Table 10: Tiering reference guide (telecommunications)

TIER 1 (T1)
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
General
Cabling, racks, cabinets, & pathways compliant with relevant yes
TIA specifications

Diversely routed access provider entrances and maintenance not required

holes with minimum 20 m separation
Redundant access provider services – multiple access
providers, central offices, access provider right-of-ways not required

Redundant entrance room not required

Redundant main distribution area not required
Redundant intermediate distribution areas (if present) not required
Redundant backbone cabling and pathways not required
Redundant horizontal cabling and pathways not required
Routers and switches have redundant power supplies,
processors not required

Redundant routers and switches with redundant uplinks not required

Patch panels, outlets, and cabling to be labeled per

ANSITIA-606-B. Cabinets and racks to be labeled on front and yes
rear.
Patch cords and jumpers to be labeled on both ends with the
name of the connection at both ends of the cable not required

Patch panel and patch cable documentation compliant with not required
ANSI/TIA-606-B.

71
ANSI/TIA-942-A
Table 11: Tiering reference guide (architectural)
TIER 1 (A1)
ARCHITECTURAL
Site selection
Proximity to flood hazard area as mapped on a federal Flood
Hazard Boundary or Flood Insurance Rate Map not required

Proximity to coastal or navigable inland waterways not required

Proximity to major highway traffic arteries and main not required
rail lines
Proximity to major airports not required

Parking
Separate visitor and employee parking areas not required

Separate from loading docks not required

Proximity of visitor parking to data center perimeter building

walls not required

Multi-tenant occupancy within building no restriction

Building construction
Type of construction (IBC 2006) no restriction
Fire resistive requirements
Exterior bearing walls Code allowable
Interior bearing walls Code allowable
Exterior nonbearing walls Code allowable
Structural frame Code allowable
Interior non-computer room partition walls Code allowable
Interior computer room partition walls Code allowable
Shaft enclosures Code allowable
Floors and floor-ceilings Code allowable
Roofs and roof-ceilings Code allowable
Meet requirements of NFPA 75 not required
72

TIER 1 (A1)
Miscellaneous Building components
Vapor barriers for walls and ceiling of computer room not required

Building entrances with security checkpoints not required

Access floor panel construction (when provided) no requirement

Understructure (when access floor is provided) no requirement

Roofing
Class no restrictions

Type no restrictions

Wind uplift resistance Minimum Code requirements

Roof Slope Minimum Code requirements
Doors and windows

Fire rating Minimum Code requirements

Minimum Code requirements and not

less than 1 m (3 ft) wide and
Door size 2.13 m (7 ft in) high

Allowed with minimum Code

Windows on perimeter of computer room required fire rating

Entry Lobby
Physically separate from other areas of data center not required

Fire separation from other areas of data center Minimum Code requirements

Security counter not required

Single person interlock, portal or other hardware designed to not required

prevent piggybacking or pass back
73
ANSI/TIA-942-A
TIER 1 (A1)
Administrative offices
Physically separate from other areas of data center not required
Fire separation from other areas of data center Minimum Code requirements

Security office
Physically separate from other areas of data center not required
Fire separation from other areas of data center Minimum Code requirements

180-degree peepholes on security equipment and monitoring Not required

rooms
Dedicated and hardened security equipment and monitoring Not required
rooms
Operations Center
Operations Center physically separate from other areas of data not required
center
Fire separation from other non-computer room areas of data not required
center
Proximity to computer room no requirement

Restrooms and break room areas

Proximity to computer room and support areas no requirement

Fire separation from computer room and support areas Minimum Code requirements

UPS and Battery Rooms

Aisle widths for maintenance, repair, or equipment removal no requirement

Proximity to computer room no requirement

Fire separation from computer room and other areas of data Minimum Code requirements
center
Required Exit Corridors
Fire separation from computer room and support areas Minimum Code requirements

Width Minimum Code requirements

74

TIER 1 (A1)
Shipping and receiving area
Shipping and receiving area physically separate from other No shipping and receiving area
areas of data center provided
Minimum Code requirements if
Fire separation from other areas of data center shipping and receiving area present

