Airborne Particles

Non-conductive airborne particles can be minimized by:

• Doing all unpacking, cutting, and drilling outside the computer room
• Keeping cardboard boxes and manuals outside the computer room
• Prohibiting food or drink inside the computer room
• Avoiding carpets in computer rooms
• Using ceiling panels that have an impervious surface such as drywall panels with a vinyl covering
• Use of air filtration with regular replacement of filters
• Keeping printers, copiers, and tape media in separate rooms with separate HVAC systems
• Occasional professional cleaning of the access floor, subfloor, and overhead ducts
• Preventive maintenance cleaning of equipment, cabinets, and racks
• Place brushes, grommets, or other material in access floor openings to minimize loss of air
  pressure and airborne particulates.
• Fire marshals usually require that all combustible materials be stored outside the computer rooms and, in cases where aluminum floor tiles are used, keep printer toners out of the computer room to avoid thermite reactions.
• It is recommended that the designer verify that the manufacturer has tested for the resistance of zinc whisker development or has acted through the manufacturing process to mitigate whisker development. Some examples of mitigation include:
• Electroplated zinc coated or hot dip galvanized zinc coated with a special addition of other material preventing whisker growth.
• Powder coated with enough thickness
• Use of non-ferrous or stainless-steel materials