As originally written and published on Data Center POST

imgresIt’s that time of year again…winter is almost upon us.  For many data center operators, this means preparing servers and other equipment for the colder temperatures and low winter humidity that lie ahead.  Environmental adjustments are critical to maintaining stable operating conditions and the safety of your equipment, and as such, it’s important to be prepared.

When researching the proper measures to maintain a facility, at the forefront of any data center owner or operator’s mind are two things – reliability and low cost. Whatever method of maintenance used, it must ensure total reliability without incurring hefty capital or operational expenses.  Maintaining proper humidity levels and effectively preparing for the cold months ahead enables operators to ensure their facilities can achieve optimal availability with low operational costs.

One of the many reasons why these preparations are necessary is the increased static electricity that can build up and discharge in drier climates.  As low humidity air moves throughout the facility, the electricity and electrostatic discharge, known as ESD, can damage computer equipment, blow fuses, and wreak havoc across multiple fronts.  These problems are avoidable with the proper equipment and maintenance, which also ensure that facilities stay within the recommended American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) humidity and temperature guidelines for reliable operations.

To read the entire post, please go to the Data Center POST website here