Minutes of the B513 Planning Meeting, 15th Sep

Present: Roland Bachelard, Tony Cass, Anne Funken, Jukka Lindroos, Dick Minchin, Dave Underhill

1.             Previous minutes

  1. When discussing the action list, Jukka pointed out that there is no active desenfumage for the machine room; all that is done is to stop the recycling of air (and smoke). The future needs should be discussed with the fire prevention unit.

2.             B513 Items for 2001 IT Budget

2.1.                Access Control

  1. The replacement access control contract is scheduled to be discussed at a Finance Committee before the end of the year. However, the earliest anything could be installed around B513/B31 is mid-2001.
  1. The quote in November ’99 was 600KFF for controlling external access to the buildings plus  a further 225KFF for controlling access to the machine room. This quote does not include cables and work to be provided by ST. Roland believes this will add 20KCHF to the total but will check. It is assumed that the central control unit for the new system would be placed in the operators area.

2.2.                UPS Batteries

  1. The cost for replacement UPS batteries depends on the guaranteed lifetime and is roughly 75K/module for a 10year guarantee,  72K/module for a 4 year guarantee and 42K/module for a 2 year guarantee. However, the expected lifetime for the latter batteries is 5-6 years given the storage conditions at CERN. As it is anyway imagined that a further replacement will be required before LHC startup, it was agreed that we should propose to purchase batteries at 42K/module. Roland will ask for an update quote and check that the batteries could be installed in 2000 if the money becomes available.
  1. It was noted that these batteries would only maintain the nominal 5minutes continued supply at the rated load (400kVA/module). Although the autotransfer between the Swiss and French supplies takes over within 8 seconds, there would be a much greater period without power if the supply is cut following an incident within CERN. However, the aim for the moment is just to ensure continued running of the current system. The overall UPS picture will be studied as part of the B513 redevelopment.

2.3.                Vault False Floor

  1. To start providing additional equipment area, Tony suggested installing false flooring at the west end of the vault (to the right entering through the doors by the main B513 lift). Roland will ask for a quote, but the price is expected to be around 250CHF/m2. The cloisons surrounding S-037, S-039, S-041 and S-040 would have to be removed and we also need to understand whether or not te doors into S-413 and S-411 need to be maintained (either for access or emergency exit purposes).
  1. With current packing densities, this area (roughly 300m2), could support 60-70 racks of PC servers (40 PCs/rack). The power consumption of these racks has been measured at 3.3kVA. The electrical supply for the area should therefore be for 250kVA. A quote provided earlier in the year was 53KCHF for a switchboard and associated normabarres to support up to 150kVA.
  2. Similarly, the air conditioning should be able to cope with this level of heat production. However, installation of the air conditioning capacity can be phased as PC systems will be installed gradually. One possible solution, therefore, is to install ducts now that connect to the existing air conditioning units (which have 80kW free capacity). These ducts would then be connected to more powerful units to be installed later. Jukka will investigate the pricing.
  3. It was noted that the air conditioning for the vault is limited to 500W/m2 if conditions have to be acceptable for people to work in the room.
  4. Anne commented that we should study the rate at which the temperature would increase without air conditioning to understand if the equipment has to be connected to the UPS. (Earlier studies have shown that with 2MW of equipment in the machine room, the temperature will rise by 5ºC within 40s. This has important implications for the sizing of the UPS and also for the diesel backup arrangements.)

2.4.                Fire detection

  1. Denis Raffourt should be contacted to see if there would be any cost to IT for renovating the fire detection equipment in B513

3.             Longer term B513 planning

  1. It was agreed that we should now start to look more closely at the possible future options for the electrical supply to B513. This should wait until Anne has understood the various factors affecting the lifetime of the current equipment (such as age, rated lifetime and future availability of spare parts).

4.             AOB

  1. Roland will check the proposed dates for maintenance of the UPS ane Emergency Power off system in 2001. As in 2000, continuity of electrical supply would be guaranteed during the tests but there would be no UPS cover for roughly one hour.
  2. Removal of the obsolete pipework in the vault is scheduled to start in the week of September 18th.
  3. It was agreed that the next meeting would be held at 2pm on Thursday 5th October.

5.             Actions

5.1.                Completed

Who

Action

Assigned

Completed

Jukka

It is possible to have 9 air conditioning units run simultaneously.

30/05/00

15/09/00

Anne

Arrange quote for removal of the existing MG room cooling equipment.

09/05/00

15/09/00


5.2.                To be done

Who

Action

Assigned

Anne

Understand practical lifetime of electrical supply equipment

30/05/00

Tony

Ensure UPS battery replacement is included in IT budget for 2001

30/05/00

Tony

Arrange discussions with TIS about the requirements for general or localised emergency power off systems.

30/05/00

Roland

Check supplemental costs associated with access control replacement.

15/09/00

Roland

Obtain updated quote for UPS batteries with 2 year guaranteed lifetime and check to see if these could be supplied during 2000

15/09/00

Roland

Obtain quote for false floor installation in west end of the vault

15/09/00

Roland

Obtain quote for providing electrical supply for load up to 250kVA for the west end of the vault

15/09/00

Jukka

Investigate and cost options for providing air conditioning to cover equipment installed at the west end of the vault.

15/09/00

Tony

Contact Denis Raffourt to discuss possible changes to the fire detection system in B513

15/09/00