Data Center Design Basics Checklist
A free, practical checklist covering the essentials across tier classification, distribution, UPS/ generator sizing, cable sizing, protection, and earthing. Use it as a sanity check on your own designs, or as a study aid.
1. Tier & Reliability Requirements
☐ Confirm the facility's target Uptime Institute tier (or equivalent) before designing anything else — every other decision follows from this.
☐ Identify Single Points of Failure (SPOFs) and confirm they match the target tier's tolerance.
☐ Document required concurrent maintainability and fault tolerance in writing, not just verbally agreed.
2. Load Calculation
☐ Build a load list covering IT load, mechanical (cooling) load, and auxiliary loads separately.
☐ Apply realistic diversity/demand factors — don't just sum nameplate ratings.
☐ Include headroom for future growth, agreed explicitly with the client/owner.
3. Distribution Architecture
☐ Choose radial, ring, block-redundant, or 2N based on the tier target — not by default habit.
☐ Map every load back to its power path(s) and confirm redundancy matches its criticality.
☐ Identify every transformer, switchgear, and busway rating needed along each path.
4. UPS & Generator Sizing
☐ Size UPS for the actual critical load plus agreed growth margin, not just today's load.
☐ Confirm battery/flywheel autonomy is enough to bridge to generator start-up reliably.
☐ Size generators for step-load capability (e.g. UPS rectifier inrush), not just steady-state kW.
☐ Confirm fuel storage meets the facility's minimum runtime target and resupply plan.
5. Cable Sizing
☐ Check current rating (ampacity) for the installation method actually used.
☐ Apply derating for ambient temperature and cable grouping/bundling.
☐ Check voltage drop over the full run length, not just at rated current.
☐ Check short-circuit withstand against the available fault current and clearing time.
6. Protection & Studies
☐ Run a short-circuit study before finalizing protective device ratings.
☐ Run an arc-flash study and confirm PPE/labeling requirements are addressed.
☐ Confirm protection coordination across all levels — no nuisance trips, no missed trips.
7. Earthing, Bonding & Lightning Protection
☐ Confirm the earthing system type (TN-S, TN-C-S, TT, etc.) matches the utility supply arrangement.
☐ Design a bonding network for racks, trays, and structural steel — not just safety earthing.
☐ Bond the lightning protection system's earthing to the main earthing system, not isolated.
8. Documentation
☐ Single-line diagrams reflect the as-designed (and eventually as-built) system, kept current.
☐ Load schedules, cable schedules, and panel schedules are cross-checked against each other.
☐ Commissioning plan (FAT/SAT) is agreed before construction starts, not written afterward.
This checklist covers the essentials — our Electrical Design – Data Center Specialist program goes through every one of these in full depth, with real deliverables.
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