Avoid Failure and Delay on Capital Projects: Lessons from Tier Certification 

规避数据中心项目投资失败和拖延：Tier认证的经验教训

OPERATIONS

How insights from Tier Certification of Constructed Facilities avoids unforeseen costs and errors for all new projects

从 Tier建造认证看如何避免所有新建项目的意外成本和错误

By Kevin Heslin

作者  Kevin Heslin

Uptime Institute’s Tier Classification System has been a part of the data center industry lexicon for 20 years. Since its creation in the mid-1990s, the system has evolved into the global standard for third-party validation of data center critical infrastructure. At the same time, misconceptions about the Tier program confuse the industry and make it harder for a data center team to understand and prepare sufficiently for the rigors of the Tier process. Fortunately, Uptime Institute provides guidance and plenty of opportunity for clients to prepare for a Tier Certification well before the on-site review of functionality demonstrations.

20年来，Uptime Institute的 Tier分级系统一直是数据中心行业专有词汇的一部分。自  Tier分级标准于上世纪90年代中期创建以来，这个系统已经成为数据中心关键基础设施第三方认证的全球性标准。与此同时，关于Tier认证项目的一些错误性概念一直以来在困扰着这个行业，使得数据中心团队更难于充分理解和准备去面对Tier认证过程的严格性。幸运的是，Uptime Institute提供了相关的指导和充足的机会，以协助客户在功能演习的现场审查之前能够更好地为  Tier认证做充分的准备。

This article discusses the Tier Certification process in more detail, specifically explaining the on-site demonstration portion of a Tier Certification. This is a highly rigorous process that requires preparation.

本文详细地探讨了Tier建造认证的过程，专业地解释了建造认证的现场测试部分。这是一个非常严格的过程，需要提前做好充分的准备。

Uptime Institute consultants notice that poor preparation for a Tier Certification of Constructed Facility signals that serious problems will be uncovered during the facility demonstration. Resolving problems at this late stage may require a second site visit or even expensive mechanical and electrical changes. These delays may also cause move-in dates to be postponed. In other situations, the facility may not qualify for the Certification at the specified and expected design load.

Uptime Institute顾问注意到在建造认证前准备不充分，表明很多严重的问题将在设施测试过程中暴露出来。在后期去解决问题或许需要第二次的现场审查，甚至需要昂贵的机械和电气方面的变更。这些延迟或许还会导致搬迁时间的推迟。在其它情况下，设施或许不满足指定的、预期负荷下的认证要求。

TIER CERTIFICATION–HOW IT WORKS

Tier认证-如何开展

Tier Certification is a performance-based evaluation of a data center’s specific infrastructure and not a checklist or cookbook. The process ensures that the owner’s facility has been constructed as designed and verifies that it is capable of meeting the defined availability requirements. Even the best laid plans can go awry, and common construction phase practices or value engineering proposals can compromise the design intent of a data center (See “Avoiding Data Center Construction Problems” by Keith Klesner, The Uptime Institute Journal, vol 5, p. 6).

Tier认证是基于数据中心具体基础设施性能方面的评估，并不是菜单式的文件检查。整个过程可以确保业主的基础设施建造是基于设计和认证要求的，该设施可以满足指定的可用性要求。即使是最好的铺设计划也可能会走偏，且常见的建设阶段实践或价值工程（国外对工程方降成本的隐晦用语）议或许会对设计意图进行妥协处理（见Keith Klesner 的“数据中心建设问题规避措施”，The Uptime Institute Journal, vol 5, p. 6）。

The site visit provides an opportunity to observe whether the staff is knowledgeable about the facility and has practiced the demonstrations.

现场审查提供了一个机会，观察工作人员是有设施方面的知识和参与过演习

With multiple vendors, subcontractors, and typically more than 50 different disciplines involved in any data center project—structural, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, fuel pumps, networking, and more—it would be remarkable if there were no errors or unintended risks introduced during the construction process.

在数据中心项目中涉及多种供应商、分包商以及典型多达50种规范要求，包括结构、电气暖通、管道工程、油泵、网络工程等等，在建造过程中不出现任何错误、不可预料的风险是相当难以实现的。

The Tier Certification typically starts with a company deploying new data center capacity. The data center owner defines a business requirement to achieve a specific Tier (I-IV) level to ensure the asset meets performance capacity, effectiveness, and reliability requirements. Only Uptime Institute can certify that a data center design and/or constructed facility does, in fact, meet the owner’s Tier objective.

