Data Center Cleaning in Reston VA

How Often Should a Data Center Be Cleaned? Guidelines, Types of Cleaning, Benefits

It is important for businesses to keep their data centers clean and free of dust and debris to ensure that their equipment runs safely and efficiently. How often a data center should be cleaned, however, can be a bit confusing. In this blog post, we will try to answer all of your questions about data center cleaning! We’ll discuss the guidelines set by the industry, the different types of cleaning, the benefits of daily, weekly, and regular deep cleaning, and the importance of server room cleaning.

How often should a data center be cleaned?

The type of environment and the level of risk involved will help determine how often you should clean your data center. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has published several standards that offer guidance on how often various types of buildings, including data centers, should be cleaned. For example, NFPA 75, Standard for the Fire Protection of Information Technology Equipment, recommends cleaning data center spaces every three months to remove combustible dust.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) provides general frequency guidelines for cleaning server rooms and data centers in its document entitled, Guidelines for Data Centers. The AIA recommends that data center operators develop and implement a customized cleaning program based on these general recommendations:

  • Heavy traffic areas should be cleaned daily.
  • Light traffic areas should be cleaned weekly.
  • All areas should be cleaned monthly.
  • High dust areas should be cleaned quarterly.
  • All other areas should be cleaned semi-annually.

 

Data Centers Hold The Worlds Most Valuable Resource…

What are the types of data center cleaning?

There are three main types of data center cleaning: daily, weekly, and deep. 

  • Daily cleaning involves removing dirt, dust, and debris from surfaces on a daily basis. This is typically done with a vacuum cleaner or microfiber cloth. This includes tasks such as dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and cleaning restrooms. It is important to do these things on a regular basis to keep the data center clean and free of dirt and debris.
  • Weekly cleaning is a more thorough process that involves cleaning all surfaces, removing dust from hard-to-reach places, and disinfecting all areas. This is typically done with a mop, bucket, and cleaning solution.
  • Deep cleaning is a comprehensive cleaning that is done every few months to remove all dirt, dust, and debris from the data center. This process usually involves taking everything out of the data center and cleaning air vents, all surfaces, equipment, and cables, and shampooing carpets. Deep cleaning is important to remove built-up dirt and dust that can lead to server issues.

 

Who decides how often a data center should be cleaned?

The first question we need to answer is, who decides how often a data center should be cleaned? The simple answer is that it depends on the size and layout of your facility, as well as the type of equipment you have. The guidelines set by the industry are a good starting point, but ultimately it is up to the data center manager to decide how often their facility should be cleaned. 

If you work in a smaller facility without a dedicated data center manager or are looking for recommendations to ensure your equipment is safe, you can reach out to our experienced staff at Foreman Pro Cleaning. We have experts dedicated to data center cleaning that can answer all your questions.

What are the benefits of regular cleaning?

Server rooms are often full of sensitive electronic equipment that needs to be kept clean in order to function properly.

Regular cleaning has many benefits, including: 

  • Reduced risk of fire: Dust buildup can cause static electricity, which can lead to fires. By keeping your data center clean, you can reduce the risk of fire.
  • Improved equipment performance: Dust and dirt can clog air vents and cooling systems, which can lead to overheating and equipment failure. By keeping your data center clean, you can improve the performance of your equipment.
  • Extended equipment life: Dust and dirt can wear down equipment and shorten its lifespan. By keeping your data center clean, you can extend the life of your equipment.
  • Reduced energy costs: Dust buildup can cause equipment to work harder, which can lead to higher energy costs. By keeping your data center clean, you can reduce your energy costs.

What are the risks of not cleaning daily?

According to Forbes, “data centers hold the world’s most valuable resource.” If you do not clean your data center on a regular basis, you risk: 

  • Fire: Dust buildup can cause static electricity, which can lead to fires.
  • Equipment failure: Dust and dirt can clog air vents and cooling systems, which can lead to overheating and equipment failure.
  • Mold and mildew growth: Moisture can lead to the growth of mold and mildew, which can damage equipment and pose a health hazard.
  • Higher energy costs: Dust buildup can cause equipment to work harder, which can lead to higher energy costs.

What are some protocols for maintaining a clean and contaminant-free data center?

