Preventing the Top Six Causes of Datacenter Fires and Equipment Failures.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) attributes 80 percent of computer room fires to unknown causes that originate within the computer equipment itself. Evidence suggests that a significant percentage of these cases come from the spontaneous combustion of conductive particulate coming into contact with circuit boards, micro-switches and other components. In addition to causing fires, it has long been known that there is a direct link between contamination in a Datacenter environment and its subsequent equipment failures — particularly within sensitive mass storage devices.
Here are the six leading causes of Datacenter fires and equipment failures, along with a few "warning signs" to look out for:
1) Electrostatic Discharges and Dust Fires
As fans and cooling systems pull and push air around the Datacenter, the movement of dust from concrete and other surfaces can produce electrostatic discharges, igniting dust fires. Fluctuations in humidity levels within the Datacenter are another factor that heightens the potential for these fires.
These electrostatic discharges, and the resulting dust fires, will affect memory chips adversely and damage both terminal and microcomputer circuitry. These fires are so discrete that burn marks in sub-floor plenums are often the only evidence of their occurrence.
2) Zinc Whiskers and Other Ferrous Particulates
Older floor tiles were often coated with zinc to prevent oxidation and rust. Over time, the zinc plating develops small fiber-like growths that are dislodged by air movement and foot traffic. These "whiskers" can wreak havoc on Datacenter equipment (particularly circuit boards) when they get blown throughout in the facility by the air systems.
Other ferrous contaminants, like carbon particles from smoke, exhaust and oxidized organic materials, can enter the Datacenter air stream through the air conditioning system. These particles absorb moisture, allowing them to conduct electricity and short out any metallic surfaces they come in contact with. Carbon dust is also highly combustible. Once ignited, it is immediately incinerated. This makes it extremely difficult to identify because it leaves virtually no trace after it damages electronic equipment.
3) Excessive Humidity and Rust
When the air in a Datacenter is too humid, rust can form on the air conditioning and computer equipment, as well as on the floor grid and jacks. Overly humid air will also condense on equipment surfaces. This build-up of water often results in system short circuits.
Infrared humidification systems, often used in Datacenters, allow dust and lint from the sub-floor air plenum to gather on the coils of the HVAC system, which can then produce smoke. The dust and lint from the sub-floor can also accumulate in the open pan of water used in these infrared humidification systems, requiring regular cleaning to prevent breakdowns.
4) Dust
As a Datacenter pollutant, dust is a pervasive and destructive intruder. At 1.0-10 microns in size, its tiny size emphasizes the need for specialized vacuums that can remove submicron particulates.
Disk drives today are particularly vulnerable to dust. Dust particulates in the air can cause read/write errors, and even crashes. Tape drives can also be affected by particles and experience failures. As dust particles get inside equipment, they can reduce the fluidity of lubrication in mechanical linkages, resulting in accelerated wear on internal parts. This creates increased overall costs, as you must schedule more and more equipment service in order to keep your Datacenter up and running.
5) Accidental Halon Releases
Dust and other small particulate can look like smoke particles to your sub-floor fire detectors. When the static pressure in the sub-floor is released, such as when a tile is pulled to access cabling, the dust-laden air can create a smoky haze that causes your fire detection alarms to release a Halon dump in order to extinguish the "fire."
According to the Halon Research Center, one third of all Halon dumps occur erroneously, releasing over 1,000 metric tons a year by mistake.
6) Rodents and Other "Live Contaminants"
Dropped or spilled food and beverages will attract cockroaches, spiders, ants and even rodents. Because the dropped or spilled items are often never reported, they are not easily detected within a raised-floor operation.
These unannounced "visitors" are attracted to the warmth and protective areas of your Datacenter, and are most active at night when the lights are down and the rooms are quiet. While they are most often found in the sub-floor areas of a Datacenter, one often finds insects and rodents moving within the walls and above the ceiling areas of a Datacenter with contaminant issues. As a result, it can be difficult to determine whether you are even experiencing this hazard.
What You Can Do
Although the source and nature of these six issues are very different from one another, they all share one common solution: regularly scheduled cleaning from a professional Datacenter cleaning service. Depending on the size, layout and equipment in your Datacenter, a quarterly, semi-annual or annual cleaning program can significantly reduce the likelihood of your Datacenter suffering downtime or damage as a result of these insidious challenges.
Ultimately, it is the only way to guarantee success. One of the most common misconceptions in the industry is that Datacenter cleaning can be done adequately by a company's standard janitorial staff. This is a costly mistake. Datacenter cleaning is a specialized service, and requires highly specialized equipment, anti-static cleaning materials and a highly trained staff. Media Recovery has over 35 years of experience cleaning Datacenters. This level of technical expertise ensures that your facility receives the best possible care, protecting your assets and preserving your equipment's reliability.
