SIST EN 50600-4-2:2017/A1:2019

Overview

SIST EN 50600-4-2:2017/A1:2019 is an important amendment to the European standard EN 50600-4-2:2016, published by the CLC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization). This standard focuses on the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) metric within information technology data centre facilities and infrastructures. The amendment realigns the requirements to incorporate the latest findings from JTC 1/SC 39, ensuring improved accuracy and applicability of the PUE Key Performance Indicator (KPI).

PUE is a critical metric used worldwide to measure energy efficiency in data centres by comparing the total facility energy consumption with the IT equipment energy usage. This update refines measurement techniques, energy consumption calculations, and PUE computation methods to better support sustainable and energy-efficient data centre operations.

Key Topics

• Energy Consumption Measurement
  The standard mandates metering of gaseous and liquid fuels in kilowatt-hours (kWh), converting the energy based on heat combustion values to ensure consistent reporting. Default values for diesel, natural gas, hydrogen, and bioethanol are provided for use where local data or regulations are absent.

• Thermal Energy Conversion
  Energy used for cooling via fluids must be measured by heat meters, which record flow rates and temperature differentials. For converting thermal energy to electrical equivalents, suppliers' conversion factors are recommended, with a default value of 0.4 if none is available.

• IT Load Measurement
  The measurement point for IT power load is standardized at the Power Distribution Unit (PDU) outputs. This ensures accurate, intermediate resolution energy readings that reflect real IT equipment consumption, whether or not transformers are involved.

• Flexible PUE Calculation Methods
  The amendment introduces detailed annexes showing multiple PUE calculation scenarios, including data centres using different combinations of energy sources like electricity, chilled water, natural gas, cogeneration systems, and absorption type chillers. These examples aid operators in applying standardized calculation methods across diverse infrastructure configurations.

• Scope and Compliance
  National bodies within CENELEC member countries are required to adopt the amendment as a national standard by January 29, 2020, withdrawing conflicting standards by January 29, 2022. Compliance ensures interoperability and helps unify energy efficiency reporting across European data centres.

Applications

• Data Centre Energy Efficiency Optimization
  SIST EN 50600-4-2:2017/A1:2019 helps data centre operators accurately monitor and optimize energy consumption, lowering operational costs and reducing environmental impact.

• Sustainability Reporting
  Utilizing this standard enables transparent and comparable sustainability reports based on standardized PUE metrics, supporting corporate social responsibility and regulatory compliance.

• Infrastructure Design and Management
  Facilities engineers, architects, and managers use the standard to design and maintain energy-efficient data centre infrastructures, selecting measurement instruments and energy management systems aligned with best practices.

• Technology Procurement
  Purchasing decisions for cooling systems, power equipment, and energy supply contracts benefit from understanding PUE implications, aiding in choosing solutions with favorable energy usage profiles.

Related Standards

• EN 50600 Series
  SIST EN 50600-4-2:2017/A1:2019 fits within the broader EN 50600 series covering network infrastructure, security, and environmental criteria for data centres, providing a comprehensive framework for data centre design and operation excellence.

• JTC 1/SC 39 Guidelines
  This amendment aligns with the latest KPIs developed by the ISO/IEC Joint Technical Committee 1, Subcommittee 39, focusing on energy efficiency metrics for data centres.

• National and International Energy Standards
  Works alongside standards such as ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems) and regional regulations targeting data centre energy consumption and carbon footprints.

Keywords: EN 50600-4-2 amendment, Power Usage Effectiveness, PUE metric, data centre energy efficiency, energy consumption measurement, data centre standards, CENELEC, JTC 1/SC 39, thermal energy conversion, data centre infrastructure, sustainable IT facilities, energy performance indicator, cooling systems energy usage.