In the rapidly evolving landscape of data centers, ensuring uninterrupted electrical power and the personal safety of data center operators and all facility occupants is imperative. As these facilities become increasingly integral to global operations, the distinction between mission-critical Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) and centralized emergency lighting inverters becomes crucial. Each plays a unique role in safeguarding operations and ensuring compliance with stringent electrical codes and safety standards. While both technologies can (and should) be part of the same system solution, the emergency lighting inverters provide compliance with NFPA 101 section 7.9.3, which governs life safety and emergency egress.
By delving into the specifics of each of these technologies, data center and facility managers can make informed decisions that bolster electrical resiliency and life safety.
Understanding Mission Critical UPS’s
Three-phase Uninterruptible Power Systems (UPS’s) are the vital guardians of uptime, with their primary functions of providing backup power as well as preventing downtime and data loss. By providing seamless electrical power continuity, UPS’s sustain critical functions and ensure that data centers operate without disruption, even during power anomalies.
Data centers are the backbone of countless industries … supporting everything from financial transactions, healthcare operations, and cloud computing services. Any disruption in power can lead to significant operational setbacks, financial losses, and compromised data integrity. By ensuring seamless electrical power continuity, three-phase UPS systems not only protect against power outages, but also act as a robust safeguard against power anomalies, such as surges, outages, and fluctuations. Investing in such systems equates to investing in resilience and operational assurance.
Exploring Centralized Emergency Lighting Inverters
Emergency Lighting Inverters play a pivotal role in ensuring safety during power outages by providing reliable backup power specifically for emergency egress lighting systems. Designed to automatically activate when a utility power failure is detected, UL 924 Listed emergency lighting inverters provide the required 90 minutes of battery backup power to maintain illumination in critical areas such as corridors, stairwells, and exits. The “centralized” approach means that one lighting inverter (load dependent) can supply the required emergency lighting for an entire facility … eliminating the need for and maintenance of dozens of “wall packs” (bug-eye) emergency lighting fixtures.
In the example photo to the right, if the data center were to experience a utility power outage, the server farm would be protected by UPS’s. However, one or more emergency lighting inverters would provide the backup power necessary to keep dedicated “always on” light fixtures illuminated … thus providing the required lumens necessary for egress to a safe location or from the facility itself.
(note the ceiling light fixtures and their visible reflections).
By converting stored battery power into usable AC power, emergency lighting inverters keep essential lighting systems operational for the duration of the emergency, typically meeting or exceeding the requirements set forth by safety standards like NFPA 101 section 7.9.3. This compliance is crucial, as it mandates that emergency lighting must be capable of providing adequate illumination for a specified period, ensuring that all egress paths remain visible and accessible. In essence, emergency lighting inverters are a critical component of life safety systems, offering peace of mind and enhancing the overall safety and security of any facility.
Key Differences Between UPS’s And Emergency Lighting Inverters
While both UPS’s and emergency lighting inverters ensure operational continuity during power disruptions, their priorities markedly differ. A mission critical UPS primarily safeguards data center operations, maintaining data integrity and operational uptime. Simultaneously, it acts as a guardian of sensitive computing equipment, fostering uninterrupted service flow. Conversely, a centralized emergency lighting inverter’s primary role is life safety … providing emergency egress pathways with dependable lighting.
Understanding these fundamental distinctions empowers facility managers to enhance both technological and life safety infrastructure.
Integrating Life Safety Systems In Data Centers
Integrating emergency lighting inverters into data center facility designs is a strategic process that requires careful planning and collaboration among lighting designers, specifying engineers, and other stakeholders.
By meticulously planning and specifying life safety systems into data center designs, lighting and specifying engineers contribute to the overall resilience and operational continuity of the facility. Integrating life safety emergency lighting inverters into data center designs is crucial for several compelling reasons:
- Ensuring Occupant Safety
- NFPA 101 Section 7.9.3 Compliance
- Risk Management And Mitigation
- Enhanced Power Resilience
By prioritizing the integration of emergency lighting inverters, data centers owners reinforce their commitment to safety, reliability, and excellence in operations.
Specifying The Right Emergency Lighting Inverter For Life Safety Egress
For a lighting or specifying engineer, selecting the right emergency lighting inverter for data centers is a critical task that requires a strategic approach to ensure safety, compliance, and operational efficiency. A high-level process for evaluation and specification should include:
- Needs Assessment: A comprehensive assessment of the data center’s emergency lighting requirements involves understanding the facility’s layout, identifying critical egress paths, and determining the power needs for emergency lighting systems.
- Code Compliance Review: Electrical code compliance is non-negotiable, and ensures that the selected emergency lighting inverter is UL 924 Listed and meets NFPA 101 Section 7.9.3 (up to and including Section 7.9.3.1.3 which defines a computer-based, self-testing / self-diagnostic emergency lighting system with data logging).
- Load Calculation: The total load that the emergency lighting inverter will support includes the wattage of all emergency lighting fixtures and any additional safety systems that require backup power.
- System Compatibility: Evaluating the compatibility of potential emergency lighting inverters with the existing electrical infrastructure includes ensuring that the inverter can integrate seamlessly with the facility’s power distribution system, and that it supports the required voltage and phase configuration.
- Reliability and Redundancy: It is important to consider the reliability of the emergency lighting inverter system, including its track record and manufacturer’s reputation. Assessing the need for redundancy ensures continuous operation even if one component fails.
Centralized Emergency Lighting Inverter
- Scalability and Flexibility: An emergency lighting inverter system that offers scalability and flexibility can accommodate future expansions or changes in the data center’s layout or its power needs.
- Maintenance and Support: It is important to evaluate the ease of maintenance and the level of technical support provided by the manufacturer to ensure post-installation support services and long-term reliability.
- Cost-Benefit Analysis: Balancing the initial upfront cost investment noted in the submittal package with the long-term benefits of increased reliability, enhanced safety, and regulatory compliance weighs into the decision to specify the emergency lighting inverter in the bid package.
- Vendor Evaluation: Finally, it is important to assess potential manufacturers based on their expertise, track record, and ability to deliver customized solutions that meet the specific needs of the data center.
By following this detailed process, the engineering firm can specify an emergency lighting inverter that not only meets the immediate needs of the data center but also supports its long-term operational goals … thus ensuring safety and resilience in the face of power disruptions.
Conclusion
The strategic integration of both three-phase mission critical UPS systems and centralized emergency lighting inverters is essential for ensuring the safety, reliability, and operational continuity of data centers. By understanding the distinct roles that each of these systems play, the consulting-specifying engineering firm can create a bid package solution that will safeguard both the data center’s operations, as well as provide safe emergency egress for data center personnel in the event of an emergency.
For more information about data center solutions (including UPS’s and emergency lighting inverters), we invite you to connect with one of our Application Specialists.