Tier认证通常开始于一个公司部署新的数据中心容量时。数据中心业主定义业务需求，并要求达到一个特定的 Tier等级（Tier I-Tier IV）从而确保相关设备满足容量、效率和可靠性的要求。实际上，只有Uptime Institute能够认定一个数据中心的设计和/或基础设施的建设满足业主的 Tier等级目标。

The first step is the Tier Certification of Design Documents. Uptime Institute consultants review 100% of the design documents, ensuring that each and every electrical, mechanical, monitoring, and automation subsystem meets the Tier objective requirements. Uptime Institute reports its findings to the owner, noting any Tier deficiencies. It is then up to the owner’s team to revise the drawings to address those deficiencies.

第一步是设计认证。Uptime Institute顾问100%审查所有设计文档，确保每一电气、机械、监控和自动化子系统满足 Tier的目标要求。Uptime Institute将审查结果汇报给相关业主，并指出所有Tier认证的不满足项。然后由业主的团队来修改相关图纸来解决那些不满足项。

提示：设计认证从来都不是要单独进行或最后进行。本质它是临时性的，是为了在基础设施的Tier认证中制定一个检查点，同时也是为了保证流程操作方面的可持续性去告知上层管理，项目是按照具体地点定义的Tier性能目标在开展。一个企业的数据中心能够达到设计认证要求，但没有达到设施建造的认证要求是有很多方面的原因的。部分原因包括项目延期、取消和重新定义。但是，对于企业项目的这些同样的原因，并不会在一个商业数据中心市场出现，因为在商业数据中心中Tier认证，会驱动向那些已经证明自己在基础设施方面能力的企业，这将产生差异化和价格方面的优势。鉴于市场上出现的清晰的、任性的、不择手段的虚假陈述的乱象，出于市场原因和基础设施认证成果的差异化考虑，Uptime对Tier认证过程做出回应，并在2014年1月1日宣布了对设计认证保留2年有效期以及有效期满后撤回认证的权利。

在2015年7月1日，Uptime修正了北美托管、自用、云或其他商业用途的数据中心Tier认证颁布过程。在此之前，在设计认证中展示了所有相关条目的杰出性之后，会给出设计认证发布信件、颁布牌匾，并在网站中列表显示。修正之后的认证过程，对于北美商业数据中心的认证，在设计认证之后，会发送一封邮件以确认Tier认证完成了第一个里程碑。但是，公开的认证结果、相关的牌匾颁发以及网站公布只会在所有的认证工作结束之后才会提供。这样能保证设计的认证结束，不会产生表述为一个建设好的商业数据中心功能性和能力性的认证。（也就是设计和基础设施认证的差异）这个政策并不会对企业数据中心的Tier认证过程产生影响，且不会影响设计文档的认证，也不会影响2015年7月1日之前的所有认证。

After Uptime Institute consultants determine that the revised design drawings correct the deficiencies, the Tier Certification of Design Documents foil may be awarded.

在Uptime顾问确认更改后的设计文件能纠正之前的不满足项之后，将颁发TCDD设计证书。

Immediately after the Design Certification is awarded, the Facility Certification begins when Uptime Institute consultants begin devising a list of demonstrations to be performed by site staff upon the conclusion of Level 5 Commissioning. Uptime Institute consultants provide the demonstrations to the client in advance and are available to answer questions throughout the construction process. In addition, Uptime Institute has created an instructional presentation for each Tier Level, so that owners can better understand the process and how to prepare for the site visit.

在设计认证颁发之后，设施认证就马上开始，设施认证开始之初，Uptime顾问设计一份能够满足5级试运行结结论的演习清单，由现场工作人员去按照清单执行。Uptime顾问提前向客户提供演习，并可在整个施工过程中进行答疑。此外，Uptime已经为每个Tier级别创建了一个教学演习文稿，以便业主可以更好地理解过程以及熟悉如何准备现场审查。

Fortunately, Uptime Institute provides guidance and plenty of opportunity for clients to prepare for a Facility Certification well before the on-site review of functionality demonstrations. Uptime Institute Senior Vice President, Tier Standards, Chris Brown said, “From my perspective a successful Facility Certification is one in which the clients are well prepared and all systems meet Tier requirements the first time. They have all their documents and planning done. And, pretty much everything goes without a hitch.”

