Every piece of data centres equipment and every human on earth is engulfed by an ocean of air. Under certain circumstances the air surrounding IT equipment can be harmful to internal electronic components and lead to failure and downtime. That’s why humidity is one of the main issues on the mind of data centre operators across the UK.
What are data centres?
A data centre is a large building full of computer equipment, which requires fair amount of monitoring. But inside, a data centre is a network of computing and storage resources, enabling the delivery of shared software application and data across the world. Many businesses use data centres to store their back up data, run complex applications or access cloud computing space. In short, data centres support businesses in staying operational.
Why does humidity matter in data centres?
Because data centres have such a critical role, a lot of care is taken to ensure everything within them is maintained in top condition. For data centres, the main case for humidification lies in preserving that computer equipment. Humidification control can be used to combat electrostatic discharge in the environment, which can damage sensitive electronics. Air in the IT environment containing the proper amount of vapour plays an important role in maximising the availability of computing equipment. Too much or too little water vapour has been proven to directly contribute to reduced productivity and increased equipment downtime – both of which need to be avoided.
What is the recommended humidity for data centres?
So, since humidity is so important for data centres, what level of relative humidity should you be keeping yours at? Generally, maintaining ambient relative humidity of between 45% and 55% is ideal, and is optimal for performance and reliability.
When the relative humidity levels are too high your data centre can suffer from water condensation. This causes issues like hardware corrosion and early system and component failure. If it’s too low, the computer equipment becomes vulnerable to electrostatic discharge. This causes a lot of damage to some very sensitive components found within almost any electronic device.
This is why we recommend that data centre humidity is closely monitored, with alarm systems in place to detect when the humidity is rising above 60% or dropping below 40%. Monitoring is critical for such important businesses because relative humidity is exactly that – relative. It’s directly related to the current temperature, and so will change regularly. As the value of the IT equipment rises, so does the risk and costs associated with getting the humidity wrong!
At Humidity Solutions, we understand how important it is for data centres to have the best in humidification technology. That’s why we provide the most reliable humidity control solutions for data centres, keeping your data safe and secure. Your solutions will be tailored to your needs, so you can be sure your RH is controlled effectively. For more information on our solutions, or to ask us about humidity in your data centre, get in touch today.
