Certified Data Centre Specialist (CDCS)

Overview of the phases of a data centre life cycle
Planning, re-alignment and continuous improvement

Rating level history
Difference between Uptime and TIA-942
Rating level definitions
Redundancy options (N+1), 2N, 2(N+1)
Concurrent Maintainability/Compartmentalisation
Example configurations
Substation and feed requirements
Maintenance options
Operational processes guidelines/standards
Skill development

Building location considerations
Floor and hanging loads requirements
Fire rating for walls and glass
Blast protection
Bullet proofing
Forced entry protection

Raised floor installation guidelines
Techniques to install a proper and leveled raised access floor
Common mistakes
Choosing the right tiles and their locations
Seismic-mitigating floor constructions
Choosing the correct suspended ceiling

Power infrastructure layout;
Formulas which you should know for the data centre
Single Line Electrical diagrams; how to read to ensure key components are present for protection
Over current protection devices (MCB/MCCB/VCB/ACB/Fuses) definitions and what to use where
Earth Leakage devices (RCB/RCD/ELCB/GFCI/ALCI/RCBO), definitions and what to use where
Sizing of protective components
Lightning strikes and surge protection devices (TVSS/SPD), how they operate, where to use and how to install
Power cabling and cable run considerations
PDU/DB setup and minimum requirements

Generators;
Generator types: Standy/Prime/Continuous
Component make up and functions
Fuel storage and calculation
Paralleling of gen-sets
Generator room/area requirements

UPS Systems;
Required specifications for UPS systems
How to read data sheets and select the correct UPS
Requirements for parallel configurations and avoid pitfalls such as single point of failures
How parallel installation should be done, classic mistakes made by installers and how to avoid these

Harmonic Filters;
Active/Passive filters and their application

Battery Banks;
Battery bank terminology
Designing battery banks, how to calculate, and double check the battery bank to be installed
Battery charging pitfalls and ensuring the right charger is being installed and used
Using parallel battery banks; how to properly install them, limitations and risks when using batteries in parallel
How to test batteries correctly and make decisions on cell/block or string replacement
Battery casing choices; ABS, V0, V1, V2
Alternative energy storage; flywheel, re-usable cell, compressed air UPS, etc.

Sources of EMF
Difference between single, three phase and bus-bar EMF
Options available to measure EMF and how to interpret the results from single-axes and composite measurements
Guidance on safe distance for equipment and humans
Calculation of EMF attenuation factor for shielding material permeability and saturation factors

Important definitions; dry-bulb, wet-bulb, dew-point, RH, sensible and latent heat
Psychometric chart and ASHRAE recommendations
Environmental class definitions and thermal specifications
Temperature/humidity measurements guideline
Heat dissipation methods
Altitude impact on temperature intake to ICT equipment
Floor plan setup for effective cooling
Differences in tile surface and supporting structure and the air-flow performance impact
Rack door construction and the flow performance impact
Equipment Delta-T and its impact
Optimising air flow
Thermal units conversions
Calculations for air volume displacement (CFM/CMH)
Cooling capacity calculations
Air-conditioning selection
De- / humidifying options
Air conditioning efficiency
SHR impact on cost saving
Efficiency indicator
New cooling principle and techniques (Submerged, VSD/VRF/ECF/water- and air side economisers)
Redundancy guidelines for air-conditioners avoiding classic misconceptions and mistakes for meeting ANSI/TIA-942 compliant designs
Installation requirements
Connections to fire panel and EPO
Commissioning of air conditioners
Set points and calibration
CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics)

The fire triangle and elements to stop a fire
Detection systems in detail (VESDA, VIEW, smoke sensors)
Considerations for installation of sensors
Proper testing of smoke sensors
Water based systems i.e. deluge, wet-pipe, dry-pipe, pre-action and why most of them don't work and how to detect this
Details on Inert and Halocarbon systems and how to select the correct system for your data centre
How to calculate the gas content ensuring the appropriate level is installed to suppress the fire including safety considerations
Other requirements for gas systems such as release times, hold times, pipe install requirements and other important factors
Requirements for the fire detection panel
Installation verification, methods, what to check and how
New advanced fire suppression technologies

ANSI/TIA942 cabling structure topology
ToR, EoR Design
Intelligent patching systems
Installation best practice such as routing, bending radius, separation from power, containment fill ratio, fiber link loss calculator, bonding and grounding requirement
Standard for telecommunications labeling and administration

Acoustic noise effects, regulations, specifications and limits
Data centre contaminations and classifications
Measurements, standards and limits
Preventive measures and avoidance

Business drivers to go Green
High-availability or Green?
Green guidelines and standards
How to measure it and what are acceptable numbers compared to the general industry
PUE classes defined by Green Grid and issues with PUE
Techniques for saving energy in all parts of the data centre i.e. application/system level, cooling, power distribution