International. UL announced two new initiatives: the Data Center Integrator Qualification (DCIQ) and Immersion Cooling Equipment Programs developed to help support the growth of the data center industry.
The data center infrastructure sector has recently experienced an increase as a result of increased demand for remote work, cloud computing, and enterprise digitization in the commercial and consumer sectors. In addition, the growing number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and applications, the rapid adoption of industrial automation, and critical new applications that rely on new 5G networks accelerate the demand for data.
UL's DCIQ program addresses the need to limit data center hazards and loss of performance due to improper equipment integration or to meet local and national building requirements related to fire or electrical codes and regulations. Upon completion, qualified personnel as system integrators and their companies will receive a certificate based on regularly scheduled audits and in compliance with all program requirements. UL developed specific requirements in collaboration with industry stakeholders, including hardware original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), system integrators, and asset owners.
Ibrahim Jilani, global head of UL's Information Technology, Medical and Consumer Group, said: "As the data centre industry grows, it will be necessary to install capital-intensive equipment in new data centres or upgrade it in existing data centres. Large hyperscale sites that help maintain the public cloud, enterprise or co-located sites that support the business, and new capabilities for edge data centers need excellence in installation and integration. With the potential for improperly installed equipment that could result in system disruption and business downtime, there is growing concern regarding installation quality and installer qualification for data centers."
Jilani added, "To help mitigate risks and improve performance as well as security in data centers, UL has developed the DCIQ program that offers the industry a reliable and recognizable rating program that identifies and qualifies system integrators and their staff."
Growing demand from data centers has also increased the heat dissipation of equipment used and raised concerns about the rapid growth of energy consumption. To address these challenges, UL also developed a new UL certification program for immersion cooling technology used with information technology (IT), servers, and computing equipment in data centers.
The increasing size and scope of data centers around the world has led to reliance on immersion cooling, which refers to the practice of immersing entire racks and/or servers in a thermal, but not electrical, conductive liquid (dielectric refrigerant). Immersion cooling with dielectric fluids has been shown to be more effective at cooling than older methods because it conducts heat more efficiently than air. UL's immersion cooling program helps ensure that electrical and fire safety cooperates with innovation, and that the system and its fluids are evaluated against applicable requirements.
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