Home > Home | Products | Services | FAQs | Request Pricing | Contact Us ProSource offers products and services for mission critical data centers that help prevent contamination and downtime. Since 1994, we have offered specialized products and services to help meet the critical needs of mission critical data centers across the country. We are the right choice for your mission critical data center. Please let us know how ProSource can assist you in maintaining a world-class facility. Thank you for visiting us online. Data Center Cooling Solutions | Data Center Cleaning Solutions | Data Center Raised Floor Solutions Anouncing ProSource is now a certified data center cleaning vendor visit the association of data center cleaning professionals at www.adccp.org The ProSource Advantage The ProSource System: Our proprietary data center cleaning system is the result of years of experience and expertise in providing preventive maintenance cleaning services to data center facilities nationwide.We utilize company employed technicians that have completed a comprehensive ProSource Critical Work Authorization training program in data center cleaning. Trained Technicians: We utilize company employed technicians that have completed a comprehensive ProSource Critical Work Authorization training program in data center cleaning, IT clean room, and IT cleaning services. All technicians are uniformed and employed by ProSource. Proper Equipment: All equipment, supplies, and chemicals are designed and recommended for data center cleaning and data center environments with a raised floor. Our equipment will ensure that we clean to the federal standard 209e for class 100,000 clean spaces. Flexibility of Scheduling: As the right data center cleaning company, we offer nationwide data center cleaning services that are flexible to your schedule so that you can rest assured that all your facilities from the West coast to the East coast will receive the same level of service from ProSource. Home | Products | Services | FAQs | Price Request | Contact Us The Right Choice® for your data center The Right Company: Don't trust your data center facilities to just any vendor. Since 1994, we have been insured and certified to provide maintenance products and services to data centers across the country. We have years of experience and expertise in providing preventive maintenance services to data center facilities nationwide. Don't compromise on your company's data center facilities; choose the right choice for mission critical data centers - ProSource. We are the leader in the industry when it comes to IT facility services for your raised floor environment. The Right People: We utilize company employed technicians that have completed a comprehensive ProSource Critical Work Authorization training program in data center maintenance services. All technicians are uniformed and employed by ProSource. We are an IT facility services company that utilizes trained data center technicians to perform our services because your data center demands the best in the industry. When choosing a data center facilities maintenance company, make sure you are choosing a qualified data center maintenance company that has the right people for the job. Providing high quality maintenance services for your computer room or data center environment starts with the right people. The Right Products & Services: Our data center products and services are designed to keep your IT facilities as efficient and clean as possible. Our patent-pending cleaning system is safe and effective for cleaning data center environments. We also offer industry leading products and solutions for air flow management, cold aisle containment, contamination control, raised flooring, and data center facility supplies. We can customize all of our data centerservices to meet the specific needs of your data center facilities. As one of the leading computer room maintenance companies in the industry, we are proud of our record of service in providing the highest quality data center maintenance services possible to our customers. When choosing a vendor for your IT facility services, look for a qualified IT maintenance company that has extensive experience in raised floor and data center environments. Our programs will help you maintain a world class IT facility. The Right Tools: All equipment, supplies, and chemicals are designed and recommended for data center environments. Our equipment will ensure that we maintain your facility in accordance with federal standard 209e for class 100,000 clean spaces. As a dedicated computer room maintenance company, we only employ the right tools when performing data center services in your data center. The raised floor in your data center facility demands a maintenance company that specializes in data center environments. Your preventive maintenance program is a reflection of your commitment to the investment in your data center. When choosing to protect your investment - let us help because we have the right tools to protect your data center environment. The Right Coverage: As the right choice data center facility maintenance, we offer nationwide data center maintenance services so that you can rest assured that all your facilities from the West coast to the East coast will receive the same level of service from ProSource. Our data center services will ensure that we are the right company for your data center maintenance needs. Trust ProSource with your data center facilities nationwide since we are the leaders in the maintenance nationwide.

Home | Products | Services | FAQs | Price Request | Contact Us Air Flow Management Increase air flow efficiency by managing by-pass air flow in your data center. Open floor cutouts can reduce the effectiveness of your HVAC system by reducing subfloor static pressure, reducing air flow CFMs to server cabinets, and it also can create hot spots. Open floor cutouts can also increase your costs of energy which is 50% of the costs of operating your data center. Another importnat consideration is to close openings in servers cabinets using blanking panels that ensure that cool air does not mix with warm exhaust air so that all the servers in your cabinets receive cool air. Sealing cable openings with KoldLok® products provide a cost-effective airflow and thermal management solution. KoldLok Raised Floor Grommets • optimize your current cooling infrastructure • mitigate equipment heat loads • increase data center reliability Your IT equipment is generating more heat than ever and the cost to cool that equipment is increasing. According to The Uptime Institute, Inc.