Engineering Standard

SAES-K-003 5 May 2016

HVAC Systems for Communications Facilities and Data Centers
Document Responsibility: HVAC Standards Committee

Contents
1 Scope.............................................................. 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations................................. 2
3 References..................................................... 2
4 Definitions....................................................... 3
5 Saudi Arabian Environmental Conditions....... 4
6 Requirements for Communication Facilities
with Grid Power Supply and Data Centers..... 4
7 Requirements for Hybrid and Passively
Cooled Communications Shelters.................. 8

Appendix A.......................................................... 12

Previous Issue: 19 December 2010 Next Planned Update: 5 May 2019

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Contact: Hamid, Adel Sulaiman (hamias0a) on +966-13-8809593

Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2016. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: HVAC Standards Committee SAES-K-003
Issue Date: 5 May 2016
Next Planned Update: 5 May 2019 HVAC Systems for Communications Facilities and Data Centers

1 Scope

1.1 This Standard describes the supplemental Heating, Ventilation and Air
Conditioning (HVAC) requirements in addition to the general HVAC
requirements of SAES-K-001 and SAES-K-100 for:
 Data Centers and Server Rooms
 Communication Buildings
 Communication Rooms within buildings
 Telecommunication Equipment Rooms serving critical sites
 Communication Shelters with Grid Power Supply
 Hybrid and passively Cooled Communication Shelters.

1.2 Excluded from this standard are data closets and termination box rooms in
buildings that are not essential in the production, processing and transportation
of hydrocarbons.

2 Conflicts and Deviations

2.1 Any conflicts between this Standard and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Engineering Standards (SAESs), Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs),
Industry Standards, Codes, Forms and Saudi Aramco Standard Drawings
(SASDs) shall be resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer Representative
through the Manager, Consulting Services Department, Dhahran.

2.2 All requests to deviate from this standard shall be directed to the Company or
Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302
and forward such requests to the Manager, Consulting Services Department,
Dhahran.

3 References

All referenced specifications, standards, codes, forms, drawings and similar material
shall be of the latest issue (including all revisions, addenda and supplements) unless
stated otherwise.

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement

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Document Responsibility: HVAC Standards Committee SAES-K-003
Issue Date: 5 May 2016
Next Planned Update: 5 May 2019 HVAC Systems for Communications Facilities and Data Centers

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-A-112 Meteorological and Seismic Design Data
SAES-B-068 Electrical Area Classification
SAES-J-505 Combustible Gas and Hydrogen Sulfide in Air
Detection Systems
SAES-J-801 Control Buildings
SAES-K-001 Design and Installation of Heating Ventilating and
Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems
SAES-K-002 Air Conditioning Systems for Essential Operating
Facilities
SAES-K-100 Saudi Aramco Mechanical (HVAC) Code
SAES-P-103 UPS and DC Systems
SAES-T-916 Communications Building Cable

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

ASHRAE Series American Society of Heating, Refrigerating
and Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
ISA S71.04 International Society of Automation
NFPA 70 National Electrical Code
TIA 942 Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data
Centers

4 Definitions

BACNET: A Data Communication Protocol for Building Automation and Control

Networks

Communications Facilities: Communications Facilities are the Facilities that house

and in support of telephone, radio, or other communications and network equipment
that serve communication functions for Saudi Aramco. Examples of Communications
Facilities are Communications Buildings, Communications Rooms within non
communications buildings and Communications Shelters.

Data Center: A building or portion of a building whose primary function is to house a

computer room and its support areas

Hybrid Cooled Communication Shelter: Hybrid Cooled Communication Shelter is a

Communications Shelter where grid power is not available and the cooling is provided

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Document Responsibility: HVAC Standards Committee SAES-K-003
Issue Date: 5 May 2016
Next Planned Update: 5 May 2019 HVAC Systems for Communications Facilities and Data Centers

by both passive cooling method and DC powered air conditioning units where the type
of power supporting the air conditioning is DC type generated by solar system.

Passively Cooled Communication Shelter: Passively Cooled Communication Shelter

is a Communications Shelter where grid power is not available and the cooling is
provided without the need for power source by natural heat transfer through an internal
heat exchanger, accumulator and external heat exchanger. This system utilizes the
difference in temperature between day and night times to cool the shelter.

Telecommunications Equipment Rooms: An environmentally controlled centralized

space for telecommunications equipment that usually houses a main or intermediate
cross-connection for telecommunications distribution cables.

Telecommunications Room: Telecommunication Room (TR) is considered to be

floor-serving facilities that provide a connection point between backbone and horizontal
distribution pathways.

5 Saudi Arabian Environmental Conditions

The environmental conditions at locations of the Saudi Aramco operating areas are
listed in SAES-A-112; Meteorological and Seismic Design Data.