Physical protection of walls exposed to lifting equipment traffic not required

Number of loading docks no requirement

Generator and fuel storage areas

Proximity to computer room and support areas no requirement

Proximity to publicly accessible areas no requirement

Security

System CPU UPS capacity no requirement

Data Gathering Panels (Field Panels) UPS Capacity no requirement

Field Device UPS Capacity no requirement

Physical security staffing no requirement

75
ANSI/TIA-942-A
TIER 1 (A1)
Security Access Control/Monitoring at:
Generators industrial grade lock
UPS, Telephone & MEP Rooms industrial grade lock
Fiber Vaults industrial grade lock
Emergency Exit Doors industrial grade lock

Accessible Exterior Windows/openings no requirement

Security Operations Center no requirement

Network Operations Center no requirement
Security Equipment Rooms no requirement
Doors into Computer Rooms industrial grade lock

Perimeter building doors no requirement

Main door onto computer room floor industrial grade lock

Bullet resistant walls, windows & doors

Security Counter in Lobby no requirement

CCTV Monitoring
Building perimeter and parking not required
Generators not required
Access Controlled Doors not required
Computer Room Floors not required
UPS, Telephone & MEP Rooms not required
CCTV
CCTV Recording of all activity on all cameras not required
Recording rate (frames per second) no requirement
76

TIER 1 (A1)
Structural
Facility design to International Building Code (IBC) Seismic Use SDC requirements for building
Design Category (SDC) requirements location

Site Specific Response Spectra - Degree of local Seismic no requirement

accelerations
Importance factor - assists to ensure greater than code design I=1

Telecommunications equipment racks/cabinets anchored to no requirement

base or supported at top and base
Deflection limitation on telecommunications equipment within
limits acceptable by the electrical attachments not required

Bracing of electrical conduits runs and cable trays per code

Bracing of mechanical system major duct runs per code

Floor loading capacity superimposed live load 7.2 kPa (150 lbf/ft2).
Floor hanging capacity for ancillary loads suspended from 1.2 kPa (25 lbf/ft2)
below

Concrete Slab Thickness at ground 127 mm (5 in)

Minimum concrete topping over flutes for equipment anchorage
when concrete filled metal deck structure used for elevated 102 mm (4 in)
floors
Building LFRS (Shearwall/Braced Frame/Moment Frame)
indicates displacement of structure Steel/Concrete Moment Frame

Building Energy Dissipation - Passive Dampers/Base Isolation

(energy absorption) Not required

Elevated floor construction. (Steel structures with concrete filled PT concrete

metal decks are more easily upgraded for intense loads in
Battery/UPS rooms. (Also, better for installing floor anchors).

77
ANSI/TIA-942-A
Table 12: Tiering reference guide (electrical)
TIER 1 (E1)
ELECTRICAL
General
System allows concurrent maintenance Not required

Multiple single points of failure throughout

the distribution system
Single Point of Failure

Up-to-date short circuit study,

coordination study, and
Power System Analysis
arc flash analysis

Computer & Telecommunications Equipment Power Cords Single Cord Feed with 100%
capacity

Utility

Utility Entrance Single Feed

Main Utility Switchboard

Service Shared

Panel board with bolt on circuit

Construction breakers

Surge Suppression Not required

78

TIER 1 (E1)
Uninterruptible Power Supply System
 Redundancy N

Topology Single or Parallel Modules

Automatic Bypass Not required

Maintenance Bypass Arrangement Not required

Panel board incorporating standard

thermal magnetic trip breakers
Output Power Distribution

Battery String Common String for multiple

modules
Battery type 5 Year valve regulated lead acid or
flywheel
Battery minimum back up time with design load at 5 minutes
end of battery life

Battery Monitoring System Not required

Power Distribution Unit

Transformer Standard high efficiency

Automatic Static Transfer Switch

Over-current Device Not required
Maintenance Bypass Procedure Not required

Output No requirement
79
ANSI/TIA-942-A
TIER 1 (E1)
Grounding
Based on risk analysis as per
Lightning protection system NFPA 780 and insurance requirements.