® electricity consumed by IT equipment is the primary driver of data center infrastructure costs. Based on measurements at multiple data centers, 50 - 80% of valuable conditioned air is not reaching the air intake of IT equipment due to unsealed cable openings. This lost air, known as bypass airflow, contributes to equipment hot spots, cooling unit inefficiencies, and increasing infrastructure costs. Sealing cable openings is an essential component of IT equipment reliability and availability. By installing KoldLok Raised Floor Grommets, you can optimize the effectiveness of your existing cooling equipment and manage the increasing heat loads. The patented KoldLok sealing system specifically addresses bypass airflow and its detrimental effects on data center cooling. Cost-effective Benefits • Increases existing cooling unit capacity • Reduces the need to purchase additional cooling units • Improves equipment reliability and extends equipment life • Increases static pressure under & improves cool air delivery through perforated tiles or floor grates • Facilitates Cold Aisle/Hot Aisle best practices • KoldLok Grommets optimize energy efficiency in data centers and are Energy Star rated. KoldLok® Mini Integral Floor Grommets Applications Designed to seal small cable openings in the raised floor of new or existing computer rooms. Special Features • Made with fire-rated resin and filaments that meet UL94 V0 standards • Smaller size offers flexibility for data centers that have multiple cable opening sizes • Meets smaller cable opening standards specified in new data center builds • Cost-effective method of separating data cabling from power cabling • The static-dissipation integrates with the raised floor static dissipation system Impact-resistant and durable • Contains no loose or partially fastened parts that can become separated or fall through the raised floor • Satisfies NFPA 75 Section 5-4.4 requirement by self-dressing the raw metal edges of raised-floor tile cable openings • Does not restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) KoldLok® Integral Floor Grommets Applications Airflow management device designed to seal cable openings in new raised-floor systems prior to the installation of communication or power cabling. Special Features • The Split Integral Grommets allow tiles to be moved without capturing cables • The Grommets integrate with the raised-floor static dissipation system • Accommodates a variety of cabling requirements, including 100 amp power connectors • Satisfy NFPA 75 Section 5-4.4 requirement by self-dressing the raw metal edges of cable cutouts • The Grommets contain no loose parts, which can become separated or fall through the raised floor. • Does not restrict the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) KoldLok® Surface Mount Floor Grommets Applications Designed to seal a variety of existing raised-floor tile cutouts and allow the flexibility of removing tiles without capturing cables. Item Nos. 2030 and 2040 allow for larger sealing capacities. Special Features • The Surface Mount Grommet facilitates re-cabling and allows tiles to be moved without capturing cables • The Grommets integrate with the raised-floor static dissipation system, providing 1 GigaOhm of resistance. • The Grommets contain no loose parts, which can become separated or fall through the raised floor. • Does not restrict the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) KoldLok® Extended Floor Grommets Applications Designed to seal a variety of existing larger openings, with the added flexibility of modification for unique openings. Special Features • The Grommets can be modified to seal unique cable openings • The Grommets integrate with the raised-floor static dissipation system • Does not restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) HotLok Blanking Panels Data center managers can optimize the cooling capacity of their computer rooms using the most effective sealing blanking panels available. The HotLok Blanking Panel design combines the following features and benefits: • Engineered to provide the most effective seal available for optimized cooling within a server cabinet • Ergonomic design for easy, quick, safe, tool-free installation that saves on labor costs • Stackable, so they can be kept on hand in a particulate-free storage environment • Made of lightweight plastic material to lower shipping costs • Made of resins that are UL-Recognized with a V-O flame rating, UL File Number E56070 • Both product and package are recyclable • Green solution for energy consumption savings and reducing the carbon footprint of data centers

Home | Products | Services | FAQs | Request Pricing | Contact Us Contamination Control and Data Center Cleaning Reduce the threat of downtime by reducing dangerous contamination within your raised floor data center. We offer many specialized services including complete data center cleaning for your mission critical data center. Don't trust your data center facilities to just any vendor. Since 1994, we have been insured and certified to perform critical cleaning, computer room cleaning, and data center cleaning services across the country. Available Products & Services     Products · Critical Filtered Vacuums · Data Center Cleaning Supplies · Particle Counters · Sticky Mats · Static Control Cleaning Chemicals   Services · Ceiling Cleaning · Exterior & Interior Equipment Surface Cleaning · Raised Floor Cleaning · Post Construction Cleaning · Subfloor Plenum Cleaning & Encapsualtion ProprietarySystem Our paproprietary data center cleaning system is the result of years of experience and expertise in providing preventive maintenance cleaning services to data center facilities nationwide. Don't compromise on your company's data center facilities; choose the right choice for data center cleaning - ProSource. We are the leader in the maintenance & cleaning industry when it comes to IT cleaning services for your raised floor environment. A clean room starts with choosing the right company for IT cleaning services with nationwide data center cleaning coverage. Trained Technicians We utilize company employed technicians that have completed a comprehensive ProSource Critical Work Authorization training program in data center cleaning, IT clean room, and IT cleaning services. All technicians are uniformed and employed by ProSource. We are a computer room cleaning company that utilizes trained data center technicians to perform our data center cleaning services because your data center demands the best in the industry. When choosing a data center cleaning company, make sure you are choosing a qualified data center cleaning company that has the right people for the job that can provide nationwide data center cleaning. Providing high