Navigating Changes in the California Energy Code: Impact on Healthcare Facility Technology Spaces

The only constant in life is change, and changes to the California Energy Code include significant updates that will directly impact the design of telecom rooms in new projects. The 2022 update to the code, which is part of Title 24 (the state’s building standards), has updated section 140.9(a), which outlines prescriptive requirements for computer rooms, which may have a substantial effect on the cooling systems and layout of telecom spaces, particularly in hospitals. Here are how these changes could impact your next project and how to address them.

Key Changes in the California Energy Code

In the 2022 edition of the code, the definition and requirements for "computer rooms" have evolved, especially regarding the Information Technology Equipment (ITE) load, which is central to telecom room design. According to the new code, a "computer room" is defined as any space housing electronic equipment with an ITE load exceeding 20 watts per square foot—a threshold that most hospital telecom rooms meet.

The most notable changes in section 140.9 between the 2019 and 2022 codes are:

1. Lowered Threshold for Air Containment
   In the 2019 code, computer rooms with ITE loads greater than 175 kW were required to implement air containment systems to prevent hot exhaust air from mixing with cold air from the air conditioning system. However, the 2022 code has significantly reduced this threshold to 10 kW. This means that telecom rooms with relatively modest ITE loads, such as those in hospitals or large commercial spaces, now fall under the same regulations previously applied to data centers and server rooms.
2. Removal of the Healthcare Facility Exception
   The 2022 code no longer includes an exception for healthcare facilities, meaning telecom rooms in hospitals must comply with the same stringent air containment requirements as any other building type.

Why Air Containment is Crucial

Air containment systems are designed to improve energy efficiency by preventing the mixing of hot exhaust air from the equipment with the cold air supplied by the air conditioning units. These systems create a physical barrier between the cold and hot air zones, ensuring that the heated air from the equipment is directed through the cooling system before it returns to the room, improving overall cooling efficiency.

For example, in a room with an ITE load of 175 kW, you would typically have multiple server racks (10-30), depending on the load per cabinet. Modern air containment solutions—like fully enclosed cabinets, proper ducting, and air barriers—are highly effective when paired with efficient air conditioning systems. These solutions can easily meet the requirements outlined in section 140.9 of the 2022 code.

Impact on Telecom Room Design

The most significant change—lowering the ITE load threshold to 10 kW—will likely affect telecom rooms in many buildings, especially those with large IT and networking demands like hospitals. A typical hospital telecom room might serve over 1,000 cable connections and hundreds of devices that require Power over Ethernet (PoE) from network switches, with ITE electrical loads regularly exceeding 10 kW.

However, this change isn’t exclusive to healthcare facilities. Telecom rooms in other building types that support significant networking infrastructure may also exceed the 10 kW threshold, triggering the need for air containment systems.

Challenges and Potential Solutions

One of the key challenges posed by these new regulations is that traditional two-post relay racks—commonly used in telecom rooms—do not effectively isolate cold air from the hot exhaust air produced by telecom equipment. Air containment systems designed for fully enclosed cabinets do not typically work well with open racks.

So, what are the potential solutions?

• Switching to Cabinets: One option is to replace open racks with fully enclosed cabinets, which can better support air containment systems. This solution may increase space requirements and add costs but offers a clear path to compliance.
• Limiting ITE Load: Another approach is to design telecom rooms to ensure the ITE load remains below 10 kW, potentially by distributing equipment across multiple smaller rooms. While this could help with compliance, it will require more space, complex layouts, and higher overall costs.

Both options come with trade-offs, but by being aware of these changes, design teams can proactively plan for the increased space and complexity required. It’s important to remember that telecom equipment manufacturers may also develop innovative solutions to address these new code requirements.

How TEECOM Can Help

The 2022 California Energy Code presents some unique challenges for telecom room design, particularly in how we approach air containment. Lowering the ITE load threshold to 10 kW means that even rooms previously not affected by air containment rules, such as telecom rooms in hospitals, will now need to comply. With proper planning and creative solutions, these challenges can be addressed effectively. Engaging a knowledgeable technology consultant, like TEECOM, can help organizations stay ahead of these changes. The insight these consultants can bring to design teams can ensure their telecom rooms meet the latest code requirements while maintaining efficiency and reliability.

To learn more about how we can assist with your telecom room design and ensure compliance with the latest energy codes, visit our website and contact our expert team today!