Lighting fixtures neutral isolated from service entrance

derived from lighting transformer for ground fault isolation Not required

Data center grounding infrastructure in computer room As required by ANSI/TIA-607-B

Computer Room Emergency Power Off (EPO) System

If required by AHJ, push to activate with

Installation cover guard and
warning label
Test Mode Not required
Alarm Not required
Abort Switch Not required
Central Power Monitoring

Monitored Points Not required

 Notification Method Not required

Battery Room
Separate from UPS/Switchgear Equipment Rooms Not required
Individual Battery Strings Isolated from Each Other Not required
Shatterproof Viewing Glass in Battery Room Door Not required
80

TIER 1 (E1)
Standby Generating System
Sized for UPS System only
Generator Sizing without redundancy

Generators on Single Bus Yes

Loadbank
Installation No requirement

Equipment Tested No requirement

Auto Shutdown Not required

Testing
Factory Acceptance Testing Not required

Site circuit breaker testing Not required

Commissioning Not required

Equipment Maintenance
Operation and Maintenance Staff Offsite. On call.

Preventative Maintenance No requirement

Facility Training Programs No requirement

81
ANSI/TIA-942-A
Table 13: Tiering reference guide (mechanical)
TIER 1 (M1)
MECHANICAL
General
Redundancy for mechanical equipment (e.g. air conditioning
units, coolers, pumps, cooling towers, condensers)

Not required

Routing of water or drain piping not associated with the data

center equipment in data center spaces Permitted but not recommended

Positive pressure in computer room and associated spaces

relative to outdoors and non-data center spaces Not required
Floor drains in computer room for condensate drain water,
humidifier flush water, and sprinkler discharge water Yes

Mechanical systems on standby generator Not required

Water-Cooled System
No redundant air conditioning
Indoor Terminal Air Conditioning Units units

Humidity Control for Computer Room Not required

Single path of electrical power to AC
equipment
Electrical Service to Mechanical Equipment

Heat Rejection
Piping System Single path condenser water
system

Chilled Water Piping System Single path chilled water system

Condenser Water Piping System Single path condenser water

system

82

TIER 1 (M1)
Chilled Water System
Humidity Control for Computer Room Not required

Electrical Service to Mechanical Equipment Single path of electrical power to

AC equipment
Air-Cooled System
Electrical Service to Mechanical Equipment Single path of electrical power to AC
equipment
Humidity Control for Computer Room Not required
HVAC Control System
HVAC Control System Control system failure will interrupt
cooling to critical areas
Power Source to HVAC Control System Single path of electrical power to
HVAC control system
Plumbing (for water-cooled heat rejection)
Make-up Water Single water supply, with no on- site
back-up storage
Points of Connection to Condenser Water System Single point of connection

Fuel Oil System

Bulk Storage Tanks Single storage tank
Storage Tank Pumps and Piping Single pump and/or supply pipe

Fire Suppression
Fire detection system yes
Fire sprinkler system When required
Gaseous suppression system No requirement above AHJ
Early Warning Smoke Detection System No requirement above AHJ
Water Leak Detection System No requirement above AHJ
83
 ANSI/TIA-942-A
10: Tiering reference guide (telecommunications)
TIER 2 (T2) TIER 3 (T3) TIER 4 (T4)

yes yes yes

yes yes yes

not required yes yes

not required yes yes

not required not required yes
not required not required yes
not required yes yes
not required not required yes

yes yes yes

not required yes yes

yes yes yes

yes yes yes

not required yes yes

71

able 11: Tiering reference guide (architectural)

