What is a data center and why data center comply with ANSI/TIA-942 ?

Data Centers are spaces companies use to store and operate a majority of company information and communication technology Infrastructure that helps with the business. Depending on the scale of business, data center could be a simple rack, a room or a building with computer equipment that consumes a high level of power. The ability of the data center to operate at peak performance and at the highest possible efficiency levels without service interruption is crucial for business continuity. In order for the data center to operate at peak performance level, it must adhere to a quality standard. The quality standard for data centers today is ANSI/TIA-942.

What is ANSI/TIA-942?

Let us first look at what is ANSI, and TIA-942?

ANSI stands for American National Standards Institute. The Institute is responsible for everything from the formation to the announcement and further use of thousands of guidelines and norms. These norms directly affect several business sectors from construction to manufacture to dairy to energy distribution and others.

TIA stands for Telecommunications Industry Association.  The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) is the leading trade association that represents global information and communications technology (ICT) industry in the form of policy initiatives, market intelligence, business opportunities etc.

ANSI/TIA-942 is an established quality standard issued to data centers. This standard stands for a worldwide consensus from industry experts in the context of data center design and build.

Why is ANSI/TIA-942 chosen?

The ANSI/TIA-942 standard is chosen because of the following factors:

• The standard is available to the public and hence considered transparent
• This standard encompasses every element of the physical data center from its architecture, fire suppression, safety & security to its site location and telecommunication amongst others.
• This is a genuine standard that has been issued by a NGO
• This is an ANSI accredited standard

The ANSI/TIA-942 standard acts as a measure for data center professionals to refer when building a reliable data center.

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