6 Requirements for Communication Facilities with Grid Power Supply and

Data Centers

6.1 Indoor Air Temperature and Humidity Control

The HVAC systems of Communication Facilities and Data Centers shall be

designed for indoor air dry bulb temperature and indoor air relative humidity as
per Table 1.
Exceptions:

1) Upon Prior approval from Information Technology Engineering Department /

Facilities Engineering Group, Humidity control is not required in those
Communication Shelters which are served by five ton or less mini-split air
conditioning units.

2) If the manufacturer of any communication equipment requires more stringent

temperature, humidity or air filtration levels than listed herein, the Project
Management Team shall specify these requirements for the HVAC system design
before the completion of HVAC load calculations.

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Document Responsibility: HVAC Standards Committee SAES-K-003
Issue Date: 5 May 2016
Next Planned Update: 5 May 2019 HVAC Systems for Communications Facilities and Data Centers

Table 1 - Indoor Design Data

Design Value Tolerance

Dry Bulb Temperature 22°C (71.6°F) ± 2°C (± 3.6°F)
Humidity 50% ± 10%

6.2 Cooling Load Calculations

6.2.1 For HVAC systems which do not have any fresh air make-up the cooling
load calculations shall be prepared with not less than 0.5 air change per
hour infiltration rate.

6.2.2 The cooling load calculations of HVAC system shall include a minimum
of 20% equipment future growth.

6.3 Air Filtration Requirements

HVAC Systems of Communication Facilities and Data Centers shall have fresh
air make-up filters (where fresh air make-up is used) and internal air recirculation
filters.

6.3.1 For system with fresh air intake:

6.3.1.1 The fresh air make-up filters shall have a minimum of 25%
dust spot efficiency (MERV 7).

6.3.1.2 The internal air recirculation filters shall have a pre-filter with
a minimum of 25% dust spot efficiency (MERV 7) and a final
filter with a minimum of 60% dust spot efficiency (MERV 11).

6.3.1.3 All fresh air intakes shall be provided with differential pressure
gauges. The gauges shall be connected to building Facility
Alarm system.

6.3.1.4 All filters shall be as measured by ASHRAE 52.2 test method.

6.3.2 Where Pressurization units is provided, pre-filter with a minimum of

25% dust spot efficiency (MERV 7) and a final filter with a minimum of
90% dust spot efficiency (MERV 14) shall be provided.

6.3.3 Viscous oil filters shall not be used.

6.3.4 Chemical Filters

The concentration of corrosive gases shall be limited to the G1

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Document Responsibility: HVAC Standards Committee SAES-K-003
Issue Date: 5 May 2016
Next Planned Update: 5 May 2019 HVAC Systems for Communications Facilities and Data Centers

environmental classification level defined in ISA S71.04, as required by

SAES-J-801. When it is confirmed by the Proponent and/or Process
Engineering Division that the concentration of corrosive gases in the
local plant environment will exceed the G1 classification level, chemical
filters shall be provided to limit the concentration of gases inside data
centers, communication facilities to the G1 classification level.

6.4 Battery Room Requirements

6.4.1 HVAC systems of Battery Rooms for Communication Facilities and

Data Centers shall be designed in accordance with the requirements of
SAES-K-002 and SAES-P-103.

6.4.2 Humidity control is not required in battery rooms.

6.4.3 Recirculation of conditioned air is prohibited within the battery room.

Exception:

Recirculation is allowed in Hybrid communication shelter battery room

that is equipped with degassing system and gas detectors.

6.4.4 HVAC equipment in battery room shall be acid and hydrogen fumes
resistant and shall be of explosion proof type.

6.4.5 Standby exhaust fan shall be provided in Battery Room to ensure

continues ventilation.

6.5 HVAC System Considerations

6.5.1 For Communications Facilities direct expansion (DX) type HVAC

systems shall be used.
Exception:

Chilled water system may be used only with the prior approval of
Information Technology Engineering Department / Facilities Engineering
Group.

6.5.2 For Communication Facilities and Data Centers, Computer Room

Precision Type air conditioning units shall be used.
Exception:

Other type of air conditioning units may be used only with the prior
approval of Information Technology Engineering Department / Facilities
Engineering Group.

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Document Responsibility: HVAC Standards Committee SAES-K-003
Issue Date: 5 May 2016
Next Planned Update: 5 May 2019 HVAC Systems for Communications Facilities and Data Centers

6.6 Standby Capacity of HVAC Systems

All HVAC systems covered by this Standard shall be provided with standby
capacity as follows:

6.6.1 If the system is served by two or more normally operating units, the
capacity of the standby unit(s) shall be at least 50% of the system's
maximum design capacity.

6.6.2 If the system is served by one normally operating unit only, the capacity
of the standby unit shall be equal to the capacity of the normally
operating unit.