quality maintenance & cleaning services of your computer room or data center environment starts with the right people. Customized Preventive Maintenance Plans Our data center cleaning services are designed to keep your IT facilities as clean as possible. Our patent-pending cleaning system is safe and effective for cleaning data center environments. We can customize each data center cleaning program to meet the specific needs of your data center facilities. As one of the leading computer room cleaning companies in the industry, we are proud of our record of service in providing the highest quality data center cleaning services possible to our customers. When choosing a vendor for your IT cleaning services, look for a qualified IT cleaning company that has extensive experience in raised floor cleaning and data center environments. Our programs will help you maintain a world class IT facility. Proper Equipment All equipment, supplies, and chemicals are designed and recommended for data center cleaning and data center environments with a raised floor. Our equipment will ensure that we clean to the federal standard 209e for class 100,000 clean spaces. As a dedicated computer room cleaning company, we only employ the right tools when performing data center cleaning in your clean room data center. All vacuums are critical filtered to comply with recognized standards in the industry such as 209e. The raised floor in your data center facility demands a maintenance & cleaning company that specializes in cleaning data center environments and that specializes in IT cleaning services. A clean room is a reflection of your commitment to the investment in your data center. When choosing to protect your investment - let us help because we have the right tools to protect your data center environment. Flexibility of Scheduling As the right data center cleaning company, we offer nationwide data center cleaning services that are flexible to your schedule so that you can rest assured that all your facilities from the West coast to the East coast will receive the same level of service from ProSource. Our data center cleaning services will ensure that we are the right company for your data center cleaning needs. All IT cleaning services are standardized at every ProSource location to ensure that we offer the highest quality at each service visit. Maintenance & cleaning is an important part of a preventive maintenance plan to protect your data center environment. Trust ProSource with your data center facilities nationwide since we are the leaders in the maintenance & cleaning of IT cleaning services nationwide. Home | Products | Services | FAQs | Price Request | Contact Us Contamination Related Problems Physical Interference Hard particles with a tensile strength at least 10% greater than that of the component material can remove material from the surface of the component by grinding action or embedding. Even very small particles can have an impact if they collect on a tacky surface, or agglomerate as the result of electrostatic charge build-up. Corrosive Failure Corrosive failure or contact intermittence due to the intrinsic composition of the particles or due to absorption of water vapor and gaseous contaminants by the particles can also cause failures. Shorts Conductive pathways can arise through the accumulation of particles on circuit boards or other components. Many types of particulate are not inherently conductive, but can absorb significant quantities of water in high-moisture environments. Problems caused by electrically conductive particles can range from intermittent malfunctioning to actual damage to components and operational failures. Thermal Failure Premature clogging of filtered devices will cause a restriction in air flow that could induce internal overheating and head crashes. Heavy layers of accumulated dust on hardware components can also form an insulative layer that can lead to heat-related failures. Room Conditions All surfaces within the controlled zone of the data center should be maintained at a high level of cleanliness. All surfaces should be cleaned by trained professionals on a regular basis. Home | Products | Services | FAQs | Price Request | Contact Us ProSource Deliverables Performance We will perform data center cleaning services as detailed in the scope of work. A certified supervisor will oversee a team of trained data center cleaning technicians. All data center cleaning technicians are trained prior to work performed in the data center in the proper methods and the proper use of equipment to safely provide data center cleaning services to your computer rooms and critical areas. Our services include subfloor surface cleaning of the subfloor void; raised floor surface cleaning of the raised access floor tiles; equipment surface cleaning of servers cabinets, CRAC units, PDUs, and workstations; ceiling cleaning of the ceiling void, and overhead raceways and fixtures; and anti-static floor finishing in the non-raised floor surface areas. We also offer initial site and post construction site prep cleaning if your data center has recently undergone renovations, or has been recently constructed. Only choose data center cleaning vendors that are trained to provide expert data center cleaning services for your data center environment. Equipment We will provide the proper equipment, supplies, and chemicals that are needed to complete the data center cleaning services. All equipment, supplies, and chemicals are approved for use in data center environments with raised floor infrastructures. We only use our specially designed Pro-Tek brand chemicals and supplies that are safe and effective for cleaning data centers. All of our data center cleaning equipment like our critical filter vacuums meet Federal Standard 209e for IT cleaning services in class 100,000 clean room zones, and effectively provide a clean data center for IT computer equipment to operate within safely and effectively. Only choose a data center cleaning vendor that utilizes approved data center cleaning equipment, supplies, and chemicals to clean your data center environment. Methodology We will utilize methods that are recognized as standards in cleaning data centers. Our patent-pending data center cleaning system is safe and effective for cleaning your data center. Because we have years of experience providing specialized cleaning services to data centers and computer room environments, you can rest assured that our teams of data center cleaning technicians are better trained and equipped to get the job done safely, efficiently, and effectively every time when we provide IT maintenance & cleaning services in your raised floor data center