Consulting
Data Center Site Audits
Tier IV Consulting Group has conducted numerous data center evaluations based upon assorted owner requirements. A typical evaluation consists of one or more engineers (mechanical and/or electrical) visiting the site to conduct a comprehensive field survey. The detailed scope of work is tailored to the requirements and expectations of the client. For an overall evaluation, focus areas include: Utility Service, Electrical Distribution, Engine Generator Plant, UPS Systems, UPS Battery Plant, Critical Distribution, Grounding, Lightning Protection Systems, Central Mechanical Plant, UPS Room Cooling, Raised Floor Cooling, Fuel Oil Distribution, Building Automation Systems, Physical Security, Contamination and Fire Detection and Suppression systems. The evaluation criteria will include general equipment conditions, capacity, single points of failure, concurrent maintainability, fault tolerance, maintenance history, normal and emergency operational procedures and operations within design intent. A detailed written report with findings and recommendations will be provided. This report may include high level schematic designs and budgetary pricing for the enhancements included in the recommendations.
General Site Audits
A vast majority of business operations in the world do not have data centers. Therefore, many of the systems that are reviewed in a data center audit are not applicable. However, the operation of your business depends upon the underlying infrastructure operating as designed. Tier IV Consulting Group has performed many site audits of general office buildings and light commercial and manufacturing facilities. Often times the audit is initiated and focused on a specific system that is malfunctioning or has failed. Tier IV Consulting Group will utilize multiple tools, test and monitor equipment, visual inspections and interviews with the facilities staff and equipment manufacturers to determine the root cause and the optimal solution to the problem at hand. Often times, there is no single root cause to the deficient system. It is often multiple items that when grouped together, drive the system to fail. Tier IV was recently involved in a site audit at a manufacturing plant that was having multiple variable speed drives fail. Our audit determined that the failures were caused by deficient electrical and communication grounding. This problem has exacerbated by the contaminated cooling air being blown into the cabinets that contained these drives.
Procedures and Documentation
Tier IV Consulting Group has developed written policies and procedures for numerous facilities. Policies provide direction for operations staff and contractors to follow when working in the facility. An example of a written policy is a step-by-step procedure to be followed for power cable fabrication and installation. Procedures are used when performing switching or other planned or unplanned operations within the facility. An example of a normal operational procedure is for the transfer of UPS loads to a maintenance bypass feed so that the UPS can be isolated for maintenance or testing. This type of procedure is typically scheduled days or weeks in advance and the work must be reviewed and approved prior to the scheduled work date. An emergency procedure is used to provide direction for an unplanned event where an immediate response is required. An example of an emergency procedure is manually paralleling engine generators to the distribution bus because of a failure of the automatic synchronization control. Tier IV Consulting Group works closely with the onsite staff to develop concise, comprehensive documents.
Forensic Analysis
Tier IV Consulting Group has conducted numerous investigations to determine the root cause of system or component mis-operations and failures. Investigations include site survey and power quality monitoring to determine the cause of variable frequency drive failures, site survey and power quality monitoring to determine the cause of communication errors with EKG machines. We also investigate UPS System and battery failures, chiller system failures, control systems failures, engine generator systems failures and transformer failures. For every analysis, a comprehensive written report is provided that detail the findings and provide recommendations to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a similar event occurring in the future.