Creating A Floor Plan - IBM NetBAY25 Planning Manual

Creating a floor plan

To be sure that you have enough space for the rack cabinet or suite of rack cabinets,
create a floor plan before installing any rack cabinets. You might need to prepare and
analyze several plans before choosing a final one. If you install more than one rack
cabinet in more than one installation stage, prepare a separate plan for each
installation stage. Consider the following when you prepare each plan:
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Begin with an accurate drawing of the installation area (blueprints and floor plans are
appropriate). Be sure to include the following in your floor plan:
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Review the final floor plan to ensure that cable lengths are not too long and that the
rack cabinets have enough clearance. Refer to the Installation Guide that comes with
your rack cabinet for additional information.
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IBM NetBAY Rack: Planning Guide
Flow of work and personnel within the area
Operator access to units, as required
If the placement will be on a raised floor:
— Positioning over a cooling register
— Leaving the bottom of the rack cabinet open to facilitate cooling
If the placement will not be on a raised floor:
— Maximum cable lengths
— Need for cable guards, ramps, or other similar items to protect equipment and
personnel
Location of any planned safety equipment
Future expansion
Service clearances that are required for each rack cabinet or suite of rack
cabinets
If the placement will be on a raised floor:
— Things that might obstruct cable routing
— The height of the raised floor
If the placement will not be on a raised floor:
— The placement of cables to minimize obstruction
— The amount of cable that is required. (If the cable is routed indirectly between
rack cabinets, such as along walls or suspended from the ceiling, additional
cable might be required.)
Location of:
— Power receptacles
— Air conditioning equipment and controls (Air conditioning outlets should be
located between fronts of facing suites of rack cabinets. Exhausts in the
ceilings should be located between rears of rack suites.)
— File cabinets, desks, and other office equipment
— Room emergency power-off controls
— All entrances, exits, windows, columns, and pillars