幸运的是，Uptime提供了指导和大量的机会，协助客户在现场功能演习评审前做好设施认证准备。Uptime Institute高级副总裁，Tier标准组织的Chris Brown说，“从我的角度来看，一个成功的设施认证是一个客户准备充分、所有系统第一次就满足Tier要求的过程。他们所有的文件和计划都完成了。而且，几乎一切都顺利。”

Planning for the Facility Certification begins early in the construction process. Clients must schedule adequate time for Level 5 Commissioning and the site visit, ensuring that construction delays and cost overruns do not compromise time for either the commissioning or Certification process. They will also want to make sure that vendors and contractors will have the right personnel on site during the Certification visit.

设施认证的计划在施工过程的早期就开始。客户必须为5级试运行和现场审查安排足够的时间，以确保施工延误和成本超支不会影响试运行或认证过程的时间。他们还希望确保供应商和承包商在认证访问期间有合适的人员在场。

Tier Certification of Constructed Facility:

获得建造认证数据中心应该是：

• Ensures that a facility has been constructed as designed

确保建筑是按照设计要求建造的

• Verifies a facility’s capability to meet the defined availability requirements

·验证设施的性能满足规定的可用性要求

• Follows multiple mechanical and electrical criteria as defined in the Tier Standard: Topology

遵循Tier标准中定义的多个机械和电气系统

• Seamlessly integrates into the project schedule

无缝集成到项目进度表中

• Ensures that deficiencies in the design are identified, solved, and tested before operations commence

确保设计缺陷在在操作开始之前已经得到识别、解决和测试验证

• Includes live system demonstrations under real-world conditions, validating performance according to the facility’s Tier objective

依据设施认证目标要求，涵盖真实世界条件下的、性能得到验证的实况系统演习
• Conducts demonstrations specifically tailored to the exact topology of the data center

进行专门针对数据中心的精确拓扑的演练。

A team of Uptime Institute consultants will visit the site for 3-5 days, generally a little more than a month after construction of critical systems ends, allowing plenty of time for commissioning. While on site, the team identifies discrepancies between the design drawings and installed equipment. They also observe the results of each demonstration.

一组Uptime Institute顾问将实地审查3-5天，通常在关键系统完工后一个多月，为系统试运行预留足够的时间。在现场时，该团队将识别设计图纸和安装设备之间的差异。他们还观察每个演习的结果。

PREPARATIONS FOR TIER CERTIFICATION DEMONSTRATIONS

Tier认证演习系统的准备工作

The value of Tier Certification comes from finding and eliminating blind spots, points of failure, and weak points before a site is fully operational and downtime results.

Tier认证的价值来自于发现和消除盲点、故障点和弱点，然后才是站点完全运行和宕机的后果。

In an ideal scenario, data center facilities teams would have successfully completed Level 5 Commissioning (Integrated System Testing). The commissioning testing would have already exercised all of the components as though the data center were operational. That means that load banks simulating IT equipment are installed in the data center to fully test the power and cooling. The systems are operated together to ensure that the data center operates as designed in all specified maintenance and failure scenarios.

在一个理想的场景中，数据中心设施团队将成功地完成5级试运行（集成系统测试）。试运行将成功演习所有的组件，证明数据中心是可以使用的。这意味着模拟IT功率、安装在数据中心的假负载箱已经安装，以充分测试电源和冷却系统。这些系统一起联合运行以确保数据中心按照设计要求制定的维护和故障场景中运行。

Everything should be running exactly as specified, and changes from the design should be minimal and insignificant. In fact, facility personnel should be familiar with the facility and its operation and may even have practiced the demonstrations during commissioning.

所有的东西都应该按照指定的方式运行，与设计上差异应该是很小且微不足道的。事实上，设施人员应该熟悉设施及运行，甚至可能在调试过程中得到过练习。

“Clients who are prepared have fully commissioned the site and they have put together the MOPs and SOPs (operating procedures) for the work that is required to actually accomplish the demonstrations,” said Chris Brown, Uptime Institute Senior Vice President, Tier Standards. “They have the appropriate technical staff on site. And, they have practiced or rehearsed the demonstrations before we get there.

“做好准备的客户已经完全在现场试运行过，且他们把维护操作流程和标准操作流程准备好，以完成实际演习所需的工作，”Uptime Institute高级副总裁Chris Brown说。“他们在现场有合适的技术人员。在我们到达之前，他们已经练习或试运行演习。

“Because we typically come in for site visit immediately following Level 5 Commissioning, we ask for a commissioning schedule, and that will give us an indication of how rigorous commissioning has been and give us an idea of whether this is going to be a successful facility certification or not.”