environment. Quality We will provide the highest quality products and services to our customers. Our commitment is to provide a professional data center cleaning service that will meet and exceed your expectations for each data center cleaning service visit. Let ProSource ensure your peace of mind through our suite of preventive maintenance data center cleaning services and products that will help protect your data center and computer room facilities. Environmental Contaminants Control over contaminant levels in a computer room is an extremely important consideration when evaluating an environment. The impact of contamination on sensitive electronic hardware is well recognized, but the most harmful contaminants are often overlooked because they are so small. Most particles smaller than 10 microns are not visible to the naked eye under most conditions; yet, it is these particles that are most likely to migrate to areas where they can do damage. The following Sections describes these issues and presents recommendations and guidelines. Recommended Air Quality Levels Particles, gasses and other contaminants may impact the sustained operations of computer hardware. Effects can range from intermittent interference to actual component failures. The computer room should be designed to achieve a high level of cleanliness. Airborne dusts, gasses and vapors should be maintained within defined limits to help minimize their potential impact on the hardware. Airborne particulate levels should be maintained within the limits of Federal Standard 209E, Airborne Particulate Cleanliness Classes in Clean Rooms and Clean Zones, Class 100,000. This standard defines air quality classes for clean zones based on airborne particulate concentrations. While this standard defines the limits of various classes, and the methods for testing and analysis, it does not define the nature of the particulate. The least stringent of these, Class 100,000, is generally accepted as an appropriate measure of data center environments. The lower class limits designate conditions for clean room classification generally associated with research and development, manufacturing and other specialized applications. Although FED-STD-209E is a widely accepted computer room standard, it does not include some of the most harmful dust sizes: 0.3 microns and smaller. These particles are harmful to most data processing hardware because they have the tendency to exist in large numbers and can easily circumvent many sensitive components' internal air filtration systems. Like other particles, they have the ability to agglomerate into large masses or absorb corrosive agents under certain psychometric conditions. When computer hardware is exposed to these sub-micron particles in great numbers they endanger system reliability by posing a threat to moving parts, sensitive contacts and component corrosion. Concentrations of ultrafine particles must be considered when evaluating a controlled environment. Excessive concentrations of certain gasses can accelerate corrosion and cause failure in electronic components. Gaseous contaminants are a particular concern in a computer room both because of the sensitivity of the hardware, and because a proper computer room environment is almost entirely re-circulating. Any contaminant threat in the room is compounded by the cyclical nature of the airflow patterns. Levels of exposure that might not be concerning in a well ventilated site repeatedly attack the hardware in a room with re-circulating air. The isolation that prevents exposure of the computer room environment to outside influences can also multiply any detrimental influences left unaddressed in the room. Gasses that are particularly dangerous to electronic components include chlorine compounds, ammonia and its derivatives, oxides of sulfur and petrol hydrocarbons. The sources and effects of these and other gasses are included in the "Contaminant Properties and Sources" section of this manual. In the absence of appropriate hardware exposure limits, health exposure limits should be used. The following chart outlines limits for various gasses that could pose a threat to hardware. These limits should not be used as absolute limits, as numerous other factors, such as the moisture content of the air, can influence environmental corrosivity and gaseous contaminant transfer at lower levels. Concentrations exceeding these levels should, however, be considered concerning. Contaminant Properties and Sources Contaminants in the room can take many forms, and can come from numerous sources. The processes by which particles with the properties that make them dangerous to sensitive hardware are produced and the means by which they make their way to areas where they can do damage vary. Any mechanical process in the room can produce dangerous contaminants or agitate settled contaminants. The sources of contamination are as diverse as the contaminants themselves. A particle must meet two basic criteria to be considered a contaminant. First, it must have the physical properties that could potentially cause damage to the hardware. Second, it must be able to migrate to areas where it can cause the physical damage. The difference between a potential contaminant and an actual contaminant is time and location. It is only necessary for one potential contaminant to be instigated to active status for a failure to occur. If all hardware units with a specified design life are designed to endure a given number of potential contaminants before one becomes active and interferes with the functioning of the components, then it stands to reason that a decrease in the potential contaminants in the operating environment will lower the possibility of a potential contaminant moving to an area where it can do damage. Thus, a reduction of potential contaminants will decrease the possibility of contaminant-related failure and increase product life. Particulate matter is most likely to migrate to areas where it can do damage if it is airborne. For this reason, airborne particulate concentration is a useful measurement in determining the quality of the computer room environment. Depending on local conditions, particles as big as 1,000 microns can become airborne, but their active life is very short, and they are arrested by most filtration devices. Submicron particulate is much more dangerous to sensitive computer hardware, because it remains airborne for a much longer period of time, and they are more apt to bypass filters. Operator Activity Human movement within the computer space is probably the single greatest source of contamination in an otherwise clean computer room. Normal movement can dislodge tissue fragments, such