UPTIME VS TIA-942-B
Both Uptime Tier Topology and TIA-942 are widely used in colocation and Some customers set target to conform to both standards, irrespective they
enterprise data centres. Many people have misconceptions for both will eventually pursue the certifications or not. Datwyler consultancy team,
standards and could not implement them properly during design-build- which consists of the Accredited Tier Designer (ATD) and Certified TIA-942
operation of their data centre facility. Data centre owners can engage Design Consultant (CTDC) and Internal Auditor (CTIA), with extensive
Datwyler to provide design consultancy, validation, audit and certification. experiences in design and build of data centres, will be able to help you in
This is to ensure your data centre design meets the requirements of your designing and constructing your critical infrastructure and to meet your
potential tenants and fulfil the classification criteria set by international requirements.
standards. You will need both standards to complement each other, if one Please contact our local representative who will further discuss your
standard alone does not address some aspects in the facility. requirements.
Below is the table of some comparisons between Uptime and TIA-942-B Standards. This list will be much longer than stated in the table.
No Description Uptime Tier Topology TIA-942-B
1 Classification Tier-I Basic Capacity, Rated 1 Basic
Tier-II Redundant Components, Rated 2 Redundant Components
Tier-III Concurrent Maintainable, Rated 3 Concurrent Maintainable
Tier-IV Fault Tolerant Rated 4 Fault Tolerant
2 Methodology Performance confirmation test and Operational impacts. Normative & Informative Reference Guides.
3 Coverage Electrical, Mechanical, and Ancillary (engine generator, fuel Telecommunications, Electrical, Architectural, and
system, make-up water system, building automation system) Mechanical (TEAM)
4 Certification level Three progressive levels: Certification Audit for the first year on the constructed
Tier Certification Design Documents (TCDD) facility to verify each T, E, A, M components including
Tier Certification Constructed Facility (TCCF) operations & maintenance.
Tier Certification Operational Sustainability (TCOS) Surveillance Audit on 2nd and 3rd years.
Re-certification Audit afterwards.
5 Certifier Uptime Institute Any 3rd party (e.g. Datwyler) who is capable in TIA-942-B
certification. TIA does not issue data centre certificates.
6 Operations & Maintenance It is not required for Tier Certification (TCDD, TCCF) It is integral part of the standard
but is required under Operational Sustainability (TCOS)
Datwyler Middle East FZE, Jabel Ali Free Zone, LB 15, Second Floor, Room #10 & 11, Dubai / UAE
Datwyler Cabling Solutions LLC, Unit 1004 & 1005, 10th Floor, IB Tower, Business Bay, Dubai / UAE
T +971 4 4228129, F +971 4 4228096, info.cabling.ae@datwyler.com www.cabling.datwyler.com
7 Building Characteristics & It is not required for Tier. It is part of TCOS. It is integral part of the standard.
Site Location
8 Compartmentalization Required only for Tier-IV Required for Rated 3 & 4
9 Fuel Storage Min 12 hours Min 72 hours for Rated 3, 96 hours for Rated 4
10 Continuous Cooling Required for Tier-IV For Rated 4 the loss of power will not cause loss of
Must match the duration of fuel storage cooling outside operational range.
11 Utility Entrance It is not required for Tier. Uptime accepts facility without Rated-4 requires 2N redundant feed from different
public utility and relies only on engine generators. substations or generator plant.
Rated-3 requires N+1 redundant feed; can be from the
same substation but different feeders.
12 Fault Tolerant Tier-IV requires autonomous fault detection, isolation of Similar concept with Uptime’s Fault Tolerant
faulty path or component, and ability to maintain the
targeted IT load.
13 UPS topology For Tier-III: N+1 For Rated 3: N+1
For Tier-IV: N after any failure For Rated 4: 2N
14 Surge Suppression It is not required for Tier. It is required for Rated 3 & 4
15 Grounding & Bonding It is not required for Tier. It is an integral part of the standard.
16 Ambient Temperature Mechanical plant equipment capacity is based on the Not specified based on extreme historical climatological
Design Point extreme Max Wet Bulb value and the design Dry Bulb data.
with “N=20 years” taken from ASHRAE Handbook.
17 Fire resistance rating It is not required for Tier. It is an integral part of the standard.
18 Physical security It is not required for Tier. It is an integral part of the standard.
19 Number of loading docks It is not required for Tier. It is an integral part of the standard.
20 Min Battery Backup time It is not required for Tier. 10 mins
for static UPS
21 Battery cycle life It is not required for Tier. 5 or 10 years
22 Site Communications Path Tier-III allow sharing the same manhole Rate 2, 3, 4 must have two manholes with min. 20 m
Tier-IV must be from two manholes separation and with redundant backbone cabling.
Datwyler Middle East FZE, Jabel Ali Free Zone, LB 15, Second Floor, Room #10 & 11, Dubai / UAE
Datwyler Cabling Solutions LLC, Unit 1004 & 1005, 10th Floor, IB Tower, Business Bay, Dubai / UAE
T +971 4 4228129, F +971 4 4228096, info.cabling.ae@datwyler.com www.cabling.datwyler.com
