Airborne contaminants can be detrimental to a data center, especially when humidity carries harmful components that corrode metals and technological equipment. When corrosion in data center facilities happens, it can corrupt data, require repairs and take away from the company‘s profits. That’s why it’s vital to focus on data center humidity control.
The process of protecting data center equipment requires a few steps. First, experts must identify all possible issues humidity brings and install monitoring equipment to measure the harm that’s done. Next, they’ll need to install filtration systems to reduce the risks.
Understanding how corrosion occurs and taking the proper steps to avoid it allows data centers to work at peak capacity. Here’s how to protect facilities from the elements and ease customers’ worries.
Hidden Causes of Corrosion
Data centers require cooling techniques to counteract the high temperatures the equipment can reach. This combination, alongside the various air pollutants and contaminants both in and outside the area, can cause corrosion. When this happens, systems may run into errors, and operations could come to a halt.
Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide and various acidic gases come from cleaning products, previous corrosion and outside environmental factors. If these pollutants reach the technology inside data systems, they can cause further corrosion and companywide damage. If humidity combines with these gases and substances, the moisture can do even more harm.
Lack of moisture control is dangerous to the data center. Whether these substances are gaseous or carrying tiny solid particles, it’s important to filter out each pollutant especially when the particles are microscopic. Certain particulate matter can be smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. These particles can harm human health in addition to the equipment.
With such risks associated with humidity, all data centers must move forward with newer solutions. After understanding the potential causes and risks of corrosion, workers should install the proper systems for identifying which of the harmful substances they must focus on.
Monitoring
The types of substances a data center deals with will determine how they proceed with a solution. The way to narrow in on the consequences of the humidity and pollutant damage is to use two types of monitoring systems one that checks the substances in the air and one that examines equipment.
The air monitoring system should measure the levels of each of the gases and substances that can cause corrosion. However, indoor monitoring is half the battle. Outdoor pollution and particles can be just as harmful as those inside from vehicle exhaust to dust from construction sites to excessive fossil fuel emissions. Humidity can carry these toxic substances around and increase their chances of causing corrosion indoors.
Corrosion monitoring systems are the next necessity. These systems can operate actively or passively, with each method bringing its own unique benefits. Active monitoring entails the round-the-clock measurement of various components in the air. For instance, these systems will consider humidity and temperatures, types of corrosion and degrees of wear. These systems operate in real-time, reporting as issues pop up.
Passive monitoring systems gather the same data but will report on a longer period. Workers get an overview of corrosion causes and effects on a 30-day basis. This method helps show where the biggest issues are as they cause the most problems over time.
Filtration
After identifying the causes of the issues and how deep the corrosion in data center facilities run, professionals can then work on solutions for mitigating the damage. Data center humidity control is the goal, which requires strong filtration on all fronts.
The right filtration systems can purify the air and remove particles and substances from outside sources. They can also integrate with the building’s ventilation system and recycle air so it continuously gets cleaner.
Typically, filtration systems use neutralizing mediums to absorb the harmful materials and prevent them from entering the room or individual data equipment. Most often, carbon or alumina is the main element that helps this neutralizing process. This causes corrosion to decrease.
The data center can also work with dehumidification systems that remove moisture when integrated with the ventilation system. This process will help dry out and filter harmful substances as well as the humidity itself.
Filters are the best source of proactive and reactive maintenance. They’ll help stop corrosion as it happens by removing harmful humidity and particles and preventing those same types of substances from entering the facility again.
A New Data Center Design
Alongside ventilation, filtration and dehumidification, professionals can take a few more steps to prevent corrosion in the data center. The two biggest factors in this process include using materials that don’t corrode easily and making sure the room is airtight.
Begin by using materials that have a nickel plating or coating around them. Raw materials can easily corrode during the oxidation process or from coming in contact with humidity, which is why protection is crucial. Electroless nickel plating has some of the best corrosion protection of all the coating options on the market.
The room must also be airtight. To reduce the number of harmful toxins and pollutants that come in from outside, data center workers should seal each room that houses valuable technology and equipment. This includes eliminating drafts from nearby windows or sealing the building’s foundation.
With these two steps, data centers can provide proactive protection alongside the monitoring and ventilation systems. This moisture control will decrease humidity corrosion.
Proactive Protection Across the Board
These steps and guidelines show how to deal with humidity in the data center and all the issues it may bring. With a better understanding of how corrosion can happen, professionals can take the necessary steps to install better moisture control and get rid of damage in data center facilities once and for all. This is good news for the company and its clients.