“因为我们通常在5级试运行后立即进行现场审查，我们要求一个调试时间表，这将给我们一个说明，曾经完成了怎么样的严格的试运行，并告诉我们这是否会是一个成功的设施认证。“

Once on site, Uptime Institute consultants observe the Operations team as it performs the different demonstrations, such as interrupting the incoming utility power supply to see that the UPS carries the critical load until the engine generators come on line and provide power to the data center and that the cooling system maintains the critical load during the transition.

一旦到了现场，Uptime的顾问观察运行团队的各种不同的演习，例如中断电源输入，检查UPS能否承担关键的负荷直到发动机发电机上线并向数据中心提供电力，在电源的转换过程中，冷却系统能够为关键负荷提供持续的冷却。

Integrated systems testing requires load banks to simulate live IT equipment to test how the data center power and cooling systems perform under operating conditions.

集成系统测试要求假负载模拟现场IT设备，以检验数据中心电源和冷却系统在在运行工况下的表现。

Other demonstrations include removing redundant capacity components from service and showing that, for example, N engine generators can support the data center critical load or that the redundant chilled water distribution loop can be removed from service while still sufficiently cooling the data center.

其它演习包括从服务中移除冗余容部件，并且证明：例如，N个发电机可以支持数据中心关键负载，或者冗余冷冻水分配回路从服务中移除后仍然能够为数据中心提供充足的冷量。

“Some of these demonstrations take time, especially those involving the cooling systems,” Brown said.

Brown说：“一些演习需要耗费不少时间，尤其是那些涉及冷却系统的。”

The client must prepare properly because executing the demonstrations in a timely manner requires that the client:

客户必须做好准备，因为以快速的方式执行演习需要客户做到以下几个方面：

1. Create a schedule and order of demonstrations

1.创建时间表和演习顺序

2. Create all procedures required to complete the functionality demonstrations

2.创建完成功能演习所需的所有流程

3. Provide necessary technical support personnel

3.提供必要的技术支持人员

a. Technicians

a.技术人员

b. Installers

b.安装人员

c. Vendors

C.供应商

4. Provide, install, and operate load banks

4.提供、安装和操作假负载

5. Direct on-site technical personnel

5.现场技术人员

6. Provide means to measure the presence of voltage on electrical devices during isolation by qualified personnel.

6.在持证人员断开电气设备后，提供各种测量检测是否带带电的装置。

Even though the assessment evaluates the physical topology and equipment, organizations need proper staffing, training, and documentation in place to ensure the demonstrations are performed successfully.

尽管评估内容将对物理拓扑结构和相关设备进行评估，相关组织仍需要适当的人员配置、培训和文件到位，以确保演习成功地进行。

AVOID TIER CERTIFICATION HORROR STORIES

避免Tier认证可怕故事

Fundamentally, the Tier Certification process is a binary exercise. The data center facility is compliant with its stated Tier objective, or it is not. So, why then, do Uptime Institute consultants sometimes experience a sinking feeling upon arriving at a site and meeting the team?

从根本上讲，Tier认证过程是一个0或1的评定过程。数据中心设施要么符合其规定的Tier目标，要么不符合。因而，这就是Uptime顾问在到达现场和团队会面时，有时也会感觉沮丧的原因。

