper agent distribution.
Detailed Explanation:
High-density racks can change how smoke and heat travel, which in turn affects fire detection and
suppression. Closed racks with built-in cooling can isolate airflow, requiring adjustments in fire
suppression design to ensure that suppression agents reach all necessary areas, including within
enclosed spaces. The supplier may need to account for these factors to ensure proper protection
coverage.
EPI Data Center Specialist Reference:
The EPI Data Center Specialist training underscores that fire suppression systems must be tailored to
the specific environmental characteristics of the data center. The design of racks, particularly high-
density configurations, should always be considered to ensure that suppression agents can
effectively control a fire, even in contained rack spaces.
The 'maximum exposed area' of the fire-rated glass is defined by the supplier as 3 sqm/32 sqft. The
window area is 4 sqm/43 sqft.
What would be the best option?
C
Explanation:
When the window area exceeds the maximum exposed area specified for fire-rated glass, it is
necessary to split the window into sections that comply with the fire rating requirements. This means
creating smaller sections that are each within the 3 sqm/32 sqft limit and using fire-rated frames to
ensure that the entire assembly meets fire safety standards. This approach maintains the fire-rated
integrity of the glass, while allowing for larger window areas.
Detailed Explanation:
Fire-rated glass is designed to contain fire and prevent it from spreading. If the window exceeds the
maximum exposed area defined by the supplier, the integrity of the fire-rated glass could be
compromised. By dividing the window into compliant sections with fire-rated frames, you ensure
that each pane performs as intended in the event of a fire. Fire-rated frames help maintain the fire
resistance across the entire assembly, making this option the best for safety and compliance.
EPI Data Center Specialist Reference:
EPI recommends adhering strictly to fire safety standards, especially when using materials like fire-
rated glass. The guidelines emphasize that modifications should always respect the manufacturer’s
specifications to ensure the system remains effective in containing and preventing the spread of fire.
A data center scores Rated-3 in mechanical, Rated-4 in electrical, and Rated-2 in architectural.
What is the overall Rating of this data center when the Rating is based on the ANSI/TIA-942?
A
Explanation:
According to ANSI/TIA-942 standards, the overall data center rating is determined by the lowest
rating among all evaluated categories. Therefore, if a data center is rated 2 in architectural, despite
being rated higher in mechanical and electrical, the overall rating is Rated-2. This approach ensures
that all aspects meet a minimum standard and prevents a higher rating if any critical area does not
comply.
Detailed Explanation:
ANSI/TIA-942 evaluates data centers across several areas, including mechanical, electrical,
architectural, and telecommunications. The overall rating reflects the lowest rated category, ensuring
that no aspect of the data center’s design or operation falls below the specified level. Thus, in this
case, the architectural rating of 2 dictates the final rating, ensuring a comprehensive and balanced
assessment of reliability and resilience across all aspects.
EPI Data Center Specialist Reference:
EPI Data Center Specialist training aligns with ANSI/TIA-942, stating that the final rating must reflect
the lowest score to ensure comprehensive reliability across all critical infrastructure categories. This
avoids overstating the data center's resilience and ensures uniform standards across areas.
The data center has been in operation for about 1 year and 2 months. The dust levels in the
computer room are relatively high.
What is the most likely root cause?
D
Explanation:
High dust levels in a computer room are often due to improperly fitted floorboards. When
floorboards are not securely installed or do not fit tightly, they allow dust and particles from the
subfloor to enter the room. In a data center, this can lead to high levels of dust that affect air quality
and equipment performance.
Detailed Explanation:
Raised floors in data centers can accumulate dust and debris, especially if the floorboards are not
properly sealed. Loose or improperly fitted floorboards allow contaminants from the subfloor to
enter the data center environment, increasing the dust levels over time. Proper installation and
maintenance of floor panels are essential to prevent dust infiltration and maintain clean conditions.
EPI Data Center Specialist Reference:
EPI training emphasizes proper flooring installation and maintenance to control air quality within
data centers. Correctly fitted floorboards prevent dust accumulation from the subfloor, which helps
protect sensitive equipment and maintains a cleaner environment.
You have three UPS systems connected in parallel. The UPS systems have an imbalance in the load
sharing of approximately 20%.
What should you recommend?
A
Explanation:
An imbalance in load sharing between UPS systems connected in parallel can often result from
unequal cable lengths to the common busbar. If the cabling from each UPS to the busbar varies
significantly in length, it can lead to differences in impedance, resulting in uneven load distribution.
Ensuring that cable lengths are consistent helps to balance the load sharing across the UPS systems.
Detailed Explanation:
Parallel UPS systems rely on uniform impedance to share loads evenly. Differences in cable lengths
cause variations in resistance, leading to one or more UPS units carrying a disproportionate share of
the load. Standardizing cable lengths ensures equal impedance, which promotes balanced load
sharing and prevents one UPS from being overburdened, thus maintaining overall system reliability.
EPI Data Center Specialist Reference:
EPI guidelines recommend checking cable lengths when load imbalances occur in parallel UPS
configurations. Ensuring equal lengths is a common method to resolve impedance issues that affect
load distribution, which is critical for the stable operation of redundant power systems.
You are working on the design of a new facility. The electrical riser of the building with high current
power is located close to the area where sensitive IT equipment in the computer room will be
located.
What should you recommend to reduce the amount of EMF coming from the electrical riser?
D
Explanation:
To reduce Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) emanating from the electrical riser near sensitive IT
equipment, three-phase power cabling in a combined cable (such as XLPE) is effective. Combined
cabling helps reduce EMF by keeping the conductors tightly packed, which minimizes magnetic fields
generated by current flow. Cables like XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) also offer better insulation,
which helps mitigate EMF interference with nearby IT equipment.
Detailed Explanation:
Using a combined three-phase cable reduces EMF because the magnetic fields generated by each
phase tend to cancel each other out when in close proximity. This arrangement helps reduce the
overall magnetic field strength. In addition, XLPE and similar materials provide good insulation,
making them a preferred choice for reducing EMF emissions around sensitive equipment.
EPI Data Center Specialist Reference:
EPI data center best practices recommend mitigating EMF interference through combined cabling
arrangements, especially near areas where sensitive IT equipment is located. Reducing EMF is crucial
to maintaining equipment reliability and ensuring compliance with safety standards.
The location of a data center is just above the Arctic Circle (North Pole). The outside air temperature
is never above 21°C/70°F.
Taking energy efficiency as the highest priority, which cooling system should you recommend?
D
Explanation:
In locations with consistently cold temperatures, such as above the Arctic Circle, an airside
economizer is the most energy-efficient cooling solution. Airside economizers use cool outside air to
lower indoor temperatures, reducing or even eliminating the need for mechanical cooling. Given the
consistently low temperatures, this method maximizes energy efficiency by leveraging natural
cooling.
Detailed Explanation:
Airside economizers are ideal in environments where outside temperatures are consistently low. By
drawing in and filtering cold outdoor air, they directly cool the indoor environment, thereby reducing
energy consumption significantly compared to traditional air conditioning. This cooling approach
aligns with energy efficiency goals by minimizing mechanical cooling demands.
EPI Data Center Specialist Reference:
EPI recommends the use of airside economizers in cold climates to achieve high energy efficiency, as
they allow data centers to capitalize on ambient conditions for cooling, aligning with sustainability
and cost-saving practices.