CDCS EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Specialist Questions and Answers

High relative humidity (above 80%) creates a serious risk for corrosion of electronic contacts, printed circuit boards (PCBs), and metallic components. Moisture in the air condenses more easily, especially when surfaces are cooler than ambient dew point. This can lead to oxidation of connectors, degradation of solder joints, and eventual failures in ICT hardware.

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) risks, by contrast, increase at low humidity (below 30%) because dry air promotes charge buildup. Therefore, option C is incorrect here. Similarly, option D (cooling risk from wet-bulb temperature) applies to evaporative cooling efficiency, not directly to ICT risk.

ASHRAE recommends data centers maintain RH between 40–60% for optimal reliability. Values above 80% RH are considered outside the recommended operating envelope and significantly increase the risk of corrosion, especially in the presence of airborne contaminants like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) or hydrogen sulfide (H₂S).

Therefore, the verified risk at 85% RH is corrosion-related degradation.

From an efficiency standpoint, Unit B with a Sensible Heat Ratio (SHR) of 0.9 is preferable. A higher SHR indicates that a greater proportion of the air conditioner's capacity is dedicated to sensible cooling (temperature reduction) rather than latent cooling (moisture removal). In data centers, sensible cooling is more critical since IT equipment primarily generates heat without adding significant moisture.

Detailed Explanation:

An SHR of 0.9 means that 90% of the cooling capacity is used for sensible cooling, which is more efficient for environments like data centers where humidity control is typically less of a concern. Opting for an air conditioner with a higher SHR ensures that most of the cooling energy is focused on temperature reduction, making Unit B more efficient in this scenario.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI data center best practices recommend choosing cooling units with higher SHR values in data centers, as they better match the cooling needs of IT equipment. High SHR units improve cooling efficiency by concentrating on sensible heat removal, which is vital for maintaining the optimal thermal environment.

Best practice is to begin raised-floor installation at the center of the room, working outward. This minimizes alignment errors and ensures the tile grid is centered, which is critical for aisle containment and rack alignment.

Starting at the perimeter (A, B, D) causes cutting of tiles along both sides, misalignment with rack rows, and possible airflow inefficiencies. By starting at the center, tiles can be cut symmetrically around the edges, providing better aesthetics, balanced airflow, and structural stability.

Industry guidelines such as CISCA recommend this approach for raised floors in mission-critical spaces.

In computer rooms, replacing a wet pipe system with a pre-action system is advisable. Pre-action systems provide additional protection by requiring two triggers (e.g., heat and smoke) before water is released, minimizing the risk of accidental discharge and water damage, which is crucial for safeguarding sensitive IT equipment.

Detailed Explanation:

Wet pipe systems contain water in the pipes at all times, which poses a higher risk of accidental discharge. Pre-action systems, however, only fill the pipes with water upon detection of a fire, reducing the risk of water-related damage due to leaks or malfunctions. This approach is considered best practice for environments housing sensitive electronic equipment.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI advises using pre-action fire suppression in data centers to reduce risks associated with accidental water release, providing a safer and more controlled fire response that better protects critical infrastructure.

EMF shielding is most effective when installed close to the source of the EMF, which in this case is the transformer room. Shielding at the source contains the magnetic fields before they spread, minimizing exposure throughout the facility, including the computer room.

Detailed Explanation:

Placing shielding close to the EMF source minimizes the area impacted by electromagnetic interference, as it reduces the distance over which the EMF can spread. Shielding materials near the source can absorb or redirect EMF, providing the most effective reduction of EMF levels in adjacent spaces, like the data center.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI data center training advises positioning shielding close to the EMF source to contain fields more effectively and reduce interference in critical areas. This method is more efficient and cost-effective, as it limits the spread of EMF from the point of origin.

ANSI/TIA-942 specifies minimum floor live load capacities based on Rated levels:

Rated-1/2: ~7.2–8.4 kPa

Rated-3: 12 kPa

Rated-4: 15 kPa

These values ensure raised floors can support racks, cabling trays, cooling units, and maintenance loads without structural compromise. For Rated-3, concurrent maintainability requires higher floor robustness to handle additional infrastructure.

Therefore, the correct requirement is 12 kPa.

Inert gas systems (Inergen, Argonite, Nitrogen) extinguish fires by reducing oxygen concentration through massive gas discharge. This rapid release causes a significant pressure rise inside the room. To avoid structural damage to walls, ceilings, or raised floors, pressure relief vents (pressure release valves) must be installed.

A (drainage) applies to water suppression.

B (tank location) is logistical but not mandatory; remote storage with piping is acceptable.

D (water leak detection) is unrelated to inert gas suppression.

Therefore, the critical safety requirement is pressure relief.

