How to Protect the Server Rack from Water?
Server racks are constructed to proving a lot of space for telecommunication hardware without keeping much space. As a rule, they accommodate massive servers and supplementary accessories. The following types of furniture are provided on the modern market: open-frame furniture, rack enclosures, and wall-mounted models.
High precious computing hardware is stored in server racks and cabinets. Such devices are vulnerable to moisture. Water can damage equipment and cause significant failure in work. Thus, it is critical to consider the issue and pay particular attention to this matter. Below, you’ll find out how to protect server racks from water and ensure their smooth and flawless operation.
Solutions for Protecting Server Racks from Flooding
Note that water damage is one of the biggest problems for many data centers and server rooms. Water is the main risk for network devices; leaks cause as much as 24% of data center outages. Solutions for protection racks are the following:
1. Choose a room without water pipes behind the walls and ceiling, avoid putting server rooms close to areas with plumbing. The perfect premises for data centers are the ones that are as distant from plumbing systems as possible.
2. Treat picking a server racks location responsibly; the room shouldn’t be in a basement. Although data centers are frequently placed in a basement, it is not the right solution. Such rooms are subject to flooding or other problems with housing and utilities. To keep your equipment out of the danger zone, avoid such rooms.
3. Get a water sensor that constantly monitors the server room and can alert you when there’s danger. Modern sensors serve as real safeguards. Each system has its own principle of operation. Here’s just one example. The principle of operation is as follows: a special sensitive cable is laid around the perimeter of the room, which is connected to its own intelligent module. When water gets on the cable, the module indicates information about the fact of a leak and transmits it to the management device or the monitoring station.
4. Racks should be raised off the floor. It is better to use racks and cabinets on casters or legs. In the case of flooding, at least water won’t get hardware through the bottom part of furniture.
5. Never use carpets in your server room due to static electricity and absorption.
Picking a suitable water-proof solution for your server room will help secure computing devices and guarantee the long-lasting functioning of all parts. All the above-mentioned pieces of advice will increase the level of equipment protection from leakage and moisture.