TIER 2 (A2) TIER 3 (A3)                 TIER 4 (A4)              

not within the 50-year flood hazard area Not within 100-year flood hazard area and
greater than 91 m (300 ft) from 50-year flood
hazard area
not required Greater than 91 m (300 ft)
not required Greater than 91 m (300 ft)
Greater than 91 m (300 ft) from 100-
year flood hazard area
Greater than 0.8 km (1/2 mile)
Greater than 0.8 km (1/2 mile)

not required Greater than 1.6 km (1 mile) and less Greater than 8 km / 5 miles and less
than 48 km (30 miles) than 48 km (30 miles)

not required yes (physically separated with yes (physically separated by fence or
separate entries) wall with separate entries)
not required yes (physically separated with yes (physically separated by fence or
separate entries) wall with separate entries)
9.1 m (30 ft) minimum separation with 18.3 m (60 ft) minimum separation with
not required physical barriers to prevent physical barriers to prevent
vehicles from driving closer vehicles from driving closer
Allowed only if occupancies are non- Allowed if all tenants are data centers or Allowed if all tenants are data centers or
hazardous telecommunications telecommunications
companies companies

no restriction Type IIA, IIIA, or VA Type IA or 1B

 Code allowable 1 Hour minimum 4 Hours minimum
Code allowable 1 Hour minimum 2 Hour minimum
Code allowable 1 Hour minimum 4 Hours minimum
Code allowable 1 Hour minimum 2 Hour minimum
Code allowable 1 Hour minimum 1 Hour minimum
Code allowable 1 Hour minimum 2 Hour minimum
Code allowable 1 Hour minimum 2 Hour minimum
Code allowable 1 Hour minimum 2 Hour minimum
Code allowable 1 Hour minimum 2 Hour minimum
yes yes yes
72
ANSI/TIA-942-A
TIER 2 (A2) TIER 3 (A3)                 TIER 4 (A4)              

yes for walls, yes yes

not required for ceiling
not required yes (primary building entrance Yes (primary building entrance
manned) manned)

Computer grade all steel or computer grade

no requirement computer grade all steel steel with
concrete fill
no requirement bolted stringer bolted stringer with 1.2 m x 1.2 m
(4 ft x 4 ft) basket weave pattern

Class A Class A Class A

Non-redundant with non- combustible deck double redundant with concrete deck (no
no restrictions (no mechanically attached systems) mechanically attached systems)

FM I-90 FM I-90 minimum FM I-120 minimum

Minimum Code requirements 1:48 (1/4 in per foot) minimum 1:24 (1/2 in per foot) minimum

Minimum Code requirements (not less than Minimum Code requirements (not less than
Minimum Code requirements 3/4 hour at computer room) 1 1/2 hour at computer room)

Minimum Code requirements and not Minimum Code requirements (not less than 1 Minimum Code requirements (not less than
less than 1 m (3 ft) wide and m (3 ft) wide into computer, electrical, & 1.2 m (4 ft) wide into computer, electrical, &
2.13 m (7 ft) high mechanical rooms) and not less than 2.29 m mechanical rooms) and not less than 2.49
(7’-6” ) high m (8 ft) high

Allowed with minimum Code Interior windows allowed with Interior windows allows with
required fire rating minimum 1-hour fire rating, no minimum 2-hour fire rating, no
exterior windows allowed exterior windows allowed

yes yes yes

Minimum Code requirements Minimum Code requirements (not less Minimum Code requirements (not less
than 1 hour) than 2 hour)
not required yes yes (physically separated from other
areas of the data center)
not required yes yes

73

TIER 2 (A2) TIER 3 (A3)                 TIER 4 (A4)              

yes yes yes

 Minimum Code requirements Minimum Code requirements (not less Minimum Code requirements (not less
than 1 hour) than 2 hour)

not required yes yes

Minimum Code requirements Minimum Code requirements (not less Minimum Code requirements (not less
than 1 hour) than 2 hour)
yes yes yes

yes Yes, with 16 mm (5/8 in) plywood lined Yes, with 16 mm (5/8 in) plywood lined
walls and solid core door walls and solid core door

not required yes Yes, with a backup service/facility in a

separate address
not required 1 hour 2 hour

no requirement indirectly accessible (maximum of 1 directly accessible

adjoining room)

no requirement
Minimum Code requirements
If immediately adjacent, provided with Not immediately adjacent and provided with
leak prevention barrier leak prevention
barrier
Minimum Code requirements (not less Minimum Code requirements (not less
than 1 hour) than 2 hour)

no requirement Minimum Code requirements (not less Minimum Code requirements (not less
than 1 m (3 ft) clear) than 1.2 m (4 ft) clear)
no requirement Immediately adjacent Immediately adjacent

