Site Preparation Guide, Eighth Edition - Superdome HP 9000 Systems

Chapter 2

Electrical and Environmental Guidelines

Environmental Elements

The following environmental elements can affect a Superdome server installation:

• Computer room preparation

• Cooling requirements

• Humidity level

• Air conditioning ducts

• Dust and pollution control

• Electrostatic discharge (ESD) prevention

• Acoustics (noise reduction)

• Zinc whisker control

Computer Room Preparation

The following guidelines are recommended when preparing a computer room for a Superdome server system:

• Locate the computer room away from the exterior walls of the building to avoid the heat gain from

windows and exterior wall surfaces.

• When exterior windows are unavoidable, use windows that are double- or triple-glazed and shaded to

prevent direct sunlight from entering the computer room.

• Maintain the computer room at a positive pressure relative to surrounding spaces.

• Use a vapor barrier installed around the entire computer room envelope to restrain moisture migration.

• Caulk and vapor seal all pipes and cables that penetrate the envelope.

• Use at least a 12-inch raised floor system for the most favorable room air distribution system (underfloor

distribution).

• Ensure a minimum ceiling height of 12 inches between the top of the server and the ceiling. Ensure all

ceiling clips are in place.

Cooling Requirements

Air conditioning equipment requirements and recommendations are described in the following sections.

Basic Air Conditioning Equipment Requirements

The cooling capacity of the installed air conditioning equipment for the computer room should be sufficient to

offset the computer equipment dissipation loads, as well as any space envelope heat gain. This equipment

should include:

• Air filtration

• Cooling or dehumidification

• Humidification

• Reheating

•Air distribution