as dander or hair, or fabric fibers from clothing. The opening and closing of drawers or hardware panels or any metal-on-metal activity can produce metal filings. Simply walking across the floor can agitate settled contamination making it airborne and potentially dangerous. Hardware Movement Hardware installation or reconfiguration involves a great deal of subfloor activity, and settled contaminants can very easily be disturbed, forcing them to become airborne in the supply air stream to the room's hardware. This is particularly dangerous if the subfloor deck is unsealed. Unsealed concrete sheds fine dust particles into the airstream, and is susceptible to efflorescence -- mineral salts brought to the surface of the deck through evaporation or hydrostatic pressure. Outside Air Air introduced into the hardware space can be a source of contamination. Inadequately filtered air from outside the controlled environment can introduce innumerable contaminants. Post-filtration contamination in duct work can be dislodged by air flow, and introduced into the hardware environment. This is particularly important in a downward-flow air conditioning system in which the subfloor void is used as a supply air duct. If the structural deck is contaminated, or if the concrete slab is not sealed, fine particulate matter (such as concrete dust or efflorescence) can be carried directly to the room's hardware. Stored Items Storage and handling of unused hardware or supplies can also be a source of contamination. Corrugated cardboard boxes or wooden skids shed fibers when moved or handled. Evidence of this is indicated by the prevalence of the materials in samples obtained from subfloor deposits. Stored items are not only contamination sources; their handling in the computer room controlled areas can agitate settled contamination already in the room. Outside Influences A negatively pressurized environment can allow contaminants from adjoining office areas or the exterior of the building to infiltrate the computer room environment through gaps in the doors or penetrations in the walls. Ammonia and phosphates are often associated with agricultural processes, and numerous chemical agents can be produced in manufacturing areas. If such industries are present in the vicinity of the data center facility, chemical filtration may be necessary. Potential impact from automobile emissions, dusts from local quarries or masonry fabrication facilities or sea mists should also be assessed if relevant. Cleaning Activity Inappropriate cleaning practices can also degrade the environment. Many chemicals used in normal or "office" cleaning applications can damage sensitive computer equipment. Potentially hazardous chemicals outlined in the Section: Cleaning Procedures and Equipment should be avoided. Out-gassing from these products or direct contact with hardware components can cause failure. Certain biocide treatments used in building air handlers are also inappropriate for use in computer rooms either because they contain chemicals, that can degrade components, or because they are not designed to be used in the airstream of a re-circulating air system. The use of push mops or inadequately filtered vacuums can also stimulate contamination. It is essential that steps be taken to prevent air contaminants, such as metal particles, atmospheric dust, solvent vapors, corrosive gasses, soot, airborne fibers or salts from entering or being generated within the computer room environment. In the absence of hardware exposure limits, applicable human exposure limits from OSHA, NIOSH or the ACGIH should be used. ASHRAE Standard 62 is also an adequate guideline for both operator safety and hardware exposure. Information regarding these agencies and organizations is included in the "References" section of this manual. Contaminant Effects Destructive interactions between airborne particulate and electronic instrumentation can occur in numerous ways. The means of interference depends on the time and location of the critical incident, the physical properties of the contaminant and the environment in which the component is placed. Physical Interference Hard particles with a tensile strength at least 10% greater than that of the component material can remove material from the surface of the component by grinding action or embedding. Soft particles will not damage the surface of the component, but can collect in patches, that can interfere with proper functioning. If these particles are tacky they can collect other particulate matter. Even very small particles can have an impact if they collect on a tacky surface, or agglomerate as the result of electrostatic charge build-up. Corrosive Failure Corrosive failure or contact intermittence due to the intrinsic composition of the particles or due to absorption of water vapor and gaseous contaminants by the particles can also cause failures. The chemical composition of the contaminant can be very important. Salts, for instance, can grow in size by absorbing water vapor from the air (nucleating). If a mineral salts deposit exists in a sensitive location, and the environment is sufficiently moist, it can grow to a size where it can physically interfere with a mechanism, or can cause damage by forming salt solutions. Shorts Conductive pathways can arise through the accumulation of particles on circuit boards or other components. Many types of particulate are not inherently conductive, but can absorb significant quantities of water in high-moisture environments. Problems caused by electrically conductive particles can range from intermittent malfunctioning to actual damage to components and operational failures. Thermal Failure Premature clogging of filtered devices will cause a restriction in air flow that could induce internal overheating and head crashes. Heavy layers of accumulated dust on hardware components can also form an insulative layer that can lead to heat-related failures. Room Conditions All surfaces within the controlled zone of the data center should be maintained at a high level of cleanliness. All surfaces should be periodically cleaned by trained professionals on a regular basis. Particular attention should be paid to the areas beneath the hardware, and the access floor grid. Contaminants near the air intakes of the hardware can more easily be transferred to areas where they can do damage. Particulate accumulations on the access floor grid can be forced airborne when floor tiles are lifted to gain access to the subfloor. It is important that these deposits be removed in an appropriate manner, and that all surfaces are maintained in good condition, so as to not contribute contamination to the environment. The