New AI Data Center Framework for Design, Development, and Operations Published by Leading Standards Experts

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), ASHRAE, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) released their trilateral AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework, a comprehensive set of technical standards and industry best practices that will aid data center project developers and facility managers in the design, installation, and maintenance of critical energy infrastructure – including electrical, heating, and cooling equipment and integrated systems.

“Data centers are foundational to America’s growth, competitiveness, and national security objectives, providing essential capabilities to advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and critical infrastructure,” said NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips. “As data centers grow in number, complexity, and scale, it’s imperative that they operate safely, reliably, and as efficiently as possible. The AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework that NEMA has developed with ASHRAE and PNNL is a new way of connecting standards, guidance, and deployment into one operating guide designed specifically for the data center environment.”

The AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework marks the culmination of years of close coordination between NEMA and ASHRAE – two leading standards development organizations – and PNNL, a federal authority in energy systems research. The joint Framework sets the standard for efficiency, resilience, and performance in data center design, construction, and operation, covering all aspects of energy sourcing, energy use, and water use in data center facilities.

At a time when the market is coalescing around the value of ‘speed to power’ and increasingly pursuing innovative pathways to project energization, the AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework connects standards, guidance, and deployment into one actionable operating framework– eliminating uncertainty at each stage of the development process.

The Framework outlines best practices and applicable standards for planning and siting, integrated design principles, energy and thermal efficiency, grid-interactive design, resilient design, commissioning and performance validation, operations and maintenance, and retrofit and modernization strategies for data center development professionals. The Framework features more than a dozen NEMA technical standards and guidance documents, including resources for energy storage systems, microgrids, fire and life safety equipment, insulating material, transformers, switchgear, uninterrupted power supply systems, wire and cable, electricity metering, and alternating current grounding and bonding systems.

“ASHRAE’s technical leadership in building systems and data center guidance is central to this effort at a pivotal moment for our industry,” said 2025-26 ASHRAE President Bill McQuade, P.E., CDP, Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP. “As AI continues to drive rapid changes in load density, system design and operational expectations, this Framework brings together the collective expertise of ASHRAE, PNNL and NEMA to deliver practical, integrated solutions. It translates complex technical challenges into clear, actionable strategies that help operators enhance performance, control costs and make more effective use of energy, while strengthening reliability at both the facility and grid level.”

“This guide brings together the most comprehensive industry expertise on data centers in a single resource,” said PNNL Director of Buildings and Industrial Programs Bing Liu, who launched this industry-lab partnership a year ago. “Rather than being frozen in time, it’s a dynamic online resource that can be updated, remain relevant, and stay accessible to anyone involved in developing a data center.”