An End of Row (EoR) design minimizes the number of network switches, as multiple racks can share a single switch at the end of a row, reducing switch counts and simplifying management. This design centralizes network switching to fewer points, which reduces the complexity and number of switches required compared to a Top of Rack (ToR) design, where each rack typically has its own switch.

Detailed Explanation:

In EoR designs, each row has a single network switch that handles the connections for all racks within that row. This reduces the number of individual switches needed and centralizes network management, which is ideal for minimizing equipment and simplifying infrastructure in the data center.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI promotes the EoR design as a way to reduce switch counts and streamline management in data centers. This configuration allows for easier scaling and maintenance while maintaining efficient network connectivity.

A hypoxic-based fire suppression system works by reducing the oxygen level in a room to below what is necessary to sustain combustion. This makes it effective in fire prevention, but it is not suitable for continuous occupancy by personnel. Low oxygen levels can cause discomfort or even health risks for people spending extended periods in the space. Therefore, these systems are typically deployed in areas where continuous human occupancy is not required, such as storage rooms or data halls with limited personnel access.

Detailed Explanation:

Hypoxic fire suppression systems lower oxygen levels to around 15-16%, which is safe for short periods but not sustainable for continuous occupancy without risk to health. Data center environments where staff need to spend long periods monitoring and maintaining equipment would need alternative systems, like gas-based suppression that allows for safe evacuation rather than oxygen reduction.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

The EPI Data Center Specialist curriculum emphasizes that fire suppression systems must be chosen based on occupancy requirements. Hypoxic systems are specifically noted as unsuitable for spaces requiring continuous human presence due to the low oxygen environment they create.

ASHRAE TC 9.9 recommends using dust deposition coupons (also called reactivity coupons) to measure particulate contamination over time. These are small, standardized metallic plates exposed to the air that collect dust and contaminants. After a set period, they are analyzed for chemical corrosion rates and particulate buildup.

Option A (handheld analyzers) gives spot counts of airborne particles but does not capture long-term corrosive deposition risk.

Option C only samples underfloor plenum dust, not actual IT environment contamination.

Option D (opening equipment) is invasive and risks voiding warranties.

Coupons provide standardized, passive, and reliable monitoring of contamination over months, making them the preferred method.

SHR = Sensible Load / (Sensible + Latent Load); it describes the portion of the total cooling that is sensible (temperature change) versus latent (moisture removal).

Battery charging current is typically sized at 10% of the total Ah capacity to ensure safe charging without overheating.

Charging Current=800Ah×0.1=80A

40 A or 60 A would undercharge, extending recovery time after discharge.

160 A would be too high, causing heat and reducing battery life.

Thus, 80 A is correct.

The aisle pitch is the total width of a rack row plus cold aisle plus rack row. For 1.0 m racks on each side with cold aisle containment, ASHRAE and TIA-942 recommend the 7-tile rule (each tile ~0.6 m). This ensures enough width for equipment clearance, airflow distribution, and human access.

5-tile pitch is too narrow, restricting containment effectiveness.

8–10 tiles may be used in some hyperscale layouts but are not standard for 1 m racks.

Thus, the correct design recommendation is the 7 tiles pitch rule.

In a data center with noise levels of 91 dB (A), employers are indeed required to take precautions to protect personnel, as this level exceeds commonly accepted safety thresholds for occupational noise exposure. Regulations, such as those from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or similar agencies, mandate specific controls and protections for environments with high noise levels.

Detailed Explanation:

Noise levels above 85 dB (A) typically trigger requirements for hearing conservation programs. At 91 dB (A), steps like providing ear protection, conducting regular noise assessments, and possibly implementing engineering controls to reduce noise should be taken. Extended exposure to such levels can lead to hearing loss, so regulatory compliance ensures both immediate and long-term protection for personnel.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI guidelines for data center safety address noise exposure as part of the environmental safety measures. EPI recommends adhering to local occupational health regulations, as excessive noise can harm personnel and affect operational efficiency due to potential health hazards.

Relative Humidity (RH) is defined as the ratio of the actual water vapor content in the air to the maximum possible water vapor content at a given temperature. To calculate RH:

Dry bulb temperature (DBT): the ambient air temperature.

Wet bulb temperature (WBT): the temperature measured by a thermometer covered with a wet wick, influenced by evaporative cooling.

Using DBT and WBT, the humidity ratio and dew point can be determined with a psychrometric chart or Mollier diagram. From there, RH is calculated as:

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Options A and B are incomplete, while option C is an experimental method, not standard practice. The recognized method is option D.

In a wet pipe system, the piping is always filled with water under pressure. When a sprinkler head is triggered by heat, water is discharged immediately. This is the most common sprinkler system for general buildings.

Dry pipe: Pipes contain air or nitrogen; water enters only after valve activation.

Deluge: Pipes are empty, and all heads open simultaneously, releasing water everywhere.

