Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
Paragon International
Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 1 of 25
Data Center Project Manager Training Course PURPOSE: This course serves a two-fold purpose. First, it will familiarize you with the personality requirements for being a good data center project manager. Second, it will take the technical training you have learned and perfected during your technician training and teach you how to develop those skills to become a competent project manager for data center cleaning projects.
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Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
Paragon International
Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 2 of 25
CONTENTS
SECTION 1
Personality Characteristics A) Communication B) Organization
SECTION 2
Planning and Organizing for a Project A) Gathering Information B) Guidelines for Determining Number of Technicians C) Equipment D) General Planning
SECTION 3
Going to Work A) Gathering Place B) Sign In C) Unload D) Set-up E) Sub-floor Cleaning F) Equipment (General Flat Surfaces) Cleaning G) Above Floor Surface Clean H) Above Ceiling Clean I) Concrete Seal J) Walk-through K) Customer Sign-off L) Load M) Sign Out
SECTION 4
Environmental Report
SECTION 5
Review
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Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
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Date: 02/07 Page: 3 of 25
SECTION 1 PERSONALITY CHARACTERISITCS Although we know everyone has an individual personality with different backgrounds and experiences, time and practice have proven that a good data center project manager must excel in two main areas: COMMUNICATION AND ORGANIZATION!! Not everyone is naturally good at communication and/or organization. If you know these are areas where you may need help, please ask. There are many local courses offered across the country to help improve in both of these areas. We can also suggest self-help books as well to help you get you started. Some of our more experienced data center managers will also be willing to help by working with you and answering any questions you may have. A)
COMMUNICATION This section will help you answer the following questions: 1. Why is communication important? 2. Who do I need to communicate with? There are four main people, or groups of people, you will need to communicate with: 1. Operations Supervisor 2. Sales Person 3. Technicians, and 4. Customer Operations Supervisor This person will assign you to a specific project and provide you with the pertinent information regarding the job (time, place, directions, etc.). All communication regarding job specifics should always be put into writing so that you have a hard copy for your records to serve as a reminder during the project. You will need to be able to communicate clearly and precisely any specific concerns or questions you have regarding a project to your operations supervisor. Clear and precise communication prior to the project will lead to a smoother job and less frustration for everyone involved. It can also help prevent an embarrassing situation with the customer. Sales Person - Every job is sold by someone. Most of the time, the sales person has visited the site and is in the best position of anyone, including the operations supervisor, to provide detailed information about the facility. The sales person will provide all information possible to the operations supervisor so they can answer your questions and provide you with all of the necessary information. However, there may be situations where you may be asked to contact the sales person directly to ask site-specific questions (i.e. Locations of bathroom and breakroom facilities? Best way to get to job? Etc.). Make sure you let the sales person know exactly what you need and take good notes if talking by phone. Please keep in mind that sales persons are often on the road themselves. They are generally working on many different projects at one time and may need to get back with you. Please allow time for this instead of waiting until the last minute.
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February 2007
Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
Paragon International
Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 4 of 25
Technicians These men and women are the life-blood of data center cleaning. Ultimately, it is their work combined with your management skills that make or break our data center cleaning business. When gathering technicians for a project be sure to communicate to them exactly the following information: Dates of the job; Hours that will be worked every day (specific 9PM to 5 AM for example); Where they will be staying and transportation arrangements to and from the project and/or airport. Remember; on out of town jobs these people are leaving their families as well. They will need to be provided with certain specific information regarding the trip just us you need specific information regarding the project. Think of all the questions you had when you were a technician and provide them with the same information, if not more. During the course of the job you will need to communicate to your crew exactly how you want a room or area cleaned. Your directions need to be clear and precise, leaving no gray area for assumptions. Tell them where to begin and where to stop, how, why, when, where, etc. The more information you give them up front, the less frustration you will face later. Customer The specific person, or group of persons, we contracted the job with may or may not be on the job site. If the customer does show up it is important that you treat them courteously and with professionalism - no matter what the situation. You must also be able to competently answer any specific questions they may ask pertaining to the how's and why's of our cleaning methods. "I don't know" is not an acceptable answer. Even if the customer is not present during the cleaning process you must act professional at all times. Security cameras and other employees are watching and listening even when you are not aware of it. Be aware of this and act professionally at all times. Clear, precise communication with security personnel and employees of the company we are working for regarding who you are and what you are there to do is highly important. Be sure to follow each company's protocol to the letter regarding sign-in procedures and notification of pertinent personnel. Doing so will prevent you from being thrown off of the job because you did not communicate your presence or purpose with the correct people. Communicating with the correct people in a clear, precise and professional manner will allow for a smoother job for everyone involved. B)
ORGANIZATION As you have seen through your experience as a cleaning technician, a large amount of equipment is involved in carrying out a data center cleaning project. Many jobs are out of town and therefore require planning as to how much equipment to take, how many technicians, airfare, hotels, meals, and transportation arrangements. Add to that, doing not just one project, but multiple projects out of town, strung together back to back, maybe in different cities, or even different states. This is often the case with data center cleaning since it is project type work. For these reasons organizational skills are highly important.
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February 2007
Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
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Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 5 of 25
The following are job-related situations and questions you will have to ask yourself and answer on nearly every project you manage. This is not a complete list but gives you a good idea. As you go through the list think about the organization that must be involved in answering all of these questions while preparing for and carrying out a project. Where am I going? Be sure to know the location and city for each job. Also, what is the travel distance between projects? Should I drive the technicians or fly them? What are the specific travel expenses involved (fuel, airfares, hotel on the way to and from, rental vehicles, etc.)? Job time frames How many days do I have to complete each project? How many hours per day? How many technicians will that dictate? Will I need travel days between projects? Hotels How many people per room? How many nights? Cost per room? Location as pertains to project. Restaurants? Hotel for travel to and from, or between, projects? Airfare How many plane tickets? Cost pet ticket? When to fly everyone in? Fly them between projects or drive? When do they leave? Round-trip or two one ways? Equipment How many: Vacuums, mop buckets, gallons of chemical, Backsavers, rags, scrub pads, squirt bottles, wand, brushes, crevice tools, hoses, safety signs, safety cones, pump sprayers, safety glasses, dust masks, knee pads, gloves, etc.? Job Performance Are all of my technicians trained? Where do we start? Where will we finish? Does the customer have any specific requests? Have I double-checked every nook and cranny of the room to be sure nothing was missed? What stages of work have been completed on each floor? Do I have all of the necessary information to complete a good, competent environmental report? Transportation Who is picking everyone up from the airport? Hotel shuttle? Company vehicle? Rental vehicle? Who will drive rental vehicle? As you can see a lot of planning and organization goes in to a data center cleaning project. The more projects you string together at one time, the more magnified the planning and organization requirements become. As you are involved in on-the-job management training you will become more involved in helping make arrangements for projects. The next section goes into more detail of planning and organizing a data center cleaning project. Over time you will begin to learn the ins and outs of project planning and organization. Please be sure to ask plenty of questions of the project managers you work with along the way. You will notice that everyone has their Paragon International
February 2007
Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
Paragon International
Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 6 of 25
own systems and not all will work for you. Find one that does, or that you can use as a creative base, and develop it into your own. SECTION 2 PLANNING AND ORGANIZING FOR A PROTECT A)
GATHERING INFORMATION The operations supervisor for the state the project is in is the person responsible for providing you with all information regarding the job. As we discussed earlier they may in some instances refer you to the sales person for certain site-specific questions. In any case you need to gather the following information to begin planning the project.