subfloor void in a downward-flow air conditioning system acts as the supply air plenum. This area is pressurized by the air conditioners, and the conditioned air is then introduced into the hardware spaces through perforated floor panels. Thus, all air traveling from the air conditioners to the hardware must first pass through the subfloor void. Inappropriate conditions in the supply air plenum can have a dramatic effect on conditions in the hardware areas. The subfloor void in a data center is often viewed solely as a convenient place to run cables and pipes. It is important to remember that this is also a duct, and that conditions below the false floor must be maintained at a high level of cleanliness. Contaminant sources can include degrading building materials, operator activity or infiltration from outside the controlled zone. Often particulate deposits are formed where cables or other subfloor items form air dams that allow particulate to settle and accumulate. When these items are moved, the particulate is re-introduced into the supply airstream, where it can be carried directly to hardware. Damaged or inappropriately protected building materials are often sources of subfloor contamination. Unprotected concrete, masonry block, or dry wall will deteriorate over time, shedding fine particulate into the airstream. Corrosion on post-filtration air conditioner surfaces or subfloor items can also be a concern. The subfloor void must be thoroughly and appropriately decontaminated on a regular basis to address these contaminants. Only vacuums equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration should be used in any decontamination procedure. Inadequately filtered vacuums are incapable of arresting fine particles, passing them through the unit at high speeds, and forcing them airborne. Unsealed concrete is subject to continued degradation. The sealants and hardeners normally used during construction are often designed to protect the deck against heavy traffic, or to prepare the deck for the application of flooring materials, and are not meant for the interior surfaces of a supply air plenum. While regular decontaminations will help address loose particulate, the surfaces will still be subject to deterioration over time, or as subfloor activity causes wear. Ideally the subfloor surfaces will be appropriately sealed at the time of construction. If this is not the case, it will be necessary to address the surfaces in an on-line room. It is extremely important that only appropriate materials and methodology are used in the encapsulation process. Inappropriate sealants or procedures can actually degrade the conditions they are meant to improve, impacting hardware operations and reliability. The following precautions should be taken when encapsulating the supply air plenum in an on-line room, and installed by authorized subfloor encapsulation companies with experience in these types of projects: Manually apply the encapsulant. Spray applications are totally inappropriate in an on-line data center. The spraying process forces the sealant airborne in the supply airstream, and is more likely to adhere cables to the deck. Use a pigmented encapsulant. The pigmentation makes the encapsulant visible in application, ensuring thorough coverage, and helps in identifying areas that are damaged or exposed over time. It must have a high flexibility and low porosity in order to effectively cover the irregular textures of the subject area, and to minimize moisture migration and water damage. The encapsulant must not out-gas any harmful contaminants. Many encapsulants commonly used in industry are highly ammoniated or contain other chemicals that can be harmful to hardware. It is very unlikely that this out-gassing could cause immediate, catastrophic failure, but these chemicals will often contribute to corrosion of contacts, heads or other components. Effectively encapsulating a subfloor deck in an on-line computer room is a very sensitive and difficult task, but it can be conducted safely if appropriate procedures and materials are used. Avoid using the ceiling void as an open supply or return for the building air system. This area is typically very dirty and difficult to clean. Often the structural surfaces are coated with fibrous fire-proofing, and the ceiling tiles and insulation are also subject to shedding. Even prior to filtration, this is an unnecessary exposure that can adversely affect environmental conditions in the room. It is also important that the ceiling void does not become pressurized, as this will force air from this typically dirty area into the computer room. Columns or cable chases with penetrations in both the subfloor and ceiling void can lead to ceiling void pressurization. Exposure Points All potential exposure points in the data center should be addressed so as to minimize potential influences from outside the controlled zone. Positive pressurization of the computer rooms will help limit contaminant infiltration, but it is also important to minimize any breaches in the room perimeter. All doors should fit snugly in their frames. Gaskets and sweeps can be used to address any gaps. Automatic doors should be avoided in areas where they can be accidentally triggered, as this is an unnecessary exposure. An alternate means of control would be to remotely locate a door trigger so that personnel pushing carts can open the doors easily. In highly sensitive areas, or where the data center is exposed to undesirable conditions, it may be advisable to design and install personnel traps. Double sets of doors with a buffer between can help limit direct exposure to outside conditions. The data center should be an isolated environment if controllability is to be achieved. Seal all penetrations between the data center and adjacent areas. Avoid sharing a computer room ceiling or subfloor plenum with loosely controlled adjacent areas. Filtration Filtration is an effective means of addressing airborne particulate in a controlled environment. It is important that all air handlers serving the data center are adequately filtered to ensure appropriate conditions are maintained within the room. The necessary efficiency is dependent on the design and application of the air handlers. In room process cooling is the recommended method of controlling the room environment. The in-room process coolers re-circulate room air. Air from the hardware areas is passed through the units where it is filtered and cooled, and then introduced into the subfloor plenum. The plenum is pressurized, and the conditioned air is forced into the room, through perforated tiles, and then travels back to the air conditioner for reconditioning. The