Pre-action: Pipes are dry until detection and valve activation; reduces accidental discharge risk, recommended for IT rooms.

Since the definition describes immediate discharge from water-filled pipes, this is a wet pipe system.

The life cycle begins with planning and design. The very first step is to clearly define the project scope: business requirements, capacity, availability targets, compliance standards, and budget. Without scope definition, design validation or vendor selection would be premature.

Vendor selection (A) happens much later during procurement.

Validation (B) occurs after conceptual and detailed designs are prepared.

Freezing design (D) is the final stage before implementation.

Therefore, defining the project scope is the correct initial step.

NFPA 75 (IT equipment rooms) recommends pre-action sprinklers for data processing spaces to minimize accidental water discharge risk; wet-pipe is generally discouraged directly over IT hardware.

When installing an automated lighting system, especially in a security-sensitive area like a data center, it’s essential to ensure that lighting levels support security camera functionality at all times. Sufficient lighting is necessary for cameras to capture clear footage, ensuring continuous monitoring and security regardless of occupancy.

Detailed Explanation:

Automated lighting based on occupancy or time settings can reduce energy costs, but it must be configured to maintain adequate illumination for surveillance. Security cameras require minimum lighting levels to operate effectively, so lighting should be configured to avoid compromising security.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI emphasizes security and safety in data centers, advising that lighting systems should maintain levels conducive to effective surveillance, ensuring operational security even when lights are automatically controlled.

A Rated-4 facility requires dual active utility feeds, each from an independent substation, but they may come from the same utility provider if substations are geographically separate and independent.

Option A is too strict; ANSI/TIA-942 does not mandate two different companies.

Options C and D do not provide true independence and would fail Rated-4 requirements.

Thus, the minimum is two substations, possibly same provider.

High levels of H2S (hydrogen sulfide) gas contamination in a computer room are best addressed by installing air-scrubbers. Air-scrubbers can effectively filter out contaminants, including corrosive gases like H2S, ensuring clean air circulation and protecting sensitive IT equipment from potential corrosion and damage.

Detailed Explanation:

Air-scrubbers are designed to remove various airborne contaminants and are particularly useful in environments where corrosive gases are present. These systems use filters or chemical reactions to neutralize harmful substances, making them ideal for data centers that need to maintain high air quality for equipment reliability.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI guidelines suggest air-scrubbing technologies to remove contaminants that pose risks to electronic equipment, maintaining air quality and reducing corrosion risk.

Hypoxic air systems continuously reduce the oxygen concentration in the protected area to below the level required for combustion (typically 15–16%), while still remaining safe for human occupancy (>14%). By lowering oxygen concentration, ignition and flame propagation are prevented.

This is different from halocarbon or inert-gas clean agents, which flood the room only upon detection of fire. Hypoxic systems are preventive, creating a permanent fire-retardant environment.

They do not remove heat (A), fuel (C), or use water (D). Their key mechanism is oxygen displacement.

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a corrosive gas that readily reacts with metals, especially copper and silver found in circuit boards, connectors, and power supply components. Even at concentrations below human detection thresholds, H₂S can cause sulfidation corrosion leading to intermittent connections, failure of solder joints, and increased failure rates of electronic equipment.

ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.9 has documented multiple failures in data centers due to corrosive gases (notably sulfur-bearing compounds). Therefore, high humidity combined with H₂S presence accelerates this risk.

H₂S does not affect static flooring properties (B) or fire suppression agent chemistry (D). Option A is clearly incorrect as the risk is well-documented.

EoR centralizes access/aggregation switches at the end of each row, reducing the number of access switches compared with ToR (one per rack), which simplifies management and often lowers Ops costs.

A, D are incorrect generalizations.

A potential disadvantage of using a water mist fire suppression system is that it can rapidly increase the humidity within the data center, which may pose risks to sensitive electronic equipment. Excessive humidity can lead to condensation, which could damage electronics and lead to short circuits or corrosion over time.

Detailed Explanation:

Water mist systems use fine droplets to suppress fires by cooling and displacing heat. However, the moisture generated may raise the humidity level to the point where it exceeds safe operational limits for IT equipment. Therefore, while water mist systems are effective in fire suppression, they may not be ideal in environments where high humidity could damage sensitive equipment.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI guidelines advise considering the impact of humidity from fire suppression systems, particularly in environments housing electronic equipment. It’s essential to weigh the benefits of fire suppression against potential risks to operational equipment when choosing suppression methods.

Raised floors must not be installed flush against perimeter walls. Buildings expand, contract, and shift due to thermal expansion (hygrothermal movement), structural settlement, and seismic activity. If the raised floor is rigidly connected to the walls, this movement transfers directly into the raised floor grid, causing buckling, cracking, or tile misalignment.

