Overview

Create a comprehensive data centre design that supports the critical needs of the business, examining in-depth the key constraints of data centre functionality to deliver a balanced, efficient, and sustainable solution.

The Certified Data Centre Design Professional (CDCDP®) program is proven to be an essential certification for individuals wishing to demonstrate their technical knowledge of data centre architecture and component operating conditions.

This five-day program has a comprehensive agenda that explores and addresses the key elements associated with designing a data centre. It teaches best practice principles for the design, construction and operation of computer rooms and data centre operational support facilities. The program also addresses the importance of accurate interpretation of detailed customer requirements at the planning stage to ensure that the business needs remain focal to all decision making.

Learners will also explore the key elements of physical infrastructure, electrical distribution systems, air-conditioning, data cabling and building support systems. The program concludes with a comprehensive case study exercise that guides learners through the design steps from initiation to commission, covering the business decisions, design scope and implementation phases that need to be addressed throughout all aspects of the process.

A certified CDCDP® also considers the requirements for compliance, having a full understanding of national and international regulations, codes and standards. During the program, learners will be provided a valuable opportunity to access the latest industry standards.

Following this program, you are encouraged to continue your professional development by advancing your knowledge and skills to gain further official certifications and qualifications by progressing through The Global Digital Infrastructure Education Framework which maps education programs to career advancement throughout the network infrastructure and data centre sectors.

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Prerequisites

Experience of working within a data centre environment is essential; preferably with two years experience in a technical IT, operational or facilities role. If you would like to discuss your experience or suitability for this program please contact us.

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Delegates will learn how to

CDCDP® certified individuals will possess unrivalled knowledge, expertise and capability to deliver a comprehensive data centre design to meet on-going operational and business needs.