airflow patterns and design associated with a typical computer room air handler have a much higher rate of air change than do typical comfort cooling air conditioners. This means that the air is filtered much more often than would be the case in an office environment. Proper filtration can thus accomplish a great deal of particulate arrestance. The filters installed in the in-room, recirculating air conditioners should have a minimum efficiency of 40% (Atmospheric Dust-Spot Efficiency, ASHRAE Standard 52.1). Low-grade pre-filters should be installed to help prolong the life of the more expensive primary filters. Any air being introduced into the computer room controlled zone, for ventilation or positive pressurization, should first pass through high efficiency filtration. Ideally, air from sources outside the building should be filtered using High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration rated at 99.97% efficiency (DOP Efficiency MIL-STD-282) or greater. The expensive high efficiency filters should be protected by multiple layers of pre-filters that are changed on a more frequent basis. Low-grade pre-filters, 20% ASHRAE atmospheric dust-spot efficiency, should be the primary line of defense. The next filter bank should consist of pleated or bag type filters with efficiencies between 60% and 80% ASHRAE atmospheric dust-spot efficiency. Low efficiency filters are almost totally ineffective at removing sub-micron particulate from the air. It is also important that the filters used are properly sized for the air handlers. Gaps around the filter panels can allow air to bypass the filter as it passes through the air conditioner. Any gaps or openings should be filled using appropriate materials, such as stainless steel panels or custom filter assemblies. Positive Pressurization and Ventilation A designed introduction of air from outside the computer room system will be necessary in order to accommodate positive pressurization and ventilation requirements. The data center should be designed to achieve positive pressurization in relation to more loosely controlled surrounding areas. Positive pressurization of the more sensitive areas is an effective means of controlling contaminant infiltration through any minor breaches in the room perimeter. Positive pressure systems are designed to apply outward air forces to doorways and other access points within the data processing center in order to minimize contaminant infiltration of the computer room. Only a minimal amount of air should be introduced into the controlled environment. In data centers with multiple rooms, the most sensitive areas should be the most highly pressurized. It is, however, extremely important that the air being used to positively pressurize the room does not adversely affect the environmental conditions in the room. It is essential that any air introduction from outside the computer room is adequately filtered and conditioned to ensure that it is within acceptable parameters. These parameters can be looser than the goal conditions for the room since the air introduction should be minimal. A precise determination of acceptable limits should be based on the amount of air being introduced and the potential impact on the environment of the data center. Because a closed-loop, recirculating air conditioning system is used in most data centers, it will be necessary to introduce a minimal amount of air to meet the ventilation requirements of the room occupants. Data center areas normally have a very low human population density, thus the air required for ventilation will be minimal. In most cases, the air needed to achieve positive pressurization will likely exceed that needed to accommodate the room occupants. Normally, outside air quantities of less than 5% make-up air should be sufficient (ASHRAE Handbook: Applications, Chapter 17). A volume of 15 CFM outside air per occupant or workstation should sufficiently accommodate the ventilation needs of the room (Uniform Building Code, Chapter 12). The amount of air introduced should be kept to the absolute minimum necessary to achieve the positive pressurization and ventilation requirements of the room. Cleaning Procedures and Equipment Even a perfectly designed data center will require continued maintenance. Data centers containing design flaws or compromises may require extensive efforts to maintain conditions within desired limits. Hardware performance is an important factor contributing to the need for a high level of cleanliness in the data center. All electronic and mechanical devices are sensitive to contamination in a variety of ways and means. Increased component failure caused by excessive contaminant exposure will result in an interruption of service to the data processing users. Operator awareness is another consideration. Maintaining a fairly high level of cleanliness will raise the level of occupant awareness with respect to special requirements and restrictions while in the data center. Occupants or visitors to the data center will hold the controlled environment in high regard and are more likely to act appropriately. Any environment that is maintained to a fairly high level of cleanliness and is kept in a neat and well organized fashion will also command respect from the room's inhabitants and visitors. When potential clients visit the room they will interpret the overall appearance of the room as a reflection of an overall commitment to excellence and quality. An effective cleaning schedule must consist of specially designed short-term and long-term actions. These can be summarized as follows: Daily Tasks This statement of work focuses on the removal of each day's discarded trash and rubbish from the room. In addition, daily floor vacuuming may be required in Print Rooms or rooms with a considerable amount of operator activity. Weekly Tasks This statement of work focuses on the maintenance of the access floor system. During the week, the access floor becomes soiled with dust accumulations and blemishes. The entire access floor should be vacuumed and damp mopped. All vacuums used in the data center, for any purpose, should be equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration. Inadequately filtered equipment cannot arrest smaller particles, and simply agitates them, degrading the environment they were meant to improve. It is also important that mop-heads and dust wipes are of appropriate non-shedding designs. Cleaning solutions used within the data center must not pose a threat to the hardware. Solutions that could potentially damage hardware include ammoniated products, chlorine based products, phosphate based products, bleach enriched products, and petroleum