EPI Data Centre CDCS Exin Study Notes

Hypoxic air systems continuously reduce the oxygen concentration in the protected area to below the level required for combustion (typically 15–16%), while still remaining safe for human occupancy (>14%). By lowering oxygen concentration, ignition and flame propagation are prevented.

This is different from halocarbon or inert-gas clean agents, which flood the room only upon detection of fire. Hypoxic systems are preventive, creating a permanent fire-retardant environment.

They do not remove heat (A), fuel (C), or use water (D). Their key mechanism is oxygen displacement.

The server’s repeated overheating despite adequate intake and exhaust temperatures suggests that dust buildup inside the server may be impeding heat transfer. Dust accumulation can obstruct airflow within the server, insulate components, and disrupt the convection-based cooling systems that regulate internal temperatures, leading to overheating and potential hardware failures.

Detailed Explanation:

While the intake and exhaust temperatures appear within acceptable ranges, internal dust can reduce airflow and impede cooling efficiency, causing internal components to overheat despite seemingly normal ambient conditions. Regular cleaning and maintenance are critical for preventing dust-related issues, especially in high-powered equipment like a 5kW server.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI emphasizes regular maintenance to prevent dust buildup in data center equipment. Dust can significantly impact cooling efficiency and lead to overheating, which underlines the importance of routine cleaning for optimal server performance.

From an efficiency standpoint, Unit B with a Sensible Heat Ratio (SHR) of 0.9 is preferable. A higher SHR indicates that a greater proportion of the air conditioner's capacity is dedicated to sensible cooling (temperature reduction) rather than latent cooling (moisture removal). In data centers, sensible cooling is more critical since IT equipment primarily generates heat without adding significant moisture.

Detailed Explanation:

An SHR of 0.9 means that 90% of the cooling capacity is used for sensible cooling, which is more efficient for environments like data centers where humidity control is typically less of a concern. Opting for an air conditioner with a higher SHR ensures that most of the cooling energy is focused on temperature reduction, making Unit B more efficient in this scenario.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI data center best practices recommend choosing cooling units with higher SHR values in data centers, as they better match the cooling needs of IT equipment. High SHR units improve cooling efficiency by concentrating on sensible heat removal, which is vital for maintaining the optimal thermal environment.

NFPA 75 (IT equipment rooms) recommends pre-action sprinklers for data processing spaces to minimize accidental water discharge risk; wet-pipe is generally discouraged directly over IT hardware.