2.

0 DIGI Technology Operation Centre

2.1 INTRODUCTION

Figure 2.0 : DiGi Technology Operations Centre (TOC)

The new DiGi Technology Operations Centre (TOC) in Shah Alam is

fully operational by 2011. The TOC is the first Data Centre to receive the Green
Building Index Provisional Gold Certification (Design Assessment), making
DiGi’s data center the first in Malaysia to be awarded the standard. GBI is
Malaysia’s industry-recognised green rating tool for buildings to promote
sustainability in the build environment.

Data centers are traditionally large consumers of energy. DiGi’s TOC has
been designed to reduce energy usage as much as possible and incorporates a
spectrum of environmentally-friendly features.
 Figure 2.1 : Certificate of GBI

2.2 GENERAL INFORMATION

Project Name : DIGI Technology Operation Centre, Malaysia

Client : DIGI Telecommunications Sdn. Bhd.
Location : Subang High Tech Park, Shah Alam, Selangor

No. of Storeys : 4 Storey (23.5m high)

Project Milestones : Apr 2009 (Construction start) Apr 2010 (completion due
date)
Areas : Total gross area (GFA): 12,982 sqm
Site Areas : Lot 42 (8517 sqm) & Lot 43 (8561 sqm)

2.3 DESIGN TOOLS

The TOC is the first Data Centre to receive the Green Building Index
Provisional Gold Certification (Design Assessment), making DiGi’s data center
the first in Malaysia to be awarded the standard. GBI is Malaysia’s industry-
recognised green rating tool for buildings to promote sustainability in the build
environment. Data centers are traditionally large consumers of energy. DiGi’s
TOC has been designed to reduce energy usage as much as possible and
incorporates a spectrum of environmentally-friendly features.
2.4 DESIGN BRIEF

The project is a Data Centre with ancillary facilities i.e. Administration

Offices, Reception Lobby, Telco Tower and Service Management Centre
(Command Centre) for Digi Telecommunications Sdn. Bhd. The Client’s brief is
to design a Data Centre based ‘IT Data Center’s Uptime Institute’ Tier III
platform with possibility to scale-up to Tier IV security and with ecological
features.

The response to the Client’s brief is a building designed with effective

drainage and waterproofing, enclosed walls to reduce heat absorption into the data
centre with tight security measures.

The façades of the Data Centre are designed with vertical green walls that
act as living walls and as means of filtering and improving a building’s indoor air
quality. Green walls are a living, breathing, regenerating type of cladding that can
be as simple as a living art installation or as complex as a biological air filter.
Green walls, both indoors and out, decrease local CO2, increase local humidity,
trap dust, reduce noise and create a habitat for urban wildlife. Exterior green wall
installations reduce solar gain (the entrapment of heat by passive solar gain on the
building surface) and, by extension, building energy costs; provide protection
from the effects of UV radiation and acid rain; and help lessen the building’s
contribution to the heat island effect (when forest is replaced with concrete and
asphalt, causing urban centres to become warmer than nature areas).

2.5 DESIGN FEATURES

2.5.1 Vegetated Green Wall

The ecological design approach for the building is expressed in a
Vertical Plantscape System wrapping around the building envelope.
Vegetation acts as an effective barrier against solar radiation and also acts
to insulate the building which significantly reduces ongoing heating and
cooling energy costs of the building. Plants act as bio-purifiers and
through a number of biochemical processes can break down and remove
airborne contaminants which offer immediate environmental advances in
reducing existing greenhouse and other volatile organic compounds.
 Figure 2.2: Vegetated Green Wall

2.5.2 Solar Sun-shading

Office areas inhabited throughout the day receive shading devices
which act to reduce direct heat gain and in turn reduce cooling loads.
Enable passive transmission of lighter deeper into the floor plate while
allowing the use of clear glass for better daylight penetration, which in
turn reduces energy lighting loads.

2.5.3 Daylighting
Main office and circulation spaces are Fully glazed using curtain
wall systems to provide maximum daylight penetration and enable highly
efficient lighting schemes within the spaces. Secondary rooms are also
fitted with Natural Daylight and open-able windows for ventilation.

2.5.4 Bio-swale
Natural filtration and drainage systems are used in a portion of the
site to reduce the burden of surface run off to the public drainage system,
This also acts to collect this run off for reuse in the central irrigation
system.
2.5.5 Rainwater Harvesting
Using Siphonic rainwater down pipes for high velocity surface run
off, a collection tank is situated at ground level buried in the landscape for
minimal impact. This tank is then the recycling point for water reuse. The
collected rainwater is filtered and then pumped to irrigate the Plantscapes
around the building and also caters for the water requirement for the
Vegetated Green Wall.

2.5.6 Renewable Energy

A dual system of photovoltaics is to be used. On the upper roof
level an area of 163m2 will be installed generating 54.4KWh daily or
19,867 KWh Yearly which translates to 12,516 kg of C02 emission
reduction per year. The second system with be an expose of green
technology using semi-transparent photovoltaic modules in the guard
house roof of the project & will output 1.5 kWh daily.

2.5.7 Air-conditioning
A high efficient Air cooled chiller system (as close as to
0.6KW/tonne) with multiple zoning FCU and precision Air-Cond in Data
Centre. Zoning of FCU creates savings in Energy requirement due to
variations on zoning usage.

2.5.8 Pumps
Variable speed Pumps for energy efficient usage due to variation in
load, this estimates 30% energy savings for pump systems.

2.5.9 Lighting
Light fittings to be highly efficient Florescent T5 using low loss
electronic ballast, these offer higher luminance levels and using intelligent
design through zoning can enable energy conservation through specific
usage requirements. This system is bolstered through the use of occupancy
sensors and control via the central Building Automation control scheme.

2.5.10 Lifts and Escalators

Lifts to be AC VVVF control Gearless Motor dive with
Synchronous Motor with Permanent Magnet. The lift is to be fitted with
detection sensors, Sleep mode and energy saving light fittings.
 2.5.11 Sanitary Fittings
Dual Flushing WC's to be fitted allowing control of water volume
based on different usage needs. All taps, facets and hoses to be fitted with
Water efficient nozzles and are considered 'Green Label Certified'.

2.6 MATERIAL AND RESOURCES

2.6.1 External Timber Deck made from "CT- Wood" a composite of pure
polymer resin and Bio-waste (rice husk). This material
2.6.2 Reuses bio-waste which in turn reduces air pollution and can be re-grinded
into powder to be recycled or reprocessed.
2.6.3 Office areas to receive Nippon Odour- less premium all in 1 paint. This
product has almost zero Volatile Organic Compounds which have been
suggested to lead to sick building syndrome while ideal for those sensitive
or allergic to pain odour. This leads to greater productivity and a healthier
working environment.
2.6.4 The Primary Roof water proofing system is using Hitchins "Trafficgard"
A liquid applied membrane of heavy bodied acrylic polymer gel. This is
an environmentally friendly coating system and is a Green Label certified
product.
2.6.5 Low RTTV from the roof as the space below the roof is mainly data centre
and telco areas.
2.6.6 Interior walls & Ceiling lining in Office areas to receive "Boral
EnviroBoard" recycled, environmentally friendly Plasterboard. Composed
of High Purity Synthetic Gypsum (HPSG) plaster core encase in Heavy
Duty face a backing liner and is non-hazardous to work with. It also
contains low OTTV value and comply with MS 1525.
2.6.7 Office Areas to receive Carpets with 30% of more recycled products.