关于演习的更多信息

Uptime Insitute顾问：

l  观察演习并见证所有动作，通常会在两个独立的地点进行观察，这样能更好地观察每一次演习

l  在演习中记录电气、机械负载数据，空间温度数据

l  任何时候都需要有陪同人员一起

l  业主想要的任何指令都可能会执行

l  可根据所演习的系统同时进行，但Uptime机构可以限制并发演习的数量，以确保正确的完成和评估

l  应该仔细地进行组织，避免需要重复演习

l  应该从正常操作或配置开始演习

l  当工作人员就位准备就绪，且准备见证演习后，由客户现场领导正式启动演习

l  只有在受影响的系统稳定后才开始

n  在这个过程中，Uptime记录电气、机械以及空间的温度数据

n  在进行下一步演习前，系统必须已经达到稳定状态或者重置到正常的配置

l  如果没有在关键的位置上造成恶劣的影响就认为是成功

n  如果有不正当的情况发生，Uptime会直接联系现场该处的联系人员，允许他们进行整改并在约定的演习结束时间前重新测试

l  在告知并获得同意之后继续下一步的演习——这是很重要的

l  要求任一部件都可以隔离并拆除

n  需要隔离而不是需要移除

n  隔离的意思是通过安装在系统中的部件来完成；断开意思是移出这些设备

n  所有的部件都必须置于电气、机械安全的状态

n  所有部件都应该是非带电的（电压）

n  部件应该得到隔离，这样管道可以排水，连接处可以打开

l  或许还需要电气隔离

Frequently, within the first moments at the facility, it is obvious to the Uptime Institute consultant that nothing is as it should be and the next several days are going to be difficult ones.

经常会发现，在认证之初对Uptime机构顾问来说，没有任何事情达到预期的效果，接下来的几天会比较艰难。

Uptime Institute consultants can often tell at first glance whether the client has met the guidance to prepare for the Tier Certification. In fact, the consultants will often know a great deal from the number and tone of questions regarding the demonstrations list.

Uptime的顾问通常可以一眼就看出客户是否满足指导文件要求，为认证做好准备。事实上，顾问通常会从演习列表的问题数量和问题的语调中了解到很多信息。

“You can usually tell if the client has gone through the demonstration list,” said Uptime Institute Consultant Eric Maddison. “I prepare the demonstration list from schematics, so they are not listed in order. It is the client’s obligation to sequence them logically. So it is a good sign if the client has sequenced the demonstrations logically and prepared a program with timing and other information on how they are to perform the demonstration.”

“你很容易看出客户是否研究了演习列表，”Uptime顾问Eric Maddison说。“我从流程图开始准备演习列表，发现列表不是按顺序排的。客户有责任对它们按照一定的逻辑进行排序。因此，如果客户对演习按照逻辑关系进行了排序，并准备一个包括时间和其它信息的计划，该计划将指导他们如何进行演习，这就是一个好的信号。”

Similarly, Uptime Institute consultants can see whether technicians and appropriate load banks are available. “You can walk into a data hall and see how the load banks are positioned and get a pretty good sense for whether there will be a problem or not,” Brown said, “If the facility has a 1,200-kilowatt load and they only have two large load banks, that’s a dead giveaway that the load banks are too large and not in the right place.”

类似地，Uptime的顾问可以了解是否有技术人员和合适的假负载。布朗说：“你可以走进一个数据大厅，看看假负载是如何定位的，然后对是否存在问题有一个很好的判断。如果设备有1200千瓦的负载，而它们只有两个大的假负载，那么假负载这么大且不在正确的地方就暴露了数据中心的问题。”

Similarly, a few quick conversations will tell whether a client has arranged appropriate staffing for the demonstrations. The facility tour provides plenty of opportunity to observe whether the staff on site is knowledgeable about the facility and has practiced the demonstrations. The appropriate level of staff varies from site to site with the complexity of the data center. But, the client needs to have people on site who understand the overall design and can operate each individual piece of equipment as well as respond to unexpected failures or performance issues.

类似地，一些快速的交流可以知道客户是否已经安排了合适的人员来进行演习。设施巡查提供了很多机会来观察现场工作人员是否了解设施，并进行了相关的操练。从数据中心的复杂性来看，员工的匹配度随现场的不同而不同。但是，客户的现场人员需要了解整体设计，并且可以操作每一台设备，以及解决意外故障或性能问题。

为有效地在两路之间切换假负载做好计划

A路的或B路的电源路径

l  取决于Tier的目标，一般设计都有A路电源和B路电源

n  选择演习应该在A路电源

n  选择演习应该在B路电源

n  演习应该均匀分配A和B路两路电源上

同时A路和B路电源的路径

l  在现场审查之前安装好A和B的电源插座（有帮助，但不是必须的）

l  假负载的电源来自手动切换开关（有帮助，但不是必须的）

n  自动切换不是必须的

n  快速手动切换或许更适合T4

n  尽可能靠近安装在数据中心预期的热负荷处

n  如果是封闭冷通道，则放置于机柜

u  确保冷通道能够冷却设计负荷

u  确保有效地维持设计所需的气流组织

n  当采用列间空调时，安装于机柜或机柜内部通道

u  确保设计的列间空调冷量能满足设计负荷

u  验证设计的每列、每个房间的冗余性

Brown recalled one facility tour that included 25 people, but only two had any familiarity with the site. He said, “Relying on a headcount is not possible; we need to understand who the people are and their backgrounds.