Square Footage - What is the total square footage of the areas to be cleaned? What is the breakdown, how much is print, control area, computing, and tape operation?
How dirty is the sub-floor? Above floor? Equipment?
Job Description - Regular clean (every other clean) or Detailed clean (every. tile)? Are we doing subfloor? Above floor? Equipment? Concrete seal? Is it a post-construction clean? Any additional services - above ceiling clean, mechanical rooms, etc.?
Time Frame - How many days do we have to complete the project? How many hours can we work per day? What time of day will we be allowed to work - AM or PM?
Location - Where is the job specifically? State, city, directions?
How many projects are you doing- One? Multiple? Back to back? Where?
Special Requests - Does the customer have any special request you should be aware of?
Access - To janitor's closet? How close to room? Loading dock? Breakroom?
Gathering answers to these questions will help you begin to prepare for the job. Now you can go on to planning the actual project itself. The answers to the above questions will help you to determine how many technicians and how much equipment you will need. Experience is the best teacher when it comes to planning how many people and how long a job will take. There is no way of "cookie cutting" by square footage as to how many people and hours a project will require. That is why the on-the-job training part of this course is so important. You will learn how different degrees of contamination coupled with levels of equipment in the rooms combine to determine how long a project will take. You also have to consider the experience level and condition of your crew. Keep in mind, productivity will generally be higher during day-time work hours than at night.
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February 2007
Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
B)
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GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING NUMBER OF TECHNICIANS
Subfloor Vacumming – An average technician can vacuum approximately 200 square feet per hour of subfloor. This would be a regular clean in a medium to dirty facility. A really good technician can push or exceed 275 square feet per hour. The 200 figure is a much safer bet. Therefore, if you have 8 technicians working an 8 hour shift do the math this way: 8 people X 7 hours X 200 per hour = 11,200 square feet of subfloor that can be vacuumed in one shift. The 7 hour figure allows for breaks and setup. Equipment Clean – An average technician can wipe down approximately 700 square feet per hour of equipment that is moderate to heavy in dirt, dust and fingerprints. Keep in mind that when you are calculating the wipe-down pace you need to subtract two technicians. You will have two people vacuuming off the tops of the equipment while the others are wiping down. Therefore, using the same 8 person crew from above, the math would go like this: 6 people X 7 hours X 700 square feet per hour = 29,400 square feet of equipment can be wiped down in one night. Above Floor Surface – Since we use a machine to clean in most instances, the crew can only move as fast as the machine. Floor surfaces with more ground-in dirt will take longer as the machine must move slower. Using the same 8 people above to clean the floor surface you would disperse them as follows: One to run the machine, one to spray in front of the machine and help run water or scrub any chemical residue, two to scrub mop and two to final rinse mop. Using this procedure and assuming the floor is dirty; these 8 technicians could clean approximately 26,000 square feet in an 8 hour shift. Concrete Floor Seal (if applicable) – One technician can seal approximately 125 square feet an hour. 8 people X 7 hours X 125 = 7,000 square feet per shift. Above Ceiling Clean (if applicable) – Using the portable clean room method you have to use 5 hours of work as your base to allow for setup and tear down time. 8 people X 5 hours X 250 square feet per hour = 10,000 square feet per shift.
Using these formulas, combined with the time frame you have to complete the job, you should be able to determine the number of technicians needed. Keep in mind, these figures are a little on the conservative side and can be beaten on certain projects. However, they are a safe bet. C)
EQUIPMENT Once you have determined how many technicians will be used, you will need to determine the amount of equipment for the job.
Vacuums Have one vacuum for every technician. You should also have the following: Extra bags (minimum of 3 per vacuum), brushes (minimum 2 per vacuum), wands (minimum 3 per vacuum). 100-foot extension cords (minimum 1 per vac that pulls 7.5 amps or less or 2 per vac that pulls more than 7.5 amps), filters (minimum 2 per vac), crevice tools (minimum 1 per vac). Backsavers - One per technician with a minimum of one extra. Safety Glasses - One pair per technician with a minimum of 2 extra. Dust Masks – 2 per technician per day - this allows for extra. Safety Cones - At least 18. Mop Buckets - One per technician with a minimum of 2 extra. Mop Handles/Mop Heads - One per technician with 2 extra
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February 2007
Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
Paragon International
Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 8 of 25
Chemical - Using the ½ and ½ dilution of Rise for a dirty floor, figure 1 gallon per 9,000 square feet of area. Rags - Four per technician per day of wiping down. Squirt Bottles - One per mop bucket with two extra. Chemical for wipe down - One gallon for every 20,000 square feet. Scrub Pads - Three per technician per day of floor cleaning Yellow Dusting Cloths - Six per technician per day of wiping down. Back-pack Vacuums - A minimum of two. Step-Stools - A minimum of two. Knee Pads - One set per technician. Pads for Machine - One per night. First Aid Kit - Minimum of one. Wet Floor Signs - Minimum of four. Particle Counter - One. Magnet - One. Batteries for Machine - Two sets - one to use and one to charge. Concrete Seal (if applicable) - one gallon of seal for every 650 square feet. Plus One set of trays and rollers/brushes per technician. Above Ceiling Clean - One set of baker's scaffolding for every two technicians: One vacuum per technician; 24 extension poles for plastic; enough plastic to go floor to ceiling in a 5,000 square foot area at a time; extra wands for additional reaching; flashlights.
Additional equipment you may also find handy: Battery, charger for machine, electrical tape (two or three rolls per job). A general tool assortment (screw drivers, wrenches, rubber mallett, wire snips).
