Since January 2023, GDA has been represented by a permanent member on the VDE/DKE GK719 committee for the data center standards series of DIN EN 50600. This gives the German Datacenter Association influence in shaping the standards for the Europe-wide planning, construction and operation of data centers
DIN EN 50600 is a European standard for the planning, construction and operation of data centers. It was developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and published in 2013. The standard provides a comprehensive framework for designing and operating data centers that are efficient, reliable and secure.
The DIN EN 50600 standards are periodically reviewed, adapted and published in a rolling process in coordination with international bodies. Only associations and organizations are appointed to GK719 of VDE/DKE, not individuals or employees of companies. For example, 15 members of Bitkom, eco, VIRZ and the various TÜV societies are active in GK719 as permanent members, together with GDA.
GDA is represented by Ralph Wölpert, Senior Consultant Data Center of GDA's Premium Partner ICT Facilities.
"With GDA's seat on the GK719 committee, we want to both intensify our input and make the wide range of information provided by the standards committee available to our members as promptly and completely as possible," says GDA Board Chair Anna Klaft.
DIN EN 50600 is a flexible tool that can be adapted to different types of data centers, from single server and network rooms to large hyperscale facilities. It is designed to be used by investors, operators, professional planners as well as authorities and other stakeholders.
Compliance with the EN 50600 standard can help data center operators improve the performance and reliability of their facilities, reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and improve the security and resilience of their operations.
The series of standards, with more than 12 individual standards, covers a full range of requirements and recommendations, including site selection, building layout, power and cooling infrastructures, cabling and connectivity, security to operating procedures. Guidelines and metrics for environmental sustainability and energy efficiency are also included, along with a multi-stage maturity model.
