Specially Designed Raised Computer Floors Protect Vital Equipment

By Iva Cannon


Computers, especially in the large numbers you see in a computer room, are a big expense. They serve the purposes for which they are designed and used and they must be protected. They must be protected from dust, dirt and something even more dangerous to them and all of the data that represents their contribution to the business model. The raised computer floors is one of the best tools for this.

The computers, in use in these rooms, have a lot of data that must be safeguarded. They not only require software to prevent hacking, they also need physical protection. This data deals with all of the clients records, operational protocols and, of course, marketing information and proprietary knowledge. The specially designed flooring helps in this protection, whether it makes sense or not.

Computers will actually slow down and can shut off if they are allowed to heat up to a certain point. This slowness, when the operators are trying to use them, will make it harder for them to get the information they need when they need it. Much of this data, if the computers turn off, can be lost. This is often the case because the back ups are usually in the same room, although on another hard drive.

The floors, being raised, will allow all of the wires and trunk lines, which carry the data from one point to another, to be placed under this platform. The cooling systems are also located in this space which is anywhere from one foot to 3 feet tall. The actual floor panels are made from a metal frame and hard tile material, usually with perforations in them for air flow.

These square panels are set on stanchions through a unique design that requires a socket on the corner of each panel fitting over a post on the top of a stanchion. This design allows all panels to be installed in a tight way that does not allow the entire floor to shift. If it does, a reset of the whole room is a complicated procedure.

When the floor was originally installed, a lot of engineering went into the design. The entire room is measured, the exact center of that room is marked and stanchions begin to be installed. Each panel is trimmed to fit exactly. If more than a few panels are removed at one time, the swaying that can occur could mean danger for the rest of the floor. Maintenance or cleaning personnel who enter this space try hard to ensure this does not happen.

The largest task under this flooring is the cleaning. In order to prevent contamination of the computers and other electronic gear in this room, dust and dirt must be prevented from getting into them. This material falls though the perforations in the raised floor, so it must be cleaned out. The cleaners will lift a panel with a tool that uses one of the holes as a gripping point. Vacuums are usually used or special wipes are applied to the task.

Since the computer room, when one is needed, is where all of the money is made for the company, these floors are very critical in keeping the data, stored in the computers, safe. This is not a job for just any construction company. They must have the training, the engineers and the experience to do this for you. The cleaning must be performed by professionals who deal with controlled environments as well.




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