D)
GENERAL PLANNING Out of town jobs will require certain additional considerations to those of a local job. This section is to help you with those preparations. Hotels You will need a place for yourself and the crew to stay. When making hotel reservations consider the ratio of male to female, this will help you determine how many people you can put in each room. Also consider the location of the hotel as relates to the job site and restaurants. For longer projects you may wish to take advantage of extended stay type hotels with kitchenettes. Often, we have explained to our technicians that they will receive $25.00 per day per diem if they are staying in a regular hotel, or $20.00 per day if they have use of a full kitchen. Generally, hotels with kitchen facilities in the room cost more per night - the $5.00 per day helps offset the cost. It is also cheaper for the technicians to be able to go to the grocery store and buy food verses having to eat out every meal. Convenience also comes into play when they can get up and eat in their pajamas instead of having to get fully dressed and find a place to eat. This also helps cut down on transportation problems. Just keep in mind you have a budget and all expenses must stay within that budget. A good rule of thumb is to allow $40 - $50 per night per technician for hotel expense. Some extended stay rooms, although more expensive per room, are large enough to allow 3 or 4 people per room. Most hotels will not allow you to check in until 3:00 PM and check out is generally around noon. Keep this in mind when planning flights, arrivals, and departures.
Paragon International
February 2007
Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
Paragon International
Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 9 of 25
Airfare Often times we must fly technicians to a job location. This can be very expensive. The sales person will allow for this in their bid price, but they are assuming the project manager will make all plans in advance to save the most amount of money possible. A good sales person will check ahead with a travel agent to get an idea of what fares will be during the time frame for the job, if they know the time frame when providing the proposal. This way, they already know approximately what you should be spending on airfare. Planning ahead and being organized are key when purchasing airline tickets. Most airlines give the best if the tickets are purchased with a 21 day advance notice. Although not always possible, every effort should be made to purchase tickets 21 days in advance. Business Travel is one travel agency that works with our division in this matter. Their phone number is 800-229-9899 (after hours - 800-358-1606), their fax number is 678969-3302, and their web-site address is http://www.ukdatacentercleaning.co.uk/. They will also hold banked tickets for later use. Therefore, you can reserve and change regular technician’s tickets when necessary. With all of the other planning required it is often helpful to use a travel agent for airline ticket purchases. This makes it easier to coordinate flight arrival and departure times to fit your schedule and the schedules of the other technicians. The Internet is also useful. Companies such as Preview Travel at http://www.ukdatacentercleaning.co.uk/ are free and allow you to make multiple plane, car, and hotel reservations online. In any case, just be sure to keep budget time schedules in mind when making reservations. Meals Technicians generally receive $25.00 per day that they have to be out of town for work (staying overnight away from home). See hotel section above for further information on meal allowances for out of town work. Adjustments can be made for travel days (example: You may only give a technician $12.50 if they fly in after 12 noon or fly out before 12 noon). Use your discretion in this matter and, again, remember your budget. Transportation Sometimes, it may be necessary to reserve a rental vehicle at the airport. Remember that the credit card used to reserve the vehicle must match the person that will be driving the vehicle. For an additional fee you may also add an additional driver, if necessary. When planning your job, decide how many people you can reasonably fit in to the company vehicle and then decide on your rental vehicle needs. You will also have to plan who will drive and be responsible for the vehicles. Check with your operations supervisor regarding insurance matters on rental vehicles. Driving When you are required to drive to an out of town job, be sure to calculate the mileage you will be driving. This will tell you if when you need to leave, if you will need a hotel along the way and what your approximate fuel and meal costs will be. Remember to multiply all planned expenses by two because you will have to come back. Calculating these expenses in advance will help you with the rest of your budget. Once you have all of these preparations made it is time to go to work. That takes us to our next section.
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SECTION 3 GOING TO WORK A)
GATHERING PLACE Choose a central gathering place away from the job site where everyone can meet at a specified time. This will give you time to go over any last minute details with the crew. You can also make sure everyone is dressed properly (black denim jeans, company t-shirt tucked in and tennis shoes). Be sure the meeting time is set to allow you to arrive at the job site at least 15 minutes prior to work time.
B)
SIGN IN As you have learned through your experience as a technician, data center facilities are high security buildings which require you to sign in with security before gaining access to the building. Make sure that you and all members of your crew have a picture ID with you. Often, the security officer will switch the picture ID with an access badge. Without a picture ID you may be denied access to the building. Be sure that all employees know how to correctly spell the company name and what phone number to write down when signing in. During the sign in process you must keep the conversation among the crew to a minimum and make sure everyone continues to display a professional attitude. You may be required to contact a building maintenance person or other contact to notify them of your presence in the building. This should be done during the sign in process.
C)
UNLOADING EQUIPMENT When you load the equipment for the job make sure to do so in a way that looks professional and is organized so you know where everything is. The first two impressions a customer will have of our management and crew will be during the sign in process and unloading of the equipment. Therefore, it is important that everything is loaded and unloaded neatly and in an orderly fashion. Make sure that the entire crew participates in this process. This will eliminate much of the idle chatter and loitering that can take place if only a few people are unloading the equipment. Also, make sure to train your technicians how to properly load and unload the equipment. This way if the customer is present during these processes, your time will be free to spend with the customer instead of loading the truck.
D)
SETUP Once you have all of the equipment into the staging area and computer room, you are ready to setup for the sub-floor cleaning process. The setup process goes as follows. Where to begin - You will have to determine the airflow situation within the room and size of the room as relates to the number of vacuumers you will have. These two factors will help you determine how to go about setting up the vacuum. We will not go into further detail on this now as it is best left up to on the job training to learn the full dynamics involved. Once you have made your decision, assign each technician their specified number of tiles and a vacuum. Have them line up and begin setting up their vacuums. Have an experienced technician double-check all vacuum bags to make sure they have been properly installed prior to beginning vacuuming.