based products, floor strippers or re-conditioners. It is also important that the recommended concentrations are used, as even an appropriate agent in an inappropriate concentration can be potentially damaging. The solution should be maintained in good condition throughout the project, and excessive applications should be avoided. Monthly & Quarterly Tasks The monthly & quarterly statement of work involves a much more detailed and comprehensive decontamination schedule and should only be conducted by experienced computer room contamination-control professionals. These actions should be performed three to four times per year, based on the levels of activity and contamination present. All room surfaces should be thoroughly decontaminated including cupboards, ledges, racks, shelves and support equipment. High ledges and light fixtures and generally accessible areas should be treated or vacuumed as appropriate. Vertical surfaces including windows, glass partitions, doors, etc. should be thoroughly treated. Special dust cloths that are impregnated with a particle absorbent material are to be used in the surface decontamination process. Do not use generic dust rags or fabric cloths to perform these activities. Do not use any chemicals, waxes or solvents during these activities. Settled contamination should be removed from all exterior hardware surfaces including horizontal and vertical surfaces. The unit's air inlet and outlet grilles should be treated as well. Do not wipe the unit's control surfaces; these areas can be decontaminated by the use of lightly compressed air. Special care should also be taken when cleaning keyboards and life-safety controls. Specially treated dust wipes should be used to treat all hardware surfaces. Monitors should be treated with optical cleansers and static-free cloths. No Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) dissipative chemicals should be used on the computer hardware, since these agents are caustic and harmful to most sensitive hardware. The computer hardware is sufficiently designed to permit Electrostatic dissipation thus no further treatments are required. After all of the hardware and room surfaces have been thoroughly decontaminated, the access floor should be HEPA vacuumed and damp mopped as detailed in the Weekly Actions. Annual Tasks The subfloor void should be decontaminated every 12 months based on the conditions of the plenum surfaces and the degree of contaminant accumulation. Over the course of the year, the subfloor void undergoes a considerable amount of activity that creates new contamination accumulations. Although the weekly above floor cleaning activities will greatly reduce the subfloor dust accumulations, a certain amount of surface dirt will migrate into the subfloor void. It is important to maintain the subfloor to a high degree of cleanliness since this area acts as the hardware's supply air plenum. It is best to perform the subfloor decontamination treatment in a short time frame to reduce cross contamination. The personnel performing this operation should be fully trained to assess cable connectivity and priority. Each exposed area of the subfloor void should be individually inspected and assessed for possible cable handling and movement. All twist-in and plug-in connections should be checked and fully engaged before cable movement. All subfloor activities must be conducted with proper consideration for air distribution and floor loading. In an effort to maintain access floor integrity and proper psychometric conditions, the number of floor tiles removed from the floor system should be carefully managed. In most cases, each work crew should have no more than 24 square feet (six tiles) of open access flooring at any one time. The access floor's supporting grid system should also be thoroughly decontaminated, first by vacuuming the loose debris and then by damp-sponging the accumulated residue. Rubber gaskets, if present, as the metal framework that makes up the grid system should be removed from the grid work and cleaned with a damp sponge as well. Any unusual conditions, such as damaged floor suspension, floor tiles, cables and surfaces, within the floor void should be noted and reported. Activity and Processes Isolation of the data center is an integral factor in maintaining appropriate conditions. All unnecessary activity should be avoided in the data center, and access should be limited to necessary personnel only. Periodic activity, such as tours, should be limited, and traffic should be restricted to away from the hardware so as to avoid accidental contact. All personnel working in the room, including temporary employees and janitorial personnel, should be trained in the most basic sensitivities of the hardware so as to avoid unnecessary exposure. The controlled areas of the data center should be thoroughly isolated from contaminant producing activities. Ideally, print rooms, check sorting rooms, command centers or other areas with high levels of mechanical or human activity should have no direct exposure to the data center. Paths to and from these areas should not necessitate traffic through the main data center areas. HVAC Issues A clean subfloor plenum allows the units to run at a higher capacity and efficiency by increasing the air flow pushed into the subfloor. An unclean subfloor plenum can cause dirt and debris to enter the air handler units which may cause mechanical failures, leading to increased service calls. Sealing or encapsulating the subfloor plenum helps with the amount of airflow to the subfloor plenum. Closing all through holes in the firewall helps captures the air under the floor so that it is forced through the perforated panels, capturing the cold air and cooling the equipment efficiently. Encapsulating the subfloor plenum also ensures that there is no moisture seepage that you may not see in a non-encapsulated floor.

Home | Products | Services | FAQs | Request Pricing | Contact Us Raised Floors We offer raised floor products and services for your data center. We offer both new and used flooring panels. We can match your existing floor panels with used flooring panels, or order new ones to match your existing floor. We also offer parts for ramps, pedestals, stringers, and trim edge. We also offer standard and high performance air flow panels. Contact us today for a price request. Products and Services Available • New & Refurbished Raised Floor Panels - Concrete Filled & Hollow Steel • Standard & High PerformnaceAir Flow Floor Panels • Floor Grommets & Floor Pullers & Brackets • Cable Trays, and Pedestals & Stringers • Ramps, Handrails, & Steps Home | Products | Services | FAQs | Price Request | Contact Us