Minimum Code requirements Minimum Code requirements (not less Minimum Code requirements (not less
than 1 hour) than 2 hour)

Minimum Code requirements
Minimum Code requirements
74
TIER 2 (A2)
Minimum Code requirements (not less Minimum Code requirements (not less
than 1 hour) than 2 hour)
Minimum Code requirements and not less Minimum Code requirements and not
than 1.2 m (4 ft) clear less than 1.5 m (5 ft) clear
ANSI/TIA-942-A
TIER 3 (A3)                TIER 4 (A4)              

not required yes yes

Minimum Code requirements 1 hour 2 hour

not required yes (minimum 19 mm (3/4 in) yes (steel bollards or similar
plywood wainscot) protection)

1 per 2500 m2 ( 25,000 ft2) of 1 per 2500 m2 (25,000 ft2) of 1 per 2500 m2 (25,000 ft2) of
Computer room Computer room (2 minimum) Computer room (2 minimum)

If within Data Center building, provided with Separate building or exterior weatherproof
no requirement minimum 2 hour fire separation from all other enclosures with Code required building
areas separation
no requirement 9 m (30 ft) or greater separation 19 m (60 ft) or greater separation

Building Building Building + Battery (8 hour min)

Building + Battery (4 hour min) Building + Battery (8 hour min) Building + Battery (24 hour min)
 Building + Battery (4 hour min) Building + Battery (8 hour min) Building + Battery (24 hour min)

During scheduled operation (typically 5 7 days a week, 24 hours a day with

days a week during normal business hours) sufficient spare personnel to allow for
7 days a week, 24 hours a day
physical inspections, walk alongs,
supervisions etc
75

TIER 2 (A2) TIER 3 (A3)                TIER 4 (A4)              

intrusion detection card access card access

intrusion detection
intrusion detection
monitor
intrusion detection (with offsite monitoring
during shifts when no security staff is
present)
no requirement
no requirement
intrusion detection
intrusion detection
intrusion detection (with offsite
monitoring during shifts when no
security staff is present)
card access
hardware designed to prevent piggybacking hardware designed to prevent piggybacking
card access card access
intrusion detection card access
delay egress per code delay egress per code
intrusion detection intrusion detection
card access card access
card access card access
card access card access
card or biometric access for ingress card or biometric access for ingress and
egress (Unauthorized egress shall be
alarmed and monitored, but unrestricted at
all
times for life/safety)
card access if main entrance;
intrusion detection all others card access all entrances
Single person interlock, portal or other single person interlock, portal or other
or pass back of access credential or pass back of access credential,
preferably
with biometrics

no requirement Level 3 (min) Level 3 (min)

not required yes yes

not required yes yes
yes Yes Yes
not required Yes Yes
not required Yes Yes

not required Yes; digital Yes; digital

no requirement 20 frames/sec (min) 20 frames/sec (min)
76
ANSI/TIA-942-A
TIER 2 (A2) TIER 3 (A3)                 TIER 4 (A4)              

Use SDC requirements for building location Use SDC requirements for building Use appropriate SDC requirements for the
location site with SDC-C being the minimum

no requirement with Operation Status after 10% in 50 year with Operation Status after 5% in 100 year
event event
I=1.5 I=1.5 I=1.5

Base only Fully braced Fully braced

 not required yes yes

per code w/ Importance per code w/ Importance per code w/ Importance

per code w/ Importance per code w/ Importance per code w/ Importance

8.4 kPa (175 lbf/ft2) 12 kPa (250 lbf/ft2) 12 kPa (250 lbf/ft2)
1.2 kPa (25 lbf/ft )
2
2.4 kPa (50 lbf/ft )
2
2.4 kPa (50 lbf/ft2)

127 mm (5 in) 127 mm (5 in) 127 mm (5 in)

102 mm (4 in ) 102 mm (4 in) 102 mm (4 in)

Concrete Shearwall / Steel Braced Concrete Shearwall / Steel Braced Frame Concrete Shearwall / Steel Braced
Frame Frame

passive dampers for IBC Seismic Design passive dampers/base isolation for IBC
Not required Category D or higher Seismic Design Category D or higher