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February 2007
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Paragon International
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Date: 02/07 Page: 11 of 25
Extension Cords - While the technicians are setting up their vacuums you will need your most experienced technician to help you with running the extension cords and determining which circuits you may use. Occasionally, the customer will have the circuits marked for you or will be able to tell you where to plug in - but don't count on it. We are usually left on our own to make these determinations. Computer rooms have "house" power and UPS power. We are only allowed to use "house" power. "House" power is generally wall circuits above the floor. NEVER plug in to an outlet in the sub-floor or an orange outlet unless specifically instructed by the customer. You will also have to inspect the "house" power circuits to make sure no computer equipment is running off of that source. It is important to have plenty of extra extension cords, as you may need to go down hallways outside of the computer room. It is ideal to use one circuit per vacuum if possible. However, the smaller vacuums that pull 7.5 amps or less can be used 2 per circuit if necessary. If the vacuums you are using pull more than 7.5 amps you can only run one per circuit. When running the extension cords be sure to map out in your mind the path the vacuumers will be following as they go through the room. Then run the cords in a way that will cause the least amount of congestion during the cleaning process. Be sure to place safety cones at all doors (including elevators) that the extension cords run in front of. Also, place a safety cone approximately every 20 - 30 feet of cord depending on visibility. After the initial setup process is complete you have one more step before beginning the sub-floor cleaning process and that is to take the pre-clean particle counts (see Environmental Report section for more detail). Once the counts have been taken and recorded you are ready to let your crew begin the sub-floor cleaning process. E)
SUB-FLOOR CLEANING Full clean or regular clean - This will determine whether you are pulling every tile or every other tile in the "checkerboard" pattern. When assigning tile rows to your crew, be sure to give them only 3 or 4 tiles wide each. This will prevent too many tiles from being pulled at one time. Be sure that they pull only one row ahead of the row they are cleaning at any one time. Too many tiles open can weaken the structure of the floor and cause loss of cool air resulting in equipment overheating. When performing a regular clean begin by pulling a tile on one far side or the other and pull every other tile across. This way everyone is on the same pattern and will hopefully remain on the same pattern throughout the room. Once you have begun, make a note in your journal as to exactly where you started - the exact tile. This way you will begin with the next tile over the next year. Using this scenario, with everyone staying on the same pattern through the room, in two cleanings every tile in the entire room will have been lifter and all grid pieces will have been vacuumed. Your job as the manager is to be able to keep an eye on the entire project by inspecting the condition of the sub-floor and the work of the technicians. You should have a note pad with you at all times to note any findings by either yourself or the technicians. It is also your job to ensure the technicians are following the proper cleaning techniques outlined in the "Data Center Technicians Training Manual". Think Ahead - You must be able to see the project as a whole and always be at least one step in front of the technicians; this way when they are ready to move to the next area you already, know who is going where and how you are going to get them there. This will keep things moving and save time and frustration. Do not wait until the technicians are finished with an area to start planning what you are going to do next it is then too late and you will begin wasting time.
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February 2007
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Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 12 of 25
Once the entire vacuuming process is complete, have one or two technicians pack up and stage the vacuums while everyone else begins setting up for the equipment wipe down. F)
EQUIPMENT CLEANING Setup - Assign technicians to begin filling squirt bottles with chemical, for the wipe-down process. Also have someone assigned to fill mop buckets and distribute rags and dusting cloths. Everyone should have two rags, one dry and one damp, and at least one dusting cloth to begin with. Put one squirt bottle with each mop bucket. Top of equipment - As the technicians are setting up for the wipe-down you need to go ahead and help the technicians responsible for vacuuming the tops of the equipment get started. Assign them areas in the room as you see fit and have them begin. They should also have dusting cloths with them, as some heavy dust collections may need to be dusted after vacuuming. Instruct them to remove any foreign matter from the tops of the equipment and place it in a centralized place. They should vacuum all cabinet and equipment tops higher than 3 feet. As they go they should also vacuum all grilles and vents on the cabinets. This will speed up the wipe-down process. As these technicians are going through the room have them double check underneath all equipment cabinets and make sure they have been vacuumed. They should also vacuum underneath all desks and work stations to ensure full removal of dust, hair, and lint. Equipment Cleaning - You may either assign technicians rows of equipment or a specific area of the room to wipe down. However you organize it, make sure it is done in a way to avoid confusion among the technicians as to what areas have been done. You will also want to make sure the alignment is not conducive to unnecessary conversation that could lead to carelessness. Be sure to remind everyone of any particularly sensitive areas, including the black screens that are not to be touched on the tape silos, prior to letting them begin. Every piece of equipment and general flat surface in the room should be wiped down (including monitors, chairs, exit signs, windows, doors, fire extinguishers and control and electrical panels). The technicians should begin at the top of the piece of equipment and work their way to the bottom. The wiping motion should be circular. Be sure that their rags are nearly folded and not dangling. Also, they should be squirting the chemical on to the rag, not on the equipment. They should also use their dry rag to "buff" all areas they have cleaned to remove any dirt or chemical streaks. Areas to watch for - Make sure the technicians are cleaning the following areas: Base of monitors, -all the way around; Grooves and vents on equipment - especially around buttons; Edges around keyboards and underneath keyboards; Bottoms of chairs; Sides, drawers, and kick panels on desks and work stations; Fire extinguishers; and Doors. These are areas that are commonly missed. Double check - Once a room is done send all of your technicians back to quickly double-check everything. Be sure to assign the technicians to an area they did not previously clean. You should also be doublechecking behind the technicians as they go and noting any problem areas. This way if it is not caught in the double-check stage by the technicians you can draw their attention to it and ensure the area is cleaned properly and thoroughly. Upon completion of the wipe down process begin making your assignments for set-up of the above floor cleaning process. Make sure all dirty rags are place in a proper receptacle and not left on the floor.
G)
ABOVE FLOOR SURFACE CLEANING
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Set-up - Prior to beginning the floor cleaning process, go through the room and remove all chairs, trash cans and other objects from the floor. Also, make sure to note any wires or cables laying on the floor or hanging from equipment. Make sure everyone is aware of these. Be sure entire floor surface has been dust mopped with the dust lifter paddle. Also, make sure all equipment cabinets and desks have been cleaned underneath. Assign one technician to be responsible for misting the floor with chemical. (The solution for a dirty floor should be a 50/50 mix in a pump bug sprayer. For cleaner floors the mixture can go to a 25/75 mix.) This technician will also be responsible for helping with the water changing duties. Have the technician spray as much area as can be cleaned in a l0 minute time span. The chemical must be allowed to set up to work. Once the chemical has set up, have the machine start cleaning the floor. The dirtier the floor is the slower the technician will have to walk with the machine. Be sure to slowly adjust the water flow and use as little water as possible. Remember the water detectors in the sub-floor. Assign one technician to follow directly behind the machine and mop up excess chemical residue. This technician can allow their water to get a bit dirtier than the others. Assign two or three technicians (depending on size of crew) to follow the initial mopper with scrub pads and chemical. These technicians are responsible for scrubbing any remaining stains or marks left behind by the machine. They should also mop the floor as they go, using a forward and back motion. Assign a third group of two or three technicians to follow the scrub moppers. These technicians are to act as rinse moppers and should mop in a side-to-side motion. This group of technicians will be the final step in the process and are to be used as quality control agents as they go. It is very important that they rinse their mops often and use only clean water so as to not leave any streaks. One technician will be assigned to change water and keep a constant flow of water coming. This person will be assisted by the sprayer when they are not misting the floor. Be sure to heed the following reminders:
Do not fill mop buckets more than half full Leave squirt bottles in plain view Do not leave mop buckets sitting on perforated tiles Make sure mops are damp, not dripping wet Use caution while spraying around equipment - keep the spray head down on the floor and use a straight stream not a mist. This will prevent chemical from being sucked in to the equipment
Paragon International
February 2007
Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
Paragon International
 
H)
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Watch the flow of water coming from the floor cleaning machine and make sure it is not using too much water. Remove all sources of water from the computer room when going on break - even a short water break. Any source of water in the room makes the humidity level go up and is a potential hazard.
