This month’s Facility File will focus on the B2B May test for an existing datacom room located within a 50,000-square-foot medical records office building. The existing datacom room is being expanded from 10,000 square feet to 12,000 square feet. This existing interior room has a class A1 environment and shall remain class A1 with the expansion project. The room shall remain at 78ºF +/- 2ºF and 40% rh +/- 5%.
As a rule, owners and operators of large datacom spaces are very knowledgeable about the HVAC infrastructure that is required to assure the correct space environment. Still, it would be very beneficial for these individuals to read Chapter 19 (Data Centers and Telecommunication Facilities) in the 2015 ASHRAE Handbook — HVAC Applications to refresh their knowledge of ASHRAE’s guidelines when preparing to authorize the design of a datacom room expansion.