If you have a data center, it is important for you to ensure the air is as clean as possible. There are several reasons why air quality is important for cleanroom standards laboratories. They include:
- Everyone who is in the data center deserves to have clean air to breathe - This is particularly true for people who have chronic respiratory conditions, such as allergies and asthma.
- Proper air quality is also important for ensuring proper data transfer - Your data is one of your most important resources. If the air quality is not high, you may have a difficult time backing up your information or transferring it from place to place.
- Air quality is also important for the stability of your electronic components - You have spent a lot of money on your data center equipment and you need it to last as long as possible. Proper air quality is important for that.
During the past few years, a lot of changes have taken place regarding air quality standards for data centers. Increased use of free cooling, changes in regulation, and insulating properties around certain pieces of equipment have led to increasing expenses and vulnerabilities for data centers. What can you do to adhere to the latest air quality standards, and how can you keep your data centers clean?
Common Contaminants in Data Centers
First, it is critical to take a closer look at some of the most common contaminants you may have to deal with in your data centers. They include:
- Dust that can accumulate in the air, increasing expenses related to cooling your facilities.
- Gaseous contaminants found on your electronic components can make it hard to transfer data.
- Air from the outside is one of the most common causes of airborne contamination, so it has to be clean before it is allowed into the data center.
- Ground-level ozone can oxidize your metal components, impacting their efficiency.
All of these contaminants can be introduced to your data center through maintenance, daily operations, or changes in infrastructure. Therefore, companies need to do everything they can to keep these contaminants out.
Understanding Air Quality Standards: ISO Classes
Different air quality standards are broken up into ISO classes. They range from ISO Class 1 to ISO Class 9. The lower the class number, the cleaner the air is. A few important points to keep in mind include:
- ISO Class 1 does not have any particles greater than 0.2 microns in size.
- ISO Class 2 does not have any particles greater than 0.5 microns in size.
- ISO Classes 3 and 4 do not have any particles greater than 1 micron in size. ISO Class 3 has fewer than 8 particles 1 micron in size, while ISO Class 4 has fewer than 83 particles 1 micron in size.
- ISO Class 5 does not have any more than 29 particles 5 microns in size.
The number of particles above is in reference to a single cubic meter of air. If you want to ensure that your data center is as clean as possible, you should try to adhere to some of the stricter ISO classes above. What are some of the changes you can initiate if you want to make sure your data center air is clean?
Keeping the Air in Your Data Center Clean
There are several steps you can take if you want to keep the air in your data center clean. They include:
- Make sure you use the right type of air filter. Having strong air filters can reduce your cooling costs and reduce the chances of your equipment experiencing problems.
- You should try to use a gaseous contaminant removal filter that has a MERV rating of 13 or better to ensure everyone is properly protected.
- Try to seal off parts of your building where dirty air might penetrate. This includes your walls, doors, and windows.
- Install monitors that can evaluate the air pressure of your room.
- Measure the corrosion rates of air you have inside and outside the facility.
- Inspect and change your air filters on time.
- Hire professionals to come to inspect your data center for you from time to time.
If you are looking for a team that can help you with Data Center Cleaning, look no further than Pegasus.
Download the Guide From the Pegasus Group Today
If you have a data center, you must make sure the air is as clean as possible. This has a significant impact not only on the health of your employees but also on the efficiency of your data center. That is where our team can help you. At Pegasus, we strive to stay on top of the latest advances in our industry because we believe this puts us in the best position possible to help you. Contact us to speak to a member of our team about how we can help you.