6.7 Fresh Air Intake

6.7.1 Location of fresh air intake shall be at a minimum of 2.4 meters above
grade.

6.7.2 All fresh air intakes shall have the following:

 Sand trap louver
 Filter
 Bird screen
 Differential pressure gauge
 Volume damper

6.8 Pressurization at Communication Facilities and Data Centers

Communication Facilities and Data Centers that have recirculation precision type
air conditioning units with no fresh air make up shall be provided with separate
pressurization air conditioning unit to provide the required pressurization.
Exception:

Hybrid and Passively Cooled Communication shelters are not required to be

provided with pressurization unit.

6.9 Indoor Air Temperature and Humidity Recording

6.9.1 Indoor air temperature and humidity levels shall be recorded on a digital
recorder in each Communications Facility or Data Center.

6.9.2 The recorder shall have the capability of continuously recording for a
minimum duration of six months and shall have the capability of being
accessed remotely through Saudi Aramco IT network.

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Document Responsibility: HVAC Standards Committee SAES-K-003
Issue Date: 5 May 2016
Next Planned Update: 5 May 2019 HVAC Systems for Communications Facilities and Data Centers

6.9.3 The temperature and humidity measurements shall be performed at 1.5 m

(±0.3 m) above the floor and 0.1 m (±0.3 m) away from the equipment.

6.10 Control System Requirements

HVAC control systems shall be capable of providing the following functions:

1. Automatic change over between the operating and standby units weekly,
and/or in the event of operating unit failure.
2. Remote alarms to NOCC (Network Operations Control Center) in case of
any HVAC equipment failure and/or any other alarms in the HVAC
equipment.
3. Capable to be connected to Building Management System (BMS).
The Control shall be BACNET compatible.

6.11 Insulation Requirement

Insulation of refrigerant pipes exposed to outdoors shall be provided with

galvanized steel or aluminum sheet metal cladding, fastened with corrosion
resistant metal straps or screws.

6.12 HVAC Equipment Requirement

1. HVAC units shall be provided with the following functions:

2. Built-in control panel.
3. Environmental analog and digital input/output interface card.
4. Built in two or more stage electric heater.
5. Built-in electric or infrared humidifier (see exception of paragraph 6.1).
6. Dehumidification functions if required.
7. Water detection monitoring system for down and up flow units.

6.13 Data Center Equipment Arrangement

Equipment in Data Centers and Computer Rooms shall be arranged in hot and
cold aisles arrangement.

6.14 Fire/Smoke Damper Requirement

Fire dampers, smoke dampers and combination fire/smoke dampers shall be as

stipulated in SAES-K-001.

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Document Responsibility: HVAC Standards Committee SAES-K-003
Issue Date: 5 May 2016
Next Planned Update: 5 May 2019 HVAC Systems for Communications Facilities and Data Centers

7 Requirements for Hybrid and Passively Cooled Communications Shelters

Communications Shelters where grid power supply is not available shall be cooled by
hybrid cooling system which consists of passive cooling shelter and DC powered air
conditioning units.
Exception:

The use of passively cooled shelter in communications sites is acceptable only with prior
approval from Information Technology Engineering Department / Facilities Engineering
Group.

7.1 Design Considerations

The design of the hybrid cooling system shall consider running the air
conditioning during the peak hours (maximum five hours per day based on the
effective sun hours as per SAES-P-103) and a maximum of three hours during
the night time.

7.2 Maximum Internal Air Temperature

The internal air temperature of Hybrid Cooled Communications Shelters

Equipment Room shall not exceed 35°C.

7.3 Internal Air Temperature Recording

The internal air temperature of Hybrid Cooled Communications Shelters shall be

recorded in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 6.9.

7.4 Battery Room Requirements

7.4.1 The Battery Room of the Hybrid Cooled Communications Shelters shall
be provided with a separate cooling system to maintain a 33°C maximum
indoor air temperature when the Summer Night Dry Bulb Temperature
(SNDBT) is equal or less than 31°C.
Exception:

Information Technology Engineering Department / Facilities Engineering

Group shall be consulted to obtain the required design temperature of the
Battery Room for communications shelter located in areas with SNDBT
higher than 32°C.

7.4.2 The Battery Room shall not have any ventilation opening or fan that
would compromise the effectiveness of the hybrid cooling system.

7.4.3 Degassing system shall be used in hybrid cooling communications

shelters or passive cooling communications shelters.

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Document Responsibility: HVAC Standards Committee SAES-K-003
Issue Date: 5 May 2016
Next Planned Update: 5 May 2019 HVAC Systems for Communications Facilities and Data Centers

7.4.4 HVAC equipment in battery room shall be acid and hydrogen fumes
resistant and shall be of explosion proof type as per SAES-B-068.

