Award Terms and Conditions

All Uptime Institute awards represent the successful completion of the indicated professional services engagement. These engagements include a rigid set of criteria which is outlined below and applied consistently across all clients world-wide. Each award is represented by a physical award “foil” trademarked by Uptime Institute. Currently, awards are issued for Tier Certification of Design, Construction, and Operational Sustainability , TIER-Ready design reviews, Management and Operations Stamp of Approval and Efficient IT Stamp of Approval.

The successful completion of these project results in an award “foil” that awardees typically display on their own website and in visitor and lobby areas of these facilities, and are not authorized to amend in shape, coloring, or content.

These awards are also listed for supporting/confirmation purposes on our website, at: https://uptimeinstitute.com/TierCertification/

The Tier Certification of Design Documents award represents the successful completion of a formal review of the design and intended implementation of a data center facility. Design documents submitted for Tier Certification of Design Documents included the intended construction and implementation of a data center facility along with the phasing, desired Tier, and expected capacity of a specific deployment. The actual award certificate “foil” description specifies the relevant phase, room, pod, module, or other nomenclature to differentiate from previous or future infrastructure which may or may not be certified by Uptime Institute.

Note: All Tier Certification of Design Documents awards issued after 1 January 2014 expire two years after the award date and which is shown on the face of the award foil itself.

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The Tier Certification of Constructed Facility award represents the successful completion of a formal review of the construction and performance of a data center facility. Tier Certification of Constructed Facility reflects the constructed environment, including the Tier and capacity of the equipment installed at the time of the site visit and the performance demonstration tests. The award “foil” specifies the relevant phase, room, pod, module, or other nomenclature to differentiate from previous or future infrastructure which may or may not be certified by Uptime Institute.

Tier Certification of Constructed Facility is valid until the facility is modified, including any changes to the capacity components or distribution paths from the Certified design or as-built Certified infrastructure.

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The Tier Certification of Operational Sustainability award represents the successful completion of a formal review of any Tier Certified data center facility. The Tier Certification of Operational Sustainability (TCOS) award provides owners, operators and managers of data centers that have previously received a Tier Certification for Constructed Facility (TCCF) award with the prioritized behaviors and risks intrinsic to data center operations and serves as an essential guide for effective and efficient operations. Tier Certification of Operational Sustainability awards reflect the facility management operations reviewed during the site visit and only pertains to the portions of the site that have previously received a Tier Certification of Constructed Facility award. The award “foil” specifies any relevant phase, room, pod, module, or other nomenclature to differentiate from facility management operations in portions of the site not certified by Uptime Institute.

Note: All Tier Certification of Operational Sustainability awards issued after 1 January 2014 will have validity periods of three years for Gold, two years for Silver and one year for Bronze.

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The Management & Operations Stamp of Approval award represents the successful completion of a formal review of the operational policies, practices, and procedures in place in any site that has not received a Tier Certification of Constructed Facility award. Management & Operations Stamp of Approval reflects the facility management operations reviewed during the site visit. The award “foil” specifies any relevant phase, room, pod, module, or other nomenclature to differentiate from facility management operations not verified directly by Uptime Institute.

Note: Management & Operations Stamp of Approval awards expire two years after the award date, which is shown on face of the award foil itself.

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The Efficient IT Stamp of Approval award represents the successful completion of a formal review of the effective behaviors across Leadership, IT Infrastructure, and the Data Center and uses a proprietary methodology to prioritize and communicate the resources consumed by enterprise IT.  The Efficient IT Stamp of Approval award reflects the criteria mentioned above which is reviewed during the site visit. The award “foil” specifies any relevant phase, room, pod, module, or other nomenclature to differentiate from facility management operations not verified directly by Uptime Institute.

Note: Efficient IT Stamp of Approval awards expire two years after the award date, which is shown on face of the award foil itself.

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