ABOVE CEILING CLEANING Occasionally, you may be asked to perform a cleaning of the plenum between the drop-ceiling tiles and tile concrete ceiling structure. This is especially true in older facilities and post-construction projects. The following information is based on the fact that there will be equipment in the room to be cleaned. Equipment - One set of "baker's" scaffolding for every two technicians. Enough plastic to section off 2,000 to 5,000 square feet at a time, floor to ceiling - and to cover all equipment and floor surfaces in section. Adjustable poles with clips at the top to build portable environment (minimum of 12 for any room/larger than 5,000 square feet). Vacuums, flashlights, electrical tape, safety glasses, gloves, trash bags, dust masks, extra extension wands, brushes, yellow dusting cloths. Method 1)
2) 3) 4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
Use poles and plastic to enclose a section of the room. Cover all equipment and desks in the area (make sure to allow for the equipment to be able to breathe). Cover the floor surface in the area to prevent particulate from falling in to the sub-floor or perforated tiles. Assemble scaffolding and roll in to area. Remove wheels from vacuums and place in middle of scaffolding, run extension cords and setup vacuums. Assign employees to scaffolding. Make sure they use gloves when removing ceiling tiles so that they do not leave fingerprints and/or smudges on them. Also check that each technician is wearing a dust mask and safety glasses. The technicians can begin carefully removing the ceiling tiles and vacuuming the back sides of all tiles in the immediate area. They should also remove all debris, vacuum all light fixtures, vacuum all duct work and pipes, and vacuum exposed ceiling grid Cleaning the above ceiling allows the technicians to be able to reach greater distances while removing fewer tiles than the sub-floor cleaning process. This is the reason the extra extension wands will be needed. Often, technicians are able to clean a 120-162 square foot area while removing only one Once the entire area has been cleaned carefully, clean all scaffolding. Fold all plastic on the floor to the center. Move walls to the next area and begin process over. Be sure to clean any remaining ceiling debris or dust from the previous section before beginning the next section.
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ceiling
tile.
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Paragon International
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Date: 02/07 Page: 15 of 25
CONCRETE SEAL APPLICATION Concrete sub-floor seal is another touchstone of data center health. Proper sealing - with a specialized water-based acrylic sealer - prevents "dusting" (the release of silica and other substances which may be walled up into - and damage - computer systems). Sealing also prevents porous concrete from becoming a humidity sponge, drawing moisture from the cooled air in the sub-floor plenum and raising air temperatures. There are three methods by which an existing computer room sub-floor deck can be sealed. The customer will decide which method they are more comfortable with as related to application and risk to their data center. Caution should be taken when sealing close to the water detection ropes. DO NOT GET SEAL ON THE WATER DETECTION ROPES! ! ! This will ruin the water absorption ability of the device and render it useless. The entire system will then have to be replaced, which is very expensive. Any seal that gets on the rope should be wiped off immediately. Equipment
"Cafeteria" trays Nylon rope cut into two foot lengths - have slip-loop in one end Paint trays Small diameter 6-inch paint rollers Flat paddles - 6 inches in width Small paint brushes Plastic drop cloths Gloves Safety glasses Dust masks Paper towels
Method 1 This method requires all cables and wires to be left undisturbed. The technicians will simply apply seal to all exposed and accessible areas of the concrete without moving or lifting any critical wires, cables, or connections. Small brushes and flat paddies are the best applicators for this method as there are some tight quarters. This method is more of a spot-seal and leaves the floor with a splotchy look. The main drawback is that when cables and/or equipment are removed large areas of raw concrete will be exposed. The main advantage to the customer is it is the least risk to the data center. Method 2 Method 2 involves using PVC pipe of various diameters cut into lengths ranging from 6 inches to 24 inches. These pieces of pipe are gently slid underneath wires and cables to lift them slightly off of the ground. Flat paddles and small diameter 6-inch rollers should be used to seal underneath the raised wires and cables. The pipes can be rolled into the wet seal to seal the raw area. Once the seal has dried (approximately 30 to 45 minutes) the pipes can be gently removed.
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February 2007
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Paragon International
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Date: 02/07 Page: 16 of 25
Method 3 This method is the most time consuming and is the largest risk to the data center. Nylon ropes with "sliploops" in one end are carefully slid underneath the cables and wires. Be sure to space the ropes in such a way that there will not be any dangerous sagging of the cables and wires when they are lifted. Once the ropes are properly spaced, gently lift several at a time and tie them off to the pedestal system. After the cables and wires in an area have been suspended the technicians can seal the entire sub-floor deck in the area. The cables and wires must remain tied up until the seal bas dried. Tiles can be placed back on top of the ropes to prevent loss of cooling, just be sure to place safety cones around the area, as the tiles will be unstable with the rope underneath. Method 3 allows for the greatest amount of area to be sealed on the concrete deck. It also requires the most care and planning. It is very important to know which method will be used prior to packing your equipment and planning for the job. J)
WALK-THROUGH After completion of each stage of the project (sub-floor, equipment, above floor, etc.) you should walkthrough and double-check the work that was done. Once the entire project has been completed, send the crew back through all areas to do a final inspection. You should, at the same time, perform your own final inspection. Inform everyone to also look for any equipment that may have been left behind. When you are satisfied with the job, have the customer walk-through the site with you and inspect your work. Use this time to point out any areas of concern noticed during the cleaning process. Once the customer is satisfied with the work, have them sign the customer satisfaction form.
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LOADING EQUIPMENT Upon completion of the walk-through process you can have your crew begin loading the equipment back into the truck. The same conduct and procedures discussed in the unloading section should be followed. Take a final inspection of all equipment in the staging area before the loading process begins to ensure you have everything with you. A checklist made while loading the equipment will be helpful.
L)
SIGN-OUT The final step will be to make sure everyone has signed out at security and that all badges and passes have been returned. Make sure the crew has retrieved all food and clothing they may have brought with them.