There are many things you can do to keep your data center clean and free of contaminants. Some of these include: 

  • Regularly cleaning all surfaces, removing dust from hard-to-reach places, and disinfecting all areas.
  • Using high-quality air filters to remove dust, dirt, and other airborne contaminants.
  • Keeping the humidity level in the data center at a comfortable level to prevent mold and mildew growth.
  • Regularly cleaning and maintaining all cooling systems and air vents.
  • Using clean, dry compressed air to blow dust out of hard-to-reach places.

What are some best practices for server room cleaning?

Here are some best practices for server room cleaning: 

  • Schedule server room cleaning for a time when the equipment will be turned off. This will make the job easier and reduce the risk of damage to the equipment.
  • Use only clean, dry compressed air to blow dust out of hard-to-reach places.
  • Do not use water or cleaning solutions on any of the equipment.
  • Make sure all surfaces are clean and free of dust before turning the equipment back on.

What are typical pieces of equipment in a data center?

Some of the typical pieces of equipment you will find in a data center include: 

  • Servers
  • Racks
  • Storage systems
  • Networking equipment
  • Power distribution units
  • Environmental monitoring systems
  • Data center management software

How important is cable and cord management in a server room?

Cable and cord management is crucial in a server room. Poorly managed cables can cause: 

  • Equipment failure: Tangled or loose cables can cause equipment to overheat or short circuit.
  • Fire hazard: Tangled or loose cables can create a fire hazard.
  • Damaged equipment: Tangled or loose cables can damage equipment.
  • Inability to troubleshoot: Tangled or loose cables can make it difficult to troubleshoot problems.

Here are some tips for managing cables and cords in a server room: 

  • Use cable ties, zip ties, or Velcro straps to keep cables organized.
  • Label all cables and cords.
  • Keep cables and cords away from heat sources.
  • Inspect cables and cords regularly for damage.

What are some data center cleaning services?

There are many different types of data center cleaning services. Some of these include: 

  • Server room cleaning: This type of service includes cleaning all surfaces, removing dust from hard-to-reach places, and disinfecting all areas.
  • Cable management: This type of service helps you organize and label all cables and cords.
  • Environmental monitoring: This type of service monitors the humidity level in the data center and makes sure all cooling systems are working properly.
  • Rack cleaning: This type of service cleans all surfaces of the racks, including the sides, back, and front.
  • Storage system cleaning: This type of service cleans all surfaces of the storage system, including the drives, shelves, and racks.
  • Networking equipment cleaning: This type of service cleans all surfaces of the networking equipment, including the switches, routers, and cables.
  • Power distribution unit cleaning: This type of service cleans all surfaces of the power distribution unit, including the outlets, cords, and breakers.
  • Data center management software: This type of service helps you manage and monitor the data center.

Should businesses have a data center cleaning policy?

Yes, businesses should have a data center cleaning policy. This policy should include: 

  • How often the data center will be cleaned.
  • What type of cleaning will be done.
  • Who will be responsible for cleaning the data center.
  • When the data center will be cleaned (e.g., during business hours or after hours).

The benefits of having a data center cleaning policy include: 

  • Improved equipment performance: Regular cleaning can help improve the performance of your data center equipment.
  • Reduced risk of equipment failure: Dust and debris can cause data center equipment to overheat or short circuit.
  • Improved air quality: Regular cleaning can help improve the air quality in your data center.
  • Reduced risk of fire: Dust and debris can create a fire hazard.

What to look for when hiring a professional data center cleaning service?

When hiring a professional cleaning service, you should look for a company that: 

  • Has experience cleaning data centers.
  • Is certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).
  • Uses HEPA-filtered vacuums.
  • Does not use water or cleaning solutions on any of the equipment.
  • Makes sure all areas are free of dust and debris before leaving.

Contact Foreman Pro Cleaning for a clean data center

Regular data center cleaning is vital to the performance of your equipment and the safety of your data center. Foreman Pro Cleaning is a professional cleaning company that has experience cleaning data centers. We are certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) and use HEPA-filtered vacuums. We also make sure all areas are free of dust and debris before leaving. 

From our Annapolis, MD office, we service the Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and surrounding metro areas. From our Yorktown, VA office, we service the Hampton Roads metro areas. We also provide data center cleaning in Reston, VA– what’s been called the Silicon Valley on the east coast. We deliver one-time, short-term, and long-term contract-based professional commercial cleaning services. 

Schedule a free consultation today.