7.4.5 Battery room shall be equipped with Hydrogen gas detector located flush
with the ceiling of the battery room.

7.4.6 Upon detection of hydrogen fumes in battery room by the gas detector,
the battery room A/C unit shall be shutdown and remote alarms to
NOCC (Network Operations Control Center) shall be activated.

7.4.7 Combustible gas detection system shall be in accordance to SAES-J-505.

7.5 Standby Capacity of HVAC Systems

Standby DC powered air conditioning units shall be provided.

7.6 Testing Requirements

The following applies for hybrid and passive cooling systems:

7.6.1 Factory-built Passively or Hybrid Cooled Shelters with their cooling

systems shall be subjected to a Thermal Performance Test at the factory
under simulated indoor thermal load and ambient air temperature
conditions to ensure that the indoor air temperature limit stated above
will not be exceeded.

7.6.2 Cooling systems of Shelters built on site shall also be subjected to a

factory Thermal Performance Test, and it shall be guaranteed by the
manufacturer of the cooling system that the indoor air temperature of the
site-built Shelters shall not exceed the temperature limit stated in
paragraphs 7.2 and 7.4.1.

7.6.3 The indoor thermal load shall represent the actual heat dissipation of the
equipment housed by the Shelter and 15% future load and shall be stated
in the Performance Specification of the Shelter.

7.6.4 During the Thermal Performance Test, the ambient air conditions shall
be simulated by maintaining a 24-hour temperature cycle in the test
chamber as follows:
a) The Summer Night Dry Bulb Temperature (SNDBT) shall be held
constant for four consecutive hours.
b) The temperature shall be increased gradually from the SNDBT to the
Summer Design Dry Bulb Temperature (SDDBT) at 2.5%
exceedance during the next six hours.

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Document Responsibility: HVAC Standards Committee SAES-K-003
Issue Date: 5 May 2016
Next Planned Update: 5 May 2019 HVAC Systems for Communications Facilities and Data Centers

c) The SDDBT at 2.5% exceedance shall be maintained during the next

two hours.
d) The temperature shall be gradually increased from the SDDBT at
2.5% exceedance to the SDDBT at 1% exceedance during the next
one and a half hours.
e) The SDDBT at 1% exceedance shall be maintained during the next
one hour.
f) The temperature shall be decreased gradually from the SDDBT at 1%
exceedance to the SDDBT at 2.5% exceedance during the next one
and a half hours.
g) The SDDBT at 2.5% exceedance shall be maintained during the next
two hours.
h) The temperature shall be decreased gradually to the SNDBT during
the next six hours.

An example of the above testing procedure is shown in Figure 1.0 in

Appendix A.

7.6.5 The SDDBTs shall be obtained from SAES-A-112; Meteorological and

Seismic Design Data.

7.6.6 The SNDBT shall be obtained from Environmental Protection

Department / Environmental Engineering Division for each site.

7.6.7 SAPMT shall obtain concurrence from CE&TSD / Facilities Engineering

Group for the SNDBT prior to the finalization of Performance
Specification for the Passive Cooling System.

7.6.8 The Thermal Performance Test shall include a test chamber temperature
cycle stabilization period of 3-5 days and a Shelter temperature recording
period shall follow:

7.6.8.1 After the stabilization period, the indoor temperature of the

Shelter shall be recorded for a minimum of 48 consecutive
hours.

7.6.8.2 If the temperature cycles of the test chamber become unstable

during the 48 hours recording period, the 48 hour temperature
recording shall be repeated.

7.6.9 The Thermal Performance Test shall be witnessed by representatives

from CE&TSD/Facilities Engineering Group and HVAC/Utilities Group
of Consulting Services Department.

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Document Responsibility: HVAC Standards Committee SAES-K-003
Issue Date: 5 May 2016
Next Planned Update: 5 May 2019 HVAC Systems for Communications Facilities and Data Centers

7.6.10 During the Thermal Performance Test, the DC powered air conditioning
unit for equipment room and battery room shall not run more than five
hours per day otherwise, the performance test shall be considered as
failed.

Revision Summary
5 May 2016 Major revision. All comments have been addressed and no major changes has been noted to
this document.

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Document Responsibility: HVAC Standards Committee SAES-K-003
Issue Date: 5 May 2016
Next Planned Update: 5 May 2019 HVAC Systems for Communications Facilities and Data Centers

Appendix A

Figure 1.0 - Example of Hybrid and Passively Cooled Shelters

Testing Procedure as per Paragraph 7.6.4 of SAES-K-003

The below assumption was made for explanation purpose only:

 SNDBT = 31°C
 SDDBT@ 2.5% = 43°C
 SDDBT@ 1% = 48°C

Where A = SNDBT
B = SDDBT at 2.5% exceedance
C = SDDBT at 1% exceedance

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