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February 2007
Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
Paragon International
Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 17 of 25
SECTION 4 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT A cleanroom is defined as a room that is limited to the control of the amount of airborne dust or particulate. Defined parameters as to the sources of air, filtration, and contaminate causing agents must be maintained. Factors that bear on the cleanroom include: Vapor seal, concrete seal, maintenance practices, human traffic, print and/or tape operations. The United States Federal Standard 209E is the basis used to determine the cleanliness of a class 100,000 data center. This standard states that the maximum limit of particles per cubic foot of air is as follows:
100,000 particles of 0.5 micron size 20,000 particles size 2,000 particles of 3.0 micron size 700 particles of 5.0 micron size
Particles are measured in terms of the number of microns per cubic foot of air. One micron is equal to one millionth (1/1,000,000) of a meter or one/twenty-five thousandth (1/25,000) of an inch. The ability to see a particle depends on several factors: The human eye viewing the area, quality of light, and background. Particles smaller than 10 microns in diameter are considered "invisible" to the human eye. Ninety percent of all airborne particles are 3 microns in diameter or smaller. This can make it very difficult to know just how dirty a computer room is until tests (environmental audit) are performed. An environmental audit consists of tests that determine the presence of above and below floor contaminants or other environmental problems that may affect data center operations. The audit provides information for the environmental report that will also include problem solutions and a practical cleaning/maintenance plan. A particle counter is used to check air particulate, temperature, and humidity at various locations in the sub-floor plenum. If particulate exceeds the 100,000 per cubic foot of air standard, steps must be taken to isolate sources and reduce airborne contaminates to acceptable levels. Note: Many customers feel 100,000 is much too high and prefer to keep their 0.5 micron particle counts 40,000 and below upon completion of cleaning. Unacceptable temperature or humidity readings prompt examining the building's HVAC system and vapor barrier to correct problem areas. The vapor barrier separates the outside from the inside environment. It consists of the data center's perimeter systems - walls, ceiling, outside air filtration units, air intakes, concrete sub-floor seal, and other lines of defense which passively or directly control what goes in and out of the computer room. Concrete sub-floor sealer integrity is another touchstone of data center health. Two tests can be performed to determine whether concrete sub-floors have been properly sealed; and help assess sub-floor cleanliness. 1)
Put a drop of water on the surface and let it stand for about 60 seconds. If the water is absorbed, the surface is not properly sealed.
2)
Take a black glove or cloth and rub it across the dry concrete. A white or gray film on the cloth indicates silica dust from an unsealed or poorly sealed concrete deck.
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Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
Paragon International
Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 18 of 25
Ferrous metal is another dangerous contaminate to the data center environment. Ferrous metals are small magnetic metal shavings and flakes often invisible to the human eye. Ferrous metal shavings and flakes are dislodged from the undersurface of the raised floor when it is moved, walked on, or impacted from above. Tape drives, printers, and DASD units can also create ferrous metals in their day-to-day use. Another source of ferrous metals is the dragging of computer cables across the concrete sub-floor deck during equipment installations and/or removals. A ferrous metal test is conducted by running a small, low-powered magnet wrapped in white test paper along the concrete surface. Ferrous particles picked up provide another measure of the cleanliness of the sub-floor. Please familiarize yourself with the environmental report on the following pages and use this as a guide for future reports. Remember that this report is the last, and most lasting, impression a customer will have of our company. Therefore, it is important that all information, spelling, and grammar be correct. The report must be formulated in an informative and competent manner. You may find it helpful to have someone proofread your reports prior to sending them to the customer. Particle counts and ferrous metal tests should be taken at a minimum of 4 locations in a room 5,000 square feet or smaller and 6 locations in a room larger than 5,000 square feet. Some of our customers include the required amount of tests that must be taken in each room in their contract. Be sure to check with the salesperson or operations supervisor with any questions regarding this. A thorough inspection of the vapor barrier, equipment, and above floor surface will help you in compiling an accurate and informative report.
The on-the-job training part of this course will be used to teach you how to properly use a particle counter and conduct the tests and observations discussed in this section.
Scope of Environmental Report: To outline the environmental conditions of the sub-floor void and ambient air space in your computer facility. To report findings and observances made during the environmental cleaning process and offer suggestions and solutions for the improvement and maintenance of a safe data center environment.
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Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
Paragon International
Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 19 of 25
Definitions and General Information
A)
Cleanroom A Special type of controlled environment facility in which, as a minimum, all incoming air passes through a filter (HEPA-filter) capable of removing a minimum of 99.99% of all particles 0.3 microns and larger. In a clean room, temperature, humidity, static, and pressure are controlled. Any room or areas in which an attempt is made to limit and control the amount of airborne dust (particulate matter). Contamination Any foreign substances that will have a detrimental affect on the mechanism or process in question. HEPA-filter High efficiency particulate air filters used to remove micro-contaminates from the air. Micron A metric unit of measurement equal to one millionth (1/1,000,000) of a meter or one twenty-five thousandth (1/25,000) of an inch. Particle An object generally between 0.001 and 1,000 microns in size. A human hair is approximately 75 microns thick and the smallest particle the human eye can see is 40 microns thick. Particle Counter A laser-based airborne particle counter that takes air samples to determine the concentration and size of particles suspended in air streams. PARTICLE COUNTS AND CONDITION OF SUBFLOOR PLENUM Contamination comes from the following sources: Concrete dust silica, lint, walked in dirt, toner, paper dust, rust, vendor debris, food, insects, rodents, day-to-day operation of DASD units and tape drives, employee traffic, and the installation and removal of cables, equipment, and/or raised floor panels. The relative cleanliness of a data processing facility can be determined by using United States Federal Standard 209E (100,000 class). This standard establishes the maximum levels of particulate contamination allowed in a controlled environment. The Federal Standard 209E maximum particles per cubic foot of air are:
.5 micron 1.0 micron 3.0 micron 5.0 micron
= 100,000 = 20,000 = 2,000 = 700
Once these maximum levels are reached or exceeded, equipment failure and data input/output errors become more prevalent. These are considered to be the maximum levels of contaminate allowed within a safe computer room environment. Cleanrooms range in Class from 100,000 to 1 - with decreased maximum allowances per cubic foot as you move to the lower Class numbers.
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Downtime and equipment failures primarily result from one or more of the following mechanisms: 1. 2.
3.
Interference with moving parts – relative motion can cause abrasion and head media crashes as well as connector intermittence. Deposits of contamination on sensitive materials may result in: a) Shorts, if conductive pathways arise through the accumulation of particles on PC boards. Moisture absorbed from high relative humidity ambient air can cause this conductivity. b) Corrosive failure (i.e., rust, concrete silica) or contact intermittence (i.e., dust, dirt, ferrous metal) due to a particulate build-up on components, or as a result of water vapor or gaseous contaminate absorption by the particulate. Premature clogging of filters can restrict the air flow – possibly causing overheating and head crashes.