Industry standards (e.g., CISCA – Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association guidelines) require leaving a small perimeter gap (typically 1–2 cm) between raised floor tiles and walls. This gap is then sealed with flexible firestops or brush gaskets to control air leakage while preserving movement tolerance.

Therefore, the correct practice is to leave a separation space, making answer C correct. Options A and D restrict this requirement incorrectly, while B is factually wrong (sealing against the perimeter is not allowed).

As relative humidity decreases, Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) risks increase. Lower humidity levels reduce the amount of moisture in the air, which normally helps dissipate static charges. When the humidity drops from 50% to 35%, the likelihood of static electricity accumulating on surfaces rises, leading to a higher potential for ESD incidents that could damage sensitive IT equipment.

Detailed Explanation:

ESD events are more common in dry environments because there is less atmospheric moisture to neutralize electrical charges. Maintaining relative humidity above 40% helps minimize the risk of ESD, which is why data centers often control humidity levels tightly to protect equipment from static discharge that could cause hardware failures or data loss.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI data center best practices stress the importance of maintaining stable humidity levels to prevent ESD, particularly in computer rooms. Recommended humidity ranges are typically above 40% to prevent conditions that would foster static buildup.

NFPA 75 (Standard for IT Equipment Protection) and NFPA 72 (Fire Alarm Code) recommend installing at least one smoke detector per 250 ft² (≈25 m²) in IT rooms. This ensures early detection in high-value environments.

A and B are far too dense, exceeding NFPA minimums.

D is too sparse and would not meet early detection requirements.

Therefore, the correct standard density is 1 per 25 m².

Heat transfer occurs in three modes: conduction, convection, radiation. Conduction is transfer by direct contact of solids. Since the servers are touching metal-to-metal, heat flows directly from the warmer surface to the cooler one via conduction.

Radiation occurs without contact, across air or vacuum.

Convection requires a fluid medium like air, which is absent between surfaces.

“No heat transfer” is incorrect—there will always be transfer.

Therefore, the unwanted transfer here is conduction.

In areas with frequent and extended power outages, continuous generators with at least an N+1 configuration are necessary to ensure consistent power availability. Continuous generators are designed for prolonged operation, making them suitable for scenarios where utility power is frequently unavailable, as in this case with outages exceeding 650 hours per year. An N+1 configuration ensures redundancy, which is critical for maintaining uptime in a high-availability data center.

Detailed Explanation:

Continuous generators provide reliable power over long durations, unlike standby generators, which are intended only for short-term use. The N+1 configuration ensures that there is always an additional generator available in case of failure, thus maintaining power supply even if one generator goes offline.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI best practices recommend continuous generators with redundancy for data centers located in areas with high power instability to maintain reliability and continuous operation.

A spirit level bar should not be used for leveling a raised floor, as measurement errors are likely to propagate from one pedestal to the next. Spirit levels can introduce cumulative errors, leading to uneven floors, particularly in large installations where precise leveling is critical.

Detailed Explanation:

Using a laser level or a precision leveling device is recommended to ensure accuracy across all floor tiles. Spirit levels, while adequate for short spans, can transfer small inaccuracies from one pedestal to another, which can cause alignment issues and floor instability over time.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI data center guidelines discourage the use of spirit levels for raised floors. Instead, they advocate for precision tools like laser levels that ensure consistency and accuracy in large-scale installations, aligning with best practices for raised floor construction.

When the window area exceeds the maximum exposed area specified for fire-rated glass, it is necessary to split the window into sections that comply with the fire rating requirements. This means creating smaller sections that are each within the 3 sqm/32 sqft limit and using fire-rated frames to ensure that the entire assembly meets fire safety standards. This approach maintains the fire-rated integrity of the glass, while allowing for larger window areas.

Detailed Explanation:

Fire-rated glass is designed to contain fire and prevent it from spreading. If the window exceeds the maximum exposed area defined by the supplier, the integrity of the fire-rated glass could be compromised. By dividing the window into compliant sections with fire-rated frames, you ensure that each pane performs as intended in the event of a fire. Fire-rated frames help maintain the fire resistance across the entire assembly, making this option the best for safety and compliance.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI recommends adhering strictly to fire safety standards, especially when using materials like fire-rated glass. The guidelines emphasize that modifications should always respect the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure the system remains effective in containing and preventing the spread of fire.

ANSI/TIA-942 defines ratings across four areas:

Architectural

Electrical

Mechanical

Telecommunications (network cabling + architecture)

A data center cannot be considered Rated-3 unless all four areas meet the concurrent maintainability criteria. For telecom/networking, this means dual redundant backbone cabling, proper pathways, and separate routes to ensure no single point of failure.

A and B are incorrect because they limit scope to electrical/mechanical or cabling only.

C is incomplete: administration (ANSI/TIA-606) is part of compliance but architecture redundancy is mandatory.