Expansion of existing Data Center

[mshields]

I've got a 80kVA data center serving a hospital. It's in pretty rough shape code wise and reliability wise; the most aggregious thing about it is that it's got a wooden ceiling. So there is no fire rating. On the contrary, it would burn like Christmas tree.

It's got 6 inches of raised floor and a suspended ceiling with about the same. I'm guessing it's no more than 9 feet some inches from structural floor to structural ceiling.

It's got an existing Halon system.

Here's the thing, they want me to consider expansion of this data center as one option to addressing their short term needs (5 years). By knocking out a wall or two we could make the room wider for the added equipment but you're still left with this wooden ceiling.

I want to put this idea to rest. Does increasing the load in this room by a factor of 2, strictly speaking, require that we make the entire room code compliant.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[peter]

This is mainly a bump so take it for what it's worth.
This sounds like Massachusetts General. I have no idea of what the local building code has to say about "wooden ceilings" but you do have a Halon system and these are pretty effective.
Local codes vary. Some will allow the existing to be grandfathered in. Others will say "if you touch it, you have to bring the whole shebang up to code".
Perhaps you could use a dividing wall to seperate your new addition from the original stuff.
~Peter

 

[ron]

For reduction of your own headache, try to install new equipment independent of the existing, so when something fails, it will be a bit easier to determine it wasn't yours.
Depending on what you do, if you modify a wall, then the room needs to become compliant.
Halon is great. It is not illegal, it just can't be manufactured anymore. But luckily, when Europe made halon illegal, the US bought their stock piles for our use.

 

[brian john]

I've got a 80kVA data center serving a hospital. It's in pretty rough shape code wise and reliability wise; the most aggregious thing about it is that it's got a wooden ceiling. So there is no fire rating. On the contrary, it would burn like Christmas tree.


Mike

This sounds like almost every hospital data center I have been in, which unfortunatly is quite a few.

 

[steve66]

Are you sure you can expand the Halon system?

If you add more area, you will need more halon. And although existing systems can be kept in use, I'm not sure they can be expanded.

Steve