Average subfloor before and after particle counts in your facility (in .5 microns): Before
After
108,715 181,883 127,832
12,362 14,820 16,242
GDCE – 1st Floor GDCW – 2nd Floor New GDCW – 1st Floor
Please use the charts and graphs on the following page(s) to compare the before and after particle count, temperature, and humidity reading taken during our visit.
SECTION 5 REVIEW Environmental contamination in the data center accounts for much of the failure of sensitive electronic equipment, as well as costly downtime. One of the most assiduous courses of crippling contamination can be found in the dark sub-floor plenum. It is there that we find the main arteries to the heart of the computer room environment – the sole air conduit for cooling every piece of vital equipment in the room. The technology of today wields incomprehensible power. And yet, it only takes a few particles of dust, metal or other visible contaminants to bring this technology to its knees. Paragon International, Inc. is a leader in its field in precision cleaning techniques that protect sensitive technological environments. Our highly specialized and innovative cleaning methods, equipment and products have become a vital link in the smooth operation of the hundreds of Fortune 500 and 1000 companies we service. Paragon International, Inc. has successfully developed an international force of trained, motivated employees who are certified in the more advanced cleaning methods required by cleanrooms from Class 100,000 to Class 1. It is our job to protect the technology of business through proper training and cleaning techniques. responsibility falls on you to maintain continuity of the crew and customer satisfaction.
Paragon International
The
February 2007
Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
Paragon International
Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 21 of 25
Debris Removed From the Subfloor GDCE - 1st Floor - Medium debris collection. Debris included: Plastic cable ties, dead moths, screws, string, metal pieces from cable tray, old rags, paper, tape, plastic cable end protectors, insulation, and mop strings. GDCW - 2nd Floor New - Light debris collection. Debris included: Paper, pens, tape, plastic cable ties, and two candy wrappers. There was also a build-up of the chemical and residue from the previous gluestripping work on the grids, pedestals, and on the subfloor deck. In several areas the black, gummy residue is stuck in clumps to the subfloor. GDCW - 1st Floor - Extremely Heavy debris collection. Debris included: Plastic cable ties, plastic cable end protectors, paper, tape, Popsicle sticks, Eskimo pie wrappers (2), insulation, candy wrappers, cigarette butts, cigarettes, matches, sunflower shells, wire, pens, magic markers, old fuses, bubble wrap, putty, pieces of ceiling tiles, pedestal bases, rope, dead insects, rat droppings (lots all over the room), screws, nuts, bolts, and plastic tile edges. There was enough debris removed from the subfloor in this room to fill 3 Hefty Lawn and Leaf bags full to the top. All debris was removed, bagged, and left for review by Dave Hersperger. B)
FERROUS METAL TESTS Ferrous metals are fine metal shavings and/or flakes that collect in the subfloor plenum. These shavings and flakes are generally invisible to the human eye. To test for ferrous metal we use the method outlined in the equipment installation handbooks of IBM, Amdahl, Digital, and others that say to take a medium-powered magnet wrapped in white paper and rub it over a two square foot area of the subfloor deck. This test is performed at strategic points throughout the room. Ferrous metal flakes are very light and can be easily carried through the subfloor void by the static pressure produced by the HVAC units. Ferrous metal is one of the leading causes of loss of data, read/write errors, ESD (electro-static discharge), and overheating due to clogged filters. Results of Ferrous Metal Tests Taken in Your Computer Rooms GDCE - 1st Floor - Ferrous metal tests produced light to medium traces of metal shavings and flakes. These concentrations were heavier in the areas around the tape silos. Although these findings were not yet at an alarming concentration, it was definitely time for a cleaning. GDCW - 2nd Floor New - Ferrous metal shavings and flakes were found in heavy concentrations throughout this room. This is not unusual for a newly remodeled room; especially one that contains tape drives. A large part of the ferrous metal was probably left over from the construction phase; however, tape drives are known to produce ferrous metal during normal operation. GDCW - 1st Floor - Ferrous metal levels were pretty much medium throughout the room which is normal for a high-activity room that hasn't been cleaned in a few years, A particularly heavy collection of ferrous metal was taken from the subfloor at C-16. It appeared that some work had probably taken place under the floor and the area was not cleaned afterward. The detailed vacuuming process, coupled with the HEPA-filtered vacuums, removed this potentially hazardous contaminate from the environments in these rooms. Post-clean ferrous metal tests were conducted to ensure this.
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February 2007
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VAPOR BARRIER INSPECTION A proper vapor seal is required around the computer room to maintain proper temperature and humidity levels, as well as, to restrict the migration of contaminates from outside the room into the computer environment. Without this proper seal, the atmospheric moisture is permitted to distribute itself throughout the computer room at will. Humidity and temperature levels can thus vary from hour to hour and from day to day. This can produce two very different results: (1) An excessive moisture gain can be seen from rust and corrosion on air conditioners, grids, pedestals, and the condensation of chiller pipes, and (2) Low humidity can cause equipment to gain static charges which upon discharge can destroy a circuit board. One of the best ways to maintain a minimal level of particulate is through positive air flow within the data center. This positive pressure puts outward air forces to oil doorways and other access areas entering the data center. These air forces will retard outside air and its contaminates from entering the computer room envelope. A simple smoke test will reveal which way the pressure is going. A well designed positive pressure system will pay for itself and more for years to come. To create and maintain a positive pressure environment apply the following criteria: Section 605 of the Uniform Building Code on ventilation requirements says that ventilation shall supply a minimum of five cubic feet per minute of outside air with a total circulation of not less than fifteen cubic feet per minute, per occupant in all portions of the building. A good rule of thumb is five cubic feet of air per 100 square feet. Results of Vapor Barrier Inspection 1)
D)
Is there a proper vapor seal around the entire above floor area of the data center? Yes
TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY TEST All data processing hardware is governed by the laws of thermodynamics. The computer manufacturer sets the temperature and relative humidity tolerances at a certain level, so room conditions need to be maintained at the set level to ensure that the equipment performs properly. Generally, the optimum temperature level is 65 - 72 degrees and the optimum humidity level is 45 - 55%. Even though the equipment can operate within a fairly wide environmental range, it has been found that low humidity can cause electro-static discharge. As electronic components, such as microchips, have become smaller, they have become more susceptible to damage from electrostatic discharge. On the other hand, high humidity can cause corrosive build-up both in equipment and the subfloor structure. Metal oxide particles from floor pedestals, access grids, water pipes, and other exposed metal surfaces will find their way into sensitive electronic devices. Then, too, there is bacterial growth that can be found in air conditioners and the concrete subfloor. Fungal spores and mold growth can pose an occupant health threat but the organic matter will also endanger the computer hardware as well. Organic bacteria can attach to some sensitive materials within the computer hardware as well as form obstructive growths on DASD platters. Organically acidic growth will degrade the fine lubricants on the thin-film DASD units within the room. Please compare the provided temperature and humidity readings on the previous page(s) with the manufacturer’s guidelines for the equipment in the noted area.
