Introduction

The unrestricted access to internet-based information demanded by the information society has led to an exponential growth of both internet traffic and the volume of stored/retrieved data. Data centres are housing and supporting the information technology and network telecommunications equipment for data processing, data storage and data transport. They are required both by network operators (delivering those services to customer premises) and by enterprises within those customer premises.

Data centres need to provide modular, scalable and flexible facilities and infrastructures to easily accommodate the rapidly changing requirements of the market. In addition, energy consumption of data centres has become critical, both from an environmental point of view (reduction of carbon footprint), and with respect to economic considerations (cost of energy) for the data centre operator.

The implementation of data centres varies in terms of:

a) purpose (enterprise, co-location, co-hosting or network operator facilities);
b) security level;
c) physical size; and
d) accommodation (mobile, temporary and permanent constructions).

NOTE Cloud services can be provided by all data centre types mentioned.

The needs of data centres also vary in terms of availability of service, the provision of security and the objectives for energy efficiency. These needs and objectives influence the design of data centres in terms of building construction, power distribution, environmental control, telecommunications cabling and physical security. Effective management and operational information are required to monitor achievement of the defined needs and objectives.

The ISO/IEC 22237 series specifies requirements and recommendations to support the various parties involved in the design, planning, procurement, integration, installation, operation and maintenance of facilities and infrastructures within data centres. These parties include:

1) owners, operators, facility managers, ICT managers, project managers, main contractors;
2) consultants, architects, building designers and builders, system and installation designers, auditors and commissioning agents;
3) suppliers of equipment; and
4) installers, maintainers.

At the time of publication of this document, the ISO/IEC 22237 series comprises the following documents:

— ISO/IEC 22237‑1 , Information technology — Data centre facilities and infrastructures — Part 1: General concepts;
— ISO/IEC TS 22237‑2 , Information technology — Data centre facilities and infrastructures — Part 2: Building construction;
— ISO/IEC 22237‑3 , Information technology — Data centre facilities and infrastructures — Part 3: Power distribution;
— ISO/IEC 22237‑4 (this document), Information technology — Data centre facilities and infrastructures — Part 4: Environmental control;
— ISO/IEC TS 22237‑5 , Information technology — Data centre facilities and infrastructures — Part 5: Telecommunications cabling infrastructure;
— ISO/IEC TS 22237‑6 , Information technology — Data centre facilities and infrastructures — Part 6: Security systems;
— ISO/IEC TS 22237‑7 , Information technology — Data centre facilities and infrastructures — Part 7: Management and operational information.

The inter-relationship of the specifications within the ISO/IEC 22237 series is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 — Schematic relationship between the ISO/IEC 22237 series of documents

ISO/IEC TS 22237‑2 to ISO/IEC TS 22237‑6 specify requirements and recommendations for particular facilities and infrastructures to support the relevant classification for “availability”, “physical security” and “energy efficiency enablement” selected from ISO/IEC 22237‑1.

This document, ISO/IEC 22237‑4, addresses the environmental control facilities and infrastructure within data centres together with the interfaces for monitoring the performance of those facilities and infrastructures in line with ISO/IEC TS 22237‑7 (in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 22237‑1).

ISO/IEC TS 22237‑7 addresses the operational and management information (in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 22237‑1).

This document is intended for use by and collaboration between architects, building designers and builders, and system and installation designers.

The ISO/IEC 22237 series does not address the selection of information technology and network telecommunications equipment, software and associated configuration issues.

BS ISO/IEC 22237-4:2021

Information technology. Data centre facilities and infrastructures - Environmental control

Published:

28 Feb 2022

Withdrawn:

8 Aug 2022