CIP Mild Concrete Steel Deck & Fill Steel Deck & Fill

77

Table 12: Tiering reference guide (electrical)

TIER 2 (E2) TIER 3 (E3)                 TIER 4 (E4)              

Utility, generator, and UPS system
Multiple single points of failure
throughout the distribution system
Up-to-date short circuit study, coordination
study, and
arc flash analysis
From utility down to but not including
power distribution unit
Single point of failure from last distribution
panel to critical and essential load only
Up-to-date short circuit study, coordination
study,
arc flash analysis, and load flow study
Throughout Distribution System
No single points of failure for distribution
systems serving electrical equipment or
essential
load
Up-to-date short circuit study, coordination
study,
arc flash analysis, and load flow study

Single Cord Feed with 100% Redundant Cord Feed with 100% Redundant Cord Feed with 100% capacity
capacity capacity on remaining cord or cords on remaining cord or
cords

2N Redundant Feed
Single Feed N+1 Redundant Feed from different utility substations or
generator plant

Shared Dedicated Dedicated

Switchboard with stationary circuit Switchboard with draw out circuit Switchgear with draw out circuit
breakers breakers breakers

Not required Yes Yes

78
ANSI/TIA-942-A
TIER 2 (E2) TIER 3 (E3) TIER 4 (E4)
 N N+1 2N
Distributed Redundant Modules or Block Distributed Redundant Modules or
Single or Parallel Modules Redundant System Block Redundant System

Yes with non dedicated feeder to Yes, with dedicated feeder to Yes, with dedicated feeder to
automatic bypass automatic bypass automatic bypass

Non dedicated maintenance bypass feeder Dedicated maintenance bypass feeder Dedicated maintenance bypass feeder
to UPS output switchboard serving UPS output switchboard serving UPS output switchboard

Panel board incorporating standard thermal Switchboard incorporating removable circuit Switchboard incorporating removable
magnetic trip breakers breaker with adjustable long time and circuit breaker with adjustable long time,
instantaneous trip function short time and instantaneous functions with
provision to turn off instantaneous
function

Dedicated String for each module Dedicated String for each module Dedicated String for each module

10 Year valve regulated lead acid or 15 Year valve regulated lead acid or 20 Year lead acid flooded type or
flooded type or flywheel flooded type or flywheel flywheel
7 minutes 10 minutes 15 minutes

Centralized automated system to check

Not required String level by UPS System each cell for, voltage, and impedance or
resistance

Standard high efficiency K-Rated or harmonic cancelling, high K-Rated or harmonic cancelling, low
efficiency Inrush high efficiency

Not required Circuit Breaker Circuit Breaker

Not required Manual Guided with mechanical Automatic operation
interlock
No requirement Dual Circuit Breaker Dual Circuit Breaker
79

TIER 2 (E2) TIER 3 (E3) TIER 4 (E4)

Based on risk analysis as per

NFPA 780 and insurance requirements. Yes Yes

Not required Yes Yes

As required by ANSI/TIA-607-B As required by ANSI/TIA-607-B As required by ANSI/TIA-607-B

If required by AHJ, push to activate with If required by AHJ, push to activate with If required by AHJ, push to activate with
cover guard and cover guard and warning label cover guard and
warning label warning label
Not required Yes Yes
Not required Yes Yes
Not required As allowed by local codes As allowed by local codes

Utility UPS Utility, Main Transformer, UPS, Generator, Utility, Main Transformer, UPS, Generator,
Generator Feeder Circuit Feeder Circuit Breakers, Automatic Static
Breakers, Automatic Static Transfer Switch, Transfer Switch, PDU, Automatic Transfer
PDU, Automatic Transfer Switches Switches, Surge
Protection Device, Critical Load Branch
Circuits
 Control Room Console, Pager, Email, and/or Control Room Console,
text message Pager, Email, and/or
Control Room Console
text message to multiple facility personnel

