Data Centre Contamination Control: The Importance of Preventive Maintenance and Cleaning.

Preventive maintenance and cleaning is a proactive approach to contamination control that involves regular cleaning of data centre white spaces, HVAC systems, and other critical areas. By incorporating cleaning as a routine part of data centre operations, operators can significantly reduce the risk of unplanned downtime and equipment failure. “Contamination has been the indirect cause of more IT downtime than all the fires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and disgruntled employees combined.” – Jon William Toigo, Disaster Recovery Planning, Third Edition.

Here are a few reasons why data centre operators should consider preventive cleaning To ISO 14644-1 2015 Class 8 plus all accessible surfaces free from settled dust, which is current best practice in data centre white spaces.

1. Enhanced Equipment Lifespan: Regular cleaning helps remove contaminants that can cause overheating and physical damage to servers, thereby extending the lifespan of expensive IT equipment. You may be able to keep the equipment operational for 5 years instead of 3. How will that effect your bottom line? AWS have been doing this since February 2024 see here. https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/02/amazon_q4_2023
2. Improved System Performance: Dust and debris can obstruct airflow, leading to inefficient cooling and increased energy consumption. By keeping the environment clean, data centres can operate more efficiently, reducing energy costs and improving overall system performance. This must be worth investigating.
3. Equipment Manufactures: Many equipment manufactures are now demanding there equipment is kept in Data Centres Certified to ISO 14644. Unless otherwise specified, NVIDIA products are designed to work in an environmentally controlled data centre with low levels of gaseous and dust (particulate) contamination. The operating environment should meet severity level G1 as per ISA 71.04 for gaseous contamination and ISO 14644-1 class 8 for cleanliness level.
4. Reduced Downtime: Contaminants are a leading cause of unplanned downtime in data centres. Preventive cleaning minimizes the risk of contamination-related failures, ensuring continuous operation and reducing the likelihood of costly outages.
5. Compliance with Industry Standards: Organizations like the Uptime Institute, ASHRAE and DCA Data Centre Anti-Contamination guide set the benchmark for data centre reliability. Regular cleaning and maintenance help data centres meet these standards, enhancing their reputation and ensuring compliance with industry best practices. In the UK the current best practice for the cleaning of Data Centres is ISO 14644-1 2015 Class 8 plus all accessible surfaces free from settled dust.
6. Healthier Work Environment: A clean data centre is not only beneficial for equipment but also for personnel. Reducing airborne particles and contaminants contributes to a healthier work environment for employees, potentially reducing sick days and improving overall productivity. Also, if a space is clean people are more willing to keep it clean…

All stakeholders in the Data Centre Space should be interested in the above. “Perhaps the most important step to take to control contamination, is to contract with a reputable computer room maintenance company, to perform routine cleaning”. John William Toigo, Disaster Recovery Planning Third Addition.

To stop dust at the door contact DYCEM Carlos Mourelle