Brown回忆说，有一次设施巡查有25人参与，但只有两人熟悉这个现场。他说：“仅仅看人的数量是不行的，我们需要了解这些人的情况以及他们的知识背景。”

“We start with an in-brief meeting the morning of the first day for every Tier Certification and that usually takes about an hour, and then we do a tour of the facility, which can take anywhere from 2-4 hours, depending on the size of the facility. By the time those are finished, we have a pretty good idea of whether they are in the A, B, C, or D range of preparation. You start to worry if no one can answer the questions you pose, or if they don’t really have a plan or schedule for demonstrations. You can also get a good comfortable feeling if everybody has the answers, and they know where the equipment is and how it works.”

“我们首先在第一天早上为每个Tier认证进行一次简短的会议，通常需要大约一个小时，然后我们参观设施，根据设施的规模，可能会花费2-4个小时。当这些操作完成时，我们已经非常清楚它们的准备程度是在A、B、C还是D级别范围。如果没人能回答你提出的问题，或者他们真的没有计划或时间表进行演习，你就要开始担心了。如果每个人都有答案，并且他们知道设备在哪里以及如何工作，你就会感到舒心。”

During this first day, the consultants will also determine who the client liaison is, meet the whole client team, and go over the goals of the program and site visit. During the site tour, the consultants will familiarize themselves with the facility, verify it looks as expected, check that valves and breakers are in place, and confirm equipment nameplates.

在第一天，顾问还将确定谁是客户联络人，会见整个客户团队并检查项目和现场审查的目标。在参观现场期间，顾问们将熟悉设施，确认设施外观符合设计要求，检查阀门和断路器是否到位，并确认设备铭牌。

Having the proper team on site requires a certain amount of planning. Brown said that owners often inadvertently cause a big challenge by letting contractors and vendors go before the site visit. “They’ve done the construction, they’ve done the operations, and they’ve done the commissioning,” he said, “But then the Operations team comes in cold on Monday after everyone else has left. The whole brain trust that knows how the facility systems work and operate just left the site. And there’s a stack of books and binders 2-feet long for the Operations guys to read, good luck.”

做到现场有适当的团队需要前期的不少计划工作。Brown说，业主可能会让承包商和供应商在现场考察前离开，这往往不经意间造成大的挑战。“他们已经完成了建造，已经完成了操作，也完成了调试，”他说，“但是当其他人都离开后，运营团队在星期一过来后将一无所知。了解设施系统运行和运作的团队刚刚离开现场，在现场留了一摞两英尺长的资料和活页夹让操作员们看，祝他们好运。”

Brown described a much better scenario in which the Uptime Institute consultants arrive on site and find, “The Operations team ready to go and the processes and procedures are already written. They are ready to take over on Day 1 and remain in place for 20 years. They can roll through the demonstrations. And they have multiple team members checking each other, just like they were doing maintenance for 5 years together.

Brown描绘了一个更为合理的场景，在这个场景里Uptime的顾问们到达现场发现：“运营团队准备好了，流程和过程已经编写好了。他们准备在第1天接管并保持20年。他们可以顺利通过演习。而且他们有多个团队成员相互检查，就像他们在一起做了5年的维护一样。

“During the demonstrations, they are double checking process and procedures. ‘Oh wait,’ they’ll say, ‘we need to do this.’ They will update the procedure and do the demonstration again. In this case, the site is going to be ready to handover and start working the Monday after we leave. And everybody’s there still trying to finish up that last little bit of understanding the data center, and see that the process and procedures have all the information they need to effectively operate for years to come.”

“在演习期间，他们是双重检查的过程和流程。“噢，等等，”他们会说，“我们需要这样做。”他们会更新流程，再次进行演习。在这种情况下，现场已经充分准备好移交，并在我们离开后的周一开始工作。每个人都在努力完成对数据中心的最后一点理解，并且确保该过程和流程具有未来几年有效运行所需的所有信息。”

In these instances, the owner would have positioned the Operations staff in place early in the project, whether that role is filled by a vendor or in-house staff.

在这些情况下，业主在项目的早期就会安排好运维人员到具体工作岗位，不管这些人员是由供应商还是业主内部人员担任。

In one case, a large insurer staffed a new facility by transferring half the staff from an existing data center and hiring the rest. That way, it had a mix of people who knew the company’s systems and knew how things worked. They were also part of the commissioning process. The experienced people could then train the new hires.