E)
PROPER CLEANING TECHNIQUES
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February 2007
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Paragon International
Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 23 of 25
Proper cleaning intervals and practices are absolutely vital to maintaining a continued safe level of contaminates. On the other hand, improper cleaning techniques, equipment, and/or chemicals can lead to serious damage to the facility. Here are a few examples: 1.
F)
Buffers used on raised floor surfaces will void the warranty of the flooring manufacturers. This is because the abrasive nature of buffers smoothes the micro bumps that are built into the floor for dissipating electro-static charges. Many operations managers had to learn the hard way that shiny floors may be worthless compared to the anti-static properties built in them. We recommend the proper use of cleaning chemicals designed only for use on raised floor laminate. Used properly, they will restore and maintain the look of your floor tiles without adversely affecting the static dissipation.
2.
Shop vacuums are not built with proper filtration necessary for computer rooms. These vacuums will only propel micro-contamination into the ambient air with potentially disastrous results to the computer equipment. We recommend only HEPA-filtered vacuums are used in the computer environment.
3.
Cleaning compounds with ammonia, high pH levels, or corrosive chemicals can lead to serious damage and downtime. These chemicals can result in corrosive failure or contact intermittence due to the intrinsic composition of the particles, or due to absorption of water vapor and gaseous contaminants by the particles. Disk drives, circuit boards, mechanical parts, and contacts are all susceptible. We recommend testing the chemicals you or your janitorial staff are currently using with a strip of Universal pH Indicator Paper using forceps. By matching the color to the chart, you can see if you are pH neutral. VISIBLE INSPECTION OF EQUIPMENT AND ABOVE FLOOR SURFACE One of the most commonly overlooked areas of environmental concern in data processing is the above floor environmental conditions. Although a clean subfloor plenum is and should be the primary concern, a regular maintenance cleaning of the equipment and above floor surface will prevent contamination build-up thus ensuring up-time. A visible inspection of the floor and equipment was performed prior to the cleaning process to determine contamination levels of dust, lint, and dirt. This inspection was also to check for clogged filters and any accumulations of large debris, dust or dirt on the tops of the equipment cabinets, underneath the cabinets, and around work stations, Equipment GDCE - 1st Floor - Dust rating - low, fingerprint/smudge rating - low, overall the equipment was in good shape and only needed a general vacuuming and wipe-down, GDCW - 2nd Floor New - Dust rating - extremely high. Fingerprint/smudge rating - high. The tops of the tape racks were unbelievably dusty, as were the bottoms. The tape drives and desks in the room were also extremely dusty. Fingerprints and/or smudges were visible on virtually every piece of equipment and flat surface in the room. This room required a detailed vacuuming a cleaning of the equipment. GDCW - 1st Floor - Dust rating - heavy. Fingerprint/smudge rating - high. The tops of the high cabinets were very dusty, as were the work stations, monitors, and desks. Fingerprints and/or smudges were present on many of the cabinets, work stations, desks, terminals, and general flat surfaces in the main computer room and in the control area. GDCE - 1st Floor Control Room - Dust rating - heavy. Fingerprint/smudge rating - medium. The overall condition of these areas has improved greatly since our first visit. However, dust and fingerprints still reign
Paragon International
February 2007
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supreme on most of the terminals, screens, desks, and cubicles. A very detailed vacuuming and wipe-down was needed to properly clean these areas. Above Floor GDCE - 1st Floor - Since this floor has a lower activity level than some of the others the floors were in much better shape. There were some medium collections of dust and lint around the tape silos and work stations. A light to medium ground-in soil build-up is also present. G DCW - 1st Floor - This is a high activity floor which results in a tremendous amount of black marks and ground-in soil on the floor. Dust and lint collections were heavy underneath many of the equipment cabinets and desks. Coffee stains were also found on the floor throughout the computer room and control room. GDCW - 2nd Floor New - This is also a high activity floor with lots of human traffic and tape carts. The result is a tremendous amount of black marks and scuffs are left on the floor. A heavy concentration of ground-in soil is also present due to the human traffic. High concentrations of dust and lint also result from the high activity and are brought in by employees and carts from other parts of the building. This room needs a daily damp-mop and regular deep clean. 'Tacky mats" placed at the entrances to the room have also proved very effective for many of our customers to help prevent the migration of contamination from the outside. G)
CONCRETE SUBFLOOR DECK SEAL One of the greatest detriments to the health of the computer environment is usually unseen. It is the concrete subfloor deck. This floor carries the physical load of the data center while at the same time directs the conditioned air to the equipment that sits on it. Should this surface contain contamination, be it metal oxide, biological growth, or just lint and dirt, it will carry it (as it is designed to do) to the various electronic units that it services. Of particular concern is if the concrete subfloor deck is not properly sealed or encapsulated, or, if the seal integrity has deteriorated. Should the concrete not be sealed, the forever curing concrete will emit crystalline particles produced by the efflorescence process. This is when the hydrated cement contains some calcium hydroxide as a product of cement and water. This calcium hydroxide is brought to the surface by moisture (50% humidity levels, or water condensation); it combines with the carbon dioxide in the air to form calcium carbonate, which then appears as a white crystalline deposit. These crystalline particle are abrasive in nature and once airborne can endanger sensitive computer componentry. They can also degrade minute moving parts and electrical contacts. An excessive quantity of silica can reduce the ability of microchips.
One way to test the integrity of the subfloor seal is to: 1. 2. 3.
Wipe the surface clean with a dry wipe. Place a drop of water directly on the concrete. The water droplets should be between ½ - 1 inch in diameter. Examine the appearance of the water spot over a period of about 30 to 45 seconds. Should rings appear that would indicate absorption, then the seal is no good. If water stays beaded and is not absorbed by the concrete, the subfloor seal is intact.
Paragon International
February 2007
Policy Name: Project Manager Training Course Originator:
Paragon International
Revision Date: N/A
Date: 02/07 Page: 25 of 25
If the subfloor seal has deteriorated we recommend sealing the subfloor deck with a nonflammable acrylic sealer that produces a rock hard finish separating the concrete and above air plenum. Color pigment is desirable to add