Not required Yes Yes

Not required Yes Yes
Not required Not required Yes
80
ANSI/TIA-942-A
TIER 2 (E2) TIER 3 (E3)                 TIER 4 (E4)              

Sized for UPS & mechanical system Sized for total building load N+1 Sized for total building load with 2N
without redundancy distributed redundancy distributed redundancy

Yes No No

Provision for Portable Provision for Portable Permanent sized for single largest
equipment
Generator Generator Generator
UPS UPS
Not required Automatic upon failure of utility Automatic upon failure of utility

Not required UPS and Generator Systems UPS and Generator Systems,
Generator controls, ASTS
Contact Resistance test of all circuit breakers Primary Injection and Contact Resistance
in critical and essential paths, 225 A and test of all circuit
Not required
higher breakers in critical and essential paths, 225
A and higher
Component level Component level and System Component level, system level, and
level integrated system including
total outage testing

Onsite Day Shift only. On-call at other Onsite 24 hrs M-F, on-call on
times weekends
Generator maintenance Generator and UPS maintenance
Limited training by manufacturer
Comprehensive training program for
normal operation of equipment
Onsite 24/7
Comprehensive preventative
maintenance program
Comprehensive training program for normal
operation of equipment and manual
operation of equipment during emergency
operation

81

Table 13: Tiering reference guide (mechanical)

TIER 2 (M2) TIER 3 (M3)                TIER 4 (M4)              

N+1 redundancy for mechanical equipment. N+1 redundancy for mechanical equipment. N+1 redundancy for mechanical equipment.
Loss of electrical power can cause loss of Temporary loss of electrical power will not Extended loss of electrical power will not
cooling cause loss of cooling, but may cause cause loss of cooling outside operational
temperature to elevate within range of critical equipment
operational range of critical equipment

Permitted but not recommended Not permitted Not permitted

Yes Yes Yes

 Yes
Yes
One redundant AC Unit per critical area Qty. of AC Units sufficient to maintain critical
area during loss of one source of electrical
Humidification provided
Single path of electrical power to AC
equipment
checkerboard fashion for cooling redundancy
Single path condenser water
system
Single path chilled water system
Single path condenser water
system
82
TIER 2 (M2)
Humidification provided
Single path of electrical power to
AC equipment
Single path of electrical power to AC
equipment
Humidification provided
Control system failure will not interrupt
cooling to critical areas
Redundant, UPS electrical power to
BMS Control
Dual sources of water, or one
source + on-site storage
Single point of connection
Single storage tanks
Multiple pumps, multiple supply pipes
yes
Pre-action (when required)
No requirement above AHJ
yes
yes
83
Yes
Yes
critical area during loss of one source of
power
Humidification provided
Multiple paths of electrical power to AC
equipment. Connected in
Headered parallel piped condenser water
system
Dual path ladder loop chilled water
system with isolation valves
Headered parallel piped condenser water
system
ANSI/TIA-942-A
TIER 3 (M3)  
Humidification provided
Multiple paths of electrical power to
AC equipment
Multiple paths of electrical power to AC
equipment
Humidification provided
Control system failure will not
interrupt cooling to critical areas
Redundant, UPS electrical power to BMS
Control
Dual sources of water, or one source
+ on-site storage
Two points of connection
Multiple storage tanks
Multiple pumps, multiple supply pipes
yes
Pre-action (when required)
clean agents listed in NFPA 2001
yes
yes
Yes
Yes
Qty. of AC Units sufficient to maintain
electrical power
Humidification provided
Multiple paths of electrical power to AC
equipment. Connected in
checkerboard fashion for cooling
redundancy
Dual path condenser water system
Dual path chilled water system
Dual path condenser water system
              TIER 4 (M4)              
Humidification provided
Multiple paths of electrical power
to AC equipment
Multiple paths of electrical power to AC
equipment
Humidification provided
Control system failure will not interrupt
cooling to critical areas
Redundant, UPS electrical power to
BMS Control
Dual sources of water, or one
source + on-site storage
Two points of connection
Multiple storage tanks
Multiple pumps, multiple supply pipes
yes
Pre-action (when required)
clean agents listed in NFPA 2001
yes
yes