Ceilings

In data center computer rooms and telecommunications spaces (e.g., entrance rooms, TRs), the minimum ceiling height should not be less than 3 m (10 ft) from the finished floor to any obstruction such as sprinklers, lighting fixtures, or cameras

Minimum 450 mm (18 in) clearance from sprinklers to raceways, cabinets, and racks shall be maintained to ensure that they do not disrupt the sprinkler distribution pattern subject to the Rwanda Information Society Authority.
The recommended ceiling height for computer room spaces (from slab-to-slab) is 4.5 m (15 ft or greater). A suspended ceiling may not be required for computer rooms that do not use the ceiling space as an air-
return. Benefits of an open ceiling (where not required for cooling) are the visibility of any technical problem and the ease of access to installations and pathways mounted underneath the ceiling slab.

Office-type ceilings should not be installed in new data center spaces. Depending on the design for the cabinets and the HVAC solution, there may be an HVAC solution design requirement to provide a ceiling return air plenum.

The materials used and the design of this type of ceiling shall consider any need to support cable trays or other cable pathways for overhead cabling in the data center.

Ceiling requirements should be developed taking into consideration non-flaking or dusting tiles, vapor resistance, and hold down clips for gaseous fire suppression discharge or high-volume airflow and acoustics. Materials known for metal whiskers (e.g., zinc, tin, cadmium), whether electroplated, pre- galvanized, or hot dip galvanized, should be excluded from ceilings.