在一个案例中，一家大型保险公司通过将一半员工从现有数据中心调任，剩余由新招聘人员组成。这样一来，它就有了一群了解公司系统的人，知道如何运作。他们曾经参与试运行过程。这些有经验的人可以培训新来的员工。

During the demonstration, the team will interrupt the incoming utility power supply and see that the UPS carries the critical load until the engine generators come on line and provide power to the data center and that the cooling system maintains the critical load during the transition.

在演习期间，该小组将中断设施的供电，并看到UPS承载关键的负载，并维持到柴油发动机发电机上并向数据中心供电，在整个转换过程中冷却系统能够维持关键负载。

WHAT CAUSES POOR PERFORMANCE DURING TIER CERTIFICATION?

在Tier认证中，是什么导致性能不佳？

So with all these opportunities to prepare, why do some Tier Certifications become difficult experiences?

那么，既然有这么多准备的机会，为什么一些Tier认证会历程艰难呢？

Obviously, lack of preparation tops the list. Brown said, “Often, there’s hubris. ‘I am a savvy owner, and therefore, the construction team knows what they are doing, and they’ll get it right the first time.’” Similarly, clients do not always understand that the Tier Certification is not a rubber stamp. Maddison recalled more than one instance when he arrived on site only to find the site unprepared to actually perform any of the demonstrations.

显然，缺乏准备是造成困难的最重要原因。Brown说：“通常，会出现狂妄自大。‘我是一个精明的业主，因此，施工团队知道他们正在做什么，他们会在第一时间把事情做对。’”同样，客户并不总是理解Tier认证并不是橡皮图章。麦迪逊回忆了不止一个例子，当他到达现场时，却发现现场没有做好演习的准备。

Failure to understand the isolation requirements, incomplete drawings, design changes made after the Design Certification, and incomplete or abbreviated commissioning can cause headaches too. Achieving complete isolation of equipment, in particular, has proven to be challenging for some owners.

未能理解隔离要求、图纸不完整、设计认证后做了设计变更、不完整或简化的试运行也可能也会带大的问题。特别地说，实现设备的完全隔离，被证明了对一些业主来说是尤其具有挑战性的。

Sometimes clients aren’t familiar with all the features of a product, but more often the client will open the breakers and think it is isolated. Similar situations can arise when closing valves to confirm that a chilled water system is Concurrently Maintainable or Fault Tolerant.

有时客户并不熟悉产品的所有特性，但更常见的情况是，客户会打开断路器，认为它是孤立的。当关闭阀门以确认冷冻水系统可同时维护或容错时，也会出现类似的情况。

Incomplete or changed drawings are a key source of frustration. Brown recalled one instance when the Tier Certified Design Documents did not show a generator control. And, since each and every system must meet the Tier requirement, the “new” equipment posed a dilemma, as no demonstration had been devised.

不完整或变更的图纸是挫折的主要来源。Brown回忆了一个例子，当时Tier认证的设计文件没有显示发电机控制。而且，由于每个系统都必须满足Tier要求，因此“新”设备陷入困境，因为没有为新设备设计演习。

More common, though, are changes to design drawings. Brown said, “During every construction there are going to be changes from what’s designed to what’s built; sometimes there are Tier implications. And, these are not always communicated to us, so we discover them on the site visit.”

然而，更常见的是对设计图纸的更改。布朗说：“在每次建造过程中，都会有从设计到建造的变化，有时会影响Tier功能，但并不总是会告知给我们，所以我们常常是到了现场才发现这些变化。”

Poor commissioning will also cause site visit problems. Brown said, “A common view is that commissioning is turning everything on to see if it works. They’ll say, ‘Well we killed the utility power and the generator started. We have some load in there.’ They just don’t understand that load banking only the generator isn’t commissioning.”

调试不当也会引起现场审查的问题。布朗说：“一个公认的观点是，试运行会验证一切设备能否运行，看看它是否有效。他们会说：‘我们断了设施供电，发电机启动了。我们有一些负载。’他们其实不明白仅仅拥有假负载并不会让发电机得到验证。”

He cites an instance in which the chillers weren’t provided the expected cooling. It turned out that cooling tubes were getting clogged by dirt and silt. “There’s no way they did commissioning—proper commissioning—or they would have noticed that.”

