structure design live load for the data centre 2

The question is too broad... it will differ, depending on what area of the data centre you are looking at... Wall to wall servers weigh a lot more than desks and other general office areas... Are there any storage areas where there are old fashioned storage file cabinets? You have to determine the areas that have 'whatever'.

Dik

Kar Fung. People on this forum are surprisingly patient and polite to put up with what should be pretty basic engineering quenstion. Your question might even have received more polite responses had it had sufficient information that meaningful answers could be given.

Ultimately you are the engineer, so presumably you have a least a basic knowledge to be able to estimate this or better yeah ASK the relevant suppliers/clients etc for relevent information.

(Though I totally understand if this information is hard to get. I often have a tough enough time getting such information for industrial processing equipment.

Kar Fung:

You have a better answer, now...

The question is broad. The loading will differ, depending on what area of the data centre you are looking at... Wall to wall servers weigh a lot more than desks and other general office areas... Are there any storage areas where there are old fashioned storage file cabinets? You have to determine the areas that have 'whatever'.

You have a least a basic knowledge to be able to estimate this. Ask the relevant suppliers and or client, etc for relevent information regarding use and equipment involved.

Dik

See the linked thread. Link

It's big, like warehouse loading. Data warehouse I have been given are client specified and up to 400psf.

For small scale office with a few servers, etc. You'll find any battery backup requirements to be the heaviest loading typically. Estimate this and go from there.

Also don't forget about any seismic restraint requirements. Overturning of large racks under seismic loading might require more specific thought than just assessing a healthy vertical loading allowance.

I do know of one reference from Intel: Link

They recommend 350 psf which is close to rscassar's number. This stuff changes fast though and the Intel document is dated 2012. These ballpark numbers are useful at the early stages but, obviously, there's no getting around seeking direction directly from your client for work of this nature. The one data center project that I've done was a lot of fun. Because of the heavy loads and the need for flexibility in future openings, we went old school on the structural scheme. Flat slab and drop panel for the data floors and concrete beams and girders for the roof which supported insanely heavy equipment for cooling etc. 'Twas a tank. None of that 7" flat plate + studrail crap that we have to do for condos.

Thanks Koot... and have the client sign off on the design load.

Dik