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Outline

  • What is a Data Centre?
    The data centre stack
    Types of data centre
    The Design Planning Process
    Main design considerations
    Developing a project plan
    Scoping the Requirement
    Identifying key stakeholders
    Market and political drivers
    National and international standards
    Availability and resilience classifications
    Introduction to Availability Models (Uptime Tier, TIA 942-B Rating, BICSI Classes & Syska Hennessy Critical Levels)
    Recommendations for location, size, heights, floor loading, lighting and décor
    Whitespace Floor
    National and international standards
    Structural and load requirements
    Recommended floor heights
    Airflow and sealing
    Ramps and access
    Seismic protection
    Slab floor construction considerations
    Cabinets
    Requirements of a cabinet
    Security, safety and stabilisation
    Clearance, accessibility and ventilation
    Cable management
    Seismic stability considerations
    Design specifications
    Power
    Regulations and codes
    The meaning of N, N+1 2(N+1), etc
    Power delivery and distribution losses
    Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) options
    Generator considerations
    Power distribution units
    Power distribution to, and in a rack
    Remote Power Panels (RPPs)
    Emergency Power Off (EPO)
    Estimating power requirements
    Cooling
    National and international standards
    Basics of air conditioning principles
    CRAHs and CRACs
    ASHRAE Operational parameters
    Under floor plenum approach
    Hot aisle/cold aisle layout principle
    Hot and cold aisle containment
    Psychrometric charts
    Min and max throw distances for under floor air
    Bypass and recirculation
    Airflow management
    Chilled water racks, CO2, free air cooling
    Earthing & Bonding
    Applicable standards
    The terminology of earthing, grounding & bonding
    Equipotential bonding
    Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
    Functional earths
    The Signal Reference Grid (SRG)
    Cable Containment, Management & Protection
    Applicable standards
    Separation of power and data cables
    Administration and labelling
    Types of conduit, trunking, tray, etc, available
    Earthing and bonding
    Containment fill ratio
    Underfloor v overhead containment
    Cable management, in and to a rack
    Fire stopping
    Delivering the IT Strategy
    Data centre equipment
    Functions and protocols, current and future
    Data centre connections
    Cabling requirements
    Cabling standards
    Cabling options
    The impact of 40G and 100G
    The impact of virtualisation
    Copper and Optical Fibre Cabling Connectivity
    Cabling standards
    Cable standards, 10GBASE-T, CAT6A & Cat 7A & Cat 8
    Screened vs unscreened cables
    High density patching
    Alien crosstalk
    Copper test requirements
    Design for growth management
    Channel connections
    Connection topologies
    Optical connectors, past and present
    Optical fibre management
    Types of optical cable
    Pre-terminated cabling
    Advantages/disadvantages of pre-terminating cables
    Optical component loss and link power budgets
    Application link loss
    Optical testing requirements
    Pre-terminated cabling
    Safety and Manageability
    Local codes and regulations
    Fire safety plan
    ASD and detection systems
    Fire suppression systems
    Fire safety cable requirements
    Security and access control
    Commission and handover
    Benefits of commissioning
    Commission process and test sequence
    Handover process and training
    Lessons learned
    Power Review
    Power consumption trends
    Energy availability, security and cost
    Energy challenges facing the data centre
    Power Regulations
    Which regulations affect data centres?
    Environmental regulations and pressures
    Energy and environmental programs
    Power Basics
    Ohm’s law, Joule’s law, the Kirchhoff laws
    Electrical parameters
    AC and DC
    Single phase and three phase
    Residual currents
    Harmonics
    Power to the Data Centre
    Where does the electricity come from?
    Electrical supply options
    Transformers
    Surge suppression devices
    Costs of electrical power
    Types of tariff available
    Alternate power supply options
    Distribution in the Data Centre
    Electrical circuit requirements
    Switching devices
    Power factor correction units
    Automatic and static transfer switches
    Main, feeder, sub-main circuits
    Power distribution units
    Remote power panels
    Final circuits
    Cable and fuse sizing
    Power distribution and associated losses
    TN-S systems
    Energy efficiency
    Standby Power
    UPS components, batteries and redundant systems
    UPS options and considerations
    Static and maintenance bypasses
    Standby generators
    Cooling Review
    Data Centre limiting factors
    Sources of cooling inefficiencies
    Cooling trends
    Regulatory Climate
    Which regulations affect data centres?
    Environmental pressures
    Cooling efficiency
    Design considerations & planning redundancy
    Overview of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
    Periodic review process
    Environmental Parameters
    Standards, NEBS, ETSI, ASHRAE
    Operating environment ranges
    Rate of change
    ASHRAE psychrometric charts
    Humidification systems
    The need for sensors
    Measuring and monitoring
    Collecting the Heat
    Cooling system overview
    CRACs and CRAHs
    Maximising existing investment
    Rack v row options
    Dynamics and problems of air flow
    Liquid cooling
    Comparison of high-density cooling
    Available cooling options
    Heat Rejection Or Reuse
    Heat transfer considerations
    DX systems
    Chilled water CRAHs
    Chiller options
    Adiabatic cooling
    CWS and CHWS plant
    Design considerations
    Free cooling and free – air cooling
    Commissioning maintenance
    Planned preventative maintenance
    Energy Use Systems
    Energy efficiency issues
    Layers of inefficiency
    Power system provision
    Cooling system provision
    Understanding areas of improvements
    IT Infrastructure
    Extending the operating envelope
    Environment zones
    Accurate IT calculations
    Energy use in the IT equipment
    Software and storage considerations
    Transformation options
    Energy efficient IT equipment
    Power Systems
    Energy use in the data centre
    DC power train
    Matching the support to the IT load
    Transformer efficiencies
    UPS & motor efficiencies
    DCiE for modular provisioning
    Maximising the power factor
    Measuring and monitoring
    Infrared inspections
    Planned electrical safety inspections
    Implementing data centre electrical efficiency
    Cooling Efficiency
    Cooling, a cascade system
    Affinity laws and cooling equation
    CRAC and CRAH efficiencies
    Optimising air-side systems & water-side systems
    DCiE for cooling options
    Diagnostic and site specific monitoring
    Design considerations
    Data Centre Metrics
    Where and what can we measure?
    The metric stack
    Metric characteristics
    Current industry metrics (PUE, CUE, WUE, ERE, RCI & RTI)
    Chained value metrics (CADE)
    Proxy metrics (FVER, DPPE, DCeP)
    Efficiency Models & Best Practices
    Energy calculations
    Levels of modelling
    Modelling tools
    Sources of guidance
    Effective v Efficient
    The DC language barrier
    the multi-functional team
    Design for efficiency, operability & flexibility
    Industry recognised best practices
    Design Management
    Characteristics of project management
    Key project processes
    Identifying and engaging with key stakeholders
    Setting goals
    Prioritisation of activities
    Cornerstones of project management
    Managing the Design Process
    What is to be delivered?
    What constraints are there?
    Managing dependencies
    Managing the tribes
    Managing conflict
    Identifying risk
    Risk and issue management
    Change management
    Reporting and communication
    Managing the Design Implementation Process
    Project charter and specification
    Risk assessment and management
    Scope management
    Float and critical path
    Human resource management
    Project integration and work breakdown structure
    Time and cost management
    Handover and progressive acceptance
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Why choose QA

Special Notices

It is essential that you bring a device with wireless capability, and unrestricted access to the internet as the program is delivered via an online learning management system. The log in process will be explained at the start of your program. The recommended web browser is Internet Explorer 11 but the system supports all web browsers. The program content also requires a PDF reader, adobe flash player and Microsoft word and excel.

Dates & Locations

Frequently asked questions

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How can I create an account on myQA.com?

There are a number of ways to create an account. If you are a self-funder, simply select the "Create account" option on the login page.

If you have been booked onto a course by your company, you will receive a confirmation email. From this email, select "Sign into myQA" and you will be taken to the "Create account" page. Complete all of the details and select "Create account".

If you have the booking number you can also go here and select the "I have a booking number" option. Enter the booking reference and your surname. If the details match, you will be taken to the "Create account" page from where you can enter your details and confirm your account.

Find more answers to frequently asked questions in our FAQs: Bookings & Cancellations page.

How do QA’s virtual classroom courses work?

Our virtual classroom courses allow you to access award-winning classroom training, without leaving your home or office. Our learning professionals are specially trained on how to interact with remote attendees and our remote labs ensure all participants can take part in hands-on exercises wherever they are.

We use the WebEx video conferencing platform by Cisco. Before you book, check that you meet the WebEx system requirements and run a test meeting (more details in the link below) to ensure the software is compatible with your firewall settings. If it doesn’t work, try adjusting your settings or contact your IT department about permitting the website.

Learn more about our Virtual Classrooms.

How do QA’s online courses work?

QA online courses, also commonly known as distance learning courses or elearning courses, take the form of interactive software designed for individual learning, but you will also have access to full support from our subject-matter experts for the duration of your course. When you book a QA online learning course you will receive immediate access to it through our e-learning platform and you can start to learn straight away, from any compatible device. Access to the online learning platform is valid for one year from the booking date.

All courses are built around case studies and presented in an engaging format, which includes storytelling elements, video, audio and humour. Every case study is supported by sample documents and a collection of Knowledge Nuggets that provide more in-depth detail on the wider processes.

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When will I receive my joining instructions?

Joining instructions for QA courses are sent two weeks prior to the course start date, or immediately if the booking is confirmed within this timeframe. For course bookings made via QA but delivered by a third-party supplier, joining instructions are sent to attendees prior to the training course, but timescales vary depending on each supplier’s terms. Read more FAQs.

When will I receive my certificate?

Certificates of Achievement are issued at the end the course, either as a hard copy or via email. Read more here.

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