他引用了一个例子，其中冷水机组没有得到预期的冷却。结果发现冷却管被污垢和淤泥堵塞了。“他们肯定没有进行试运行——正确的试运行——不然他们会发现这个问题的。”

Construction delays can compromise commissioning. As Brown said, “Clients expect to have a building handed over on a certain date. Of course there are delays in construction, delays in commissioning, and delays because equipment didn’t work properly when it was first brought in. For any number of reasons the schedule can be pushed. And the commissioning just gets reduced in scope to meet that same schedule.”

施工延误可能会妨碍试运行。正如Brown所说，“客户希望在某一特定日期移交一幢大楼。当然其中肯定有延误，包括施工延误、调试延误、设备首次引入时工作不正常带来的延误。不管任何原因，进度都可能往后推延。这样试运行就会缩减从而满足进度不变。”

Very often, then, the result is that owner finds that the Tier Certification cannot be completed because not everything has been tested thoroughly and things are not working as anticipated.

因此，结果常常是业主发现Tier认证不能完成，因为并非所有内容都经过了彻底的测试，并且数据中心并没有如预期那样地运行。

If the commissioning is compromised or the staff is not prepared, can the facility pass the Tier Certification anyway?

如果测试验证不满足要求或员工没有充分准备好，设施是否可以通过Tier建造认证？

The short answer is yes.

答案是可以！

But often these problems are indications of deeper issues that indicate a facility may not meet the performance requirements of the owner, require expensive mechanical and electrical changes, or cause move-in dates to be postponed–or some combination of all three. In these instances, failing the Tier Certification at the specified and expected time may be the least of the owner’s worries.

但这些问题往往是更深层次的问题的预兆，表明设施可能不满足业主的性能要求，需要昂贵的机械和电气变更，或导致移交日期后延，或是这三者的某种组合。这样看来，业主就不要指望在指定和预期时间内能通过Tier认证了。

In these instances and many others, Uptime Institute consultants can—and do—offer useful advice and solutions. Communication is the key because each circumstance is different. In some cases, the solutions, including multiple site visits, can be expensive. In other cases, however, something like a delayed client move-in date can be worked out by rescheduling a site visit.

在这些情况和许多其他情况下，Uptime顾问可以并且确实会提供有用的建议和解决方案。沟通是关键，因为每一次的状况都是不同的。在某些情况下，解决方案包括多次的现场考察，可能是昂贵的。然而，在其它情况下，可以推迟迁入时间，从而重新安排现场考察来解决问题。

In addition, Maddison points out the well-prepared clients can manage the expected setbacks that might occur during the site visit. “Often more compartmentalization is needed or more control strategy. Some clients work miracles. They move control panels or put in new breakers overnight.”

此外，Maddison指出，准备充分的客户可以把控现场审查期间可能发生的预期挫折。“通常需要更多的区分或者更多的控制策略。有些客户创造奇迹。他们移动控制面板或连夜更换新的断路器。”

But, successful outcomes like that must be planned. Asking questions, preparing Operations teams, scheduling and budgeting for Commissioning, and understanding the value of the Tier Certification can lead to a smooth process and a facility that meets or exceeds client requirements.

但是，像这样的成功结果必须有计划。提出问题、准备运营团队、安排和预算调试并理解Tier认证的价值可以带来一个顺利的过程和保证设施可以满足或超过客户的要求。

The aftermath of a smooth site visit should almost be anticlimactic. Uptime Institute consultants will prepare a Tier Certification Memorandum documenting any remaining issues, listing any documents to be updated, and describing the need for possible follow-on site visits.

顺利的实地考察的后果是虎头蛇尾。Uptime的顾问将编写一份Tier认证备忘录记录任何存留的问题、列出所有需要更新的文件、说明后续潜在的现场审查的需求。

And then finally, upon successful completion of the process, the owner receives the Tier Certification of Constructed Facility letter, an electronic foil, and plaque attesting to the performance of the facility.

最后，在成功完成该过程后，业主将收到建造认证信、电子证书和证明该设施性能的牌匾。

翻译：

张卫星

现任佳力图技术总监

主要研究温控系统节能与强化换热、制冷系统、热管系统、CFD仿真、水系统以及水力平衡等领域。

DKV(DeepKnowledge Volunteer)计划精英成员

编辑：

梁鸿雁

中能测（北京）科技发展有限公司秘书处处长