General Computer Room Requirements; Preventing Electrostatic Discharge - HP StorageWorks XP10000 - Disk Array Manual

CAUTION:
Make sure all floors, stairs, and elevators you use when moving the disk array to the computer room can
support the weight and size of the equipment. Failure to do so could damage the equipment or your site.

General computer room requirements

The goal of a computer room is to maintain an ideal environment for computer equipment, including
this system.
Make sure your computer room adheres to all national and local building codes for a data
center/computer room environment.
HP recommends that you follow these general guidelines:
• Locate the computer room away from 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 tripled glazed and
shaded to prevent direct sunlight from entering the computer room.
• Maintain the computer room at a positive pressure relative to the surrounding spaces to reduce
introduction of contaminants.
• Install a vapor barrier around the entire computer room envelope (floors/walls/ceiling) to help
keep moisture out of the room. This is especially important if your computer room is located
underground.
• Caulk and vapor-seal all pipes and cables that penetrate the computer room envelope.

Preventing electrostatic discharge

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can cause component damage, especially during servicing operations.
Static charges occur when objects are separated or rubbed together. The voltage level of a static
charge is determined by the following factors:
• Types of materials
• Relative humidity — low humidity tends to increase ESD voltage.
• Rate of change — a standard air conditioner cools the air and lowers humidity. The faster the air
is cooled and dried, the greater the likelihood of ESD.
• Separation — refers to the static discharge that can be generated when two objects are separated.
For example, printer paper is often stored in cool dry conditions. If opened and used immediately,
the act of removing the paper from its box generates static.
Follow these precautions to minimize possible ESD-induced failures in your computer room:
• Install conductive flooring (conductive adhesive must be used when laying tiles).
• Use conductive wax if waxed floors are installed.
• Ensure that all equipment and flooring are properly grounded and are at the same ground potential.
• Use conductive tables and chairs.
• Store spare electric parts in antistatic containers.
• Use proper cooling equipment to reduce the risk of ESD by maintaining recommended humidity
level and airflow rates.
• Leave boxes of paper open in the computer room for several hours before use to allow static to
discharge gradually over time.
XP10000 Disk Array Site Preparation Guide 23