Accredited Tier Designer (ATD)

Gain the knowledge and expertise to design and engineer data center facilities and systems to meet Tier Standards for uptime and performance. Armed with the Accredited Tier Designer (ATD) knowledge and skillset, you’ll be equipped to design the premier facilities of the future.

Program Overview

Today’s economy relies on digital platforms while users demand ever-more performance from data center systems. The ATD course gives you the expertise to create those systems. The ATD program is intended for licensed Professional Engineers (PE) with a design management role for data centers and similar technology projects.

ATD teaches the multi-disciplinary knowledge you need to align facility design with Uptime Institute Tier Standard criteria and ensure that critical infrastructure and systems meet the owner’s uptime and performance requirements.

ATD is a 16 hour program and accreditation examination covering design parameters for Tier-level data center facilities and systems. The curriculum teaches both principles and practical application. Program material is technical and intended for engineers. A pre-requisite is the Professional Engineer (PE) credential in the U.S. or equivalent international registration.

The ATD program provides intensive instruction on the Tier Standard: Topology and its application to facility engineering and system designs — both for facilities that rely on traditional technologies, and those that incorporate the latest technologies and innovations.

Why the Accredited Tier Designer (ATD)?
The program crosses engineering discipline boundaries, covering topics including the mechanical and electrical infrastructure and ancillary systems, common design errors and omissions, and more. This program also includes a full design documentation review. The benefits of earning the ATD credential include:

  • Reduce internal and client project costs by minimizing lost design
  • Shorten design project time by limiting iterative designs
  • Design firms can differentiate in the market and effectively compete for projects that require Tier compliance
  • Apply Tier concepts effectively to deliver Tier Certified projects on time and on budget, earning client satisfaction and building your industry reputation

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Accredited Tier Designer (ATD) Program Details

Program Content
Tier Classification System Overview
  • Tier concepts and definitions
  • Principal data center facility infrastructure systems
Mechanical Infrastructure Design
  • Critical mechanical subsystems
  • Redundant topology
  • Continuous cooling
Electrical Infrastructure Design
  • Critical electrical subsystems
  • Multiple distribution path requirements
  • Engine-generator (Power Station) requirements
  • Electrical system interaction with mechanical systems
Ancillary System Tier Requirements
  • Critical ancillary subsystems
  • Ancillary subsystem impacts on Tier Classification System
Common Disqualifying Design Omissions
  • Faculty-led review of common non-compliant design elements from certification submittals
Design Example Analysis Lab
  • Mentored candidate group assessment of compliant and non-compliant tier design examples
Program Administration & Examination
  • Overview of operational sustainability, and preparation for the exam
  • Examination
Program Duration
Program Objectives
Learner Profile
Pre-requisites
Certification
Costs & Credits