HP 3PAR StoreServ 10000 Storage Physical Planning Manual

Air Cleanliness
Air contaminants can cause equipment malfunction and can damage storage systems. It is essential
that steps be taken to prevent air contaminants, such as metal particles, solvent vapors, corrosive
gases, soot, airborne fibers, or salt, from entering or being generated within the server room
environment.
A high-efficiency air filter should be employed on each air inlet for outside air to stop dust at the
point of entry to the installation site. Special additional filtering is necessary where the environment
is exposed to salt air, corrosive gases, or unusual dust/dirt conditions. Electronic equipment is
sensitive to air contaminants such as:
• Excessive amounts of soot particles
• Condensate particulates such as carbonates
• Concrete particulates from unsealed concrete
• Metal flakes or filings, such as those produced by sawing, filing, or drilling
• Floor-cleaning solutions with high ammonia content.
• Deteriorating/decomposing building materials, including floor tiles, fabrics, sheetrock,
insulation, and acoustical tiles
• Pollutants generated by any servicing performed in and around the computer room
• Paper chaff, dust, and toners from printers within the computer room
• Processing chemicals from reproduction equipment such as microfiche processors.
In electronic equipment, contaminants cause connector contact and motor-bearing degradation.
They also cause electrical leakage, shorting paths between integrated circuit leads and between
printed wiring traces on printed circuit boards.
Air supplied to and circulated within the server room and under the floor plenums should ideally
pass through mechanical or electrostatic filters. HVAC ducts and plenums and subfloor areas,
including cable raceway openings where used, should be kept clean. All unused cables, hardware,
and debris should be removed from the under the floor area to avoid becoming dust/dirt traps or
potential sources of rust.
During major changes in the server room environment, special considerations must be taken into
account whenever any drilling, sawing, welding, brazing, etc., is performed.
Precautions must be taken to prevent material particles (concrete or metal particles, etc.) from
becoming airborne. Storage systems should be powered down during construction that requires
any drilling, sawing, welding, brazing, etc. In addition, all debris must be removed before powering
up the system(s). Maximum concentrations of corrosive gases and solvent vapors must also be
considered.
Meeting Environmental Conditions 27