As you know, correctly maintaining your data center is critical. The importance of data centers to business operations is continually increasing. The better you can maintain your data center, the more efficiently it will run and the lower your overhead for things like electricity. You can then pass those savings on to customers and gain a competitive advantage. Plus, you’ll minimize downtime, and your customers will trust you with their sensitive information because of your impeccable data center maintenance.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a global network of 163 national standards bodies (one from each country represented by ISO). These 163 members and the experts that comprise them develop international standards and strategies based on consensus and relevance. Among these international standards is ISO 9001:2015, which governs quality management systems.

Data center cleaning is critical to keeping data center equipment running efficiently and cost-effectively. Many data center managers are working with budgets of $100 million or more, and the cost of upkeep has increased by 500 percent since 2000. Electricity alone for a 150,000 square foot data center costs approximately $100,000 per year. Every little thing that can be done to help curb these rising costs is critical, including cleaning. Data centers adhere to specific construction standards, and improper cleaning can jeopardize the effectiveness of those data center-specific features. For example, data center flooring is designed to minimize static electricity, but a layer of dirt accumulating on the floor can reduce its ability to curb static.

Janitorial professionals are healthcare workers. They prevent the spread of diseases by properly cleaning facilities and breaking the transmission routes of pathogenic microorganisms (germs) that cause illnesses such as influenza.

When it comes to maintaining a controlled environment, having the proper cleanroom supplies on hand is critical. You need to know what supplies you need, how many of them you need, how often they need to be replaced, etc. While each cleanroom classification is held to different standards, there are a few general guidelines and common supplies that can help you get started.

Not all cleanrooms are created equally. There are several different classifications for cleanrooms, and each comes with its own standards and regulations. The International Standards Organization (ISO) governs these classifications according to particulate cleanliness. In a nutshell, ISO cleanroom classifications let you know how many particles you’re allowed to have in the cleanroom.

Establishing and adhering to cleanroom protocol is important to keep the integrity of your cleanroom intact. Contaminants can be introduced from a variety of sources, but the most detrimental source of contamination comes from the humans that occupy your cleanroom. The greatest and most affordable resource for keeping those contaminants at bay is ensuring proper protocols are in place.

It is critically important to use the correct wipes when cleaning your cleanroom. If you are not using the correct cleanroom wipes (also commonly referred to as “wipers”) you are not cleaning your cleanroom properly. When you do not clean your cleanroom properly, you run several risks that can affect your business, products, and customers. In addition, using a wiper that is too clean for your needs can be a costly mistake.

When you’re working in a controlled environment, it’s important to only bring cleanroom-specific products into the area. This includes everything from cleaning supplies to production materials to management tools — even pens and clipboards need to meet cleanroom standards.

Cleanroom classifications are most commonly based on the number of particles of a certain size in a cubic meter of air. They can also be classified according to air cleanliness by chemical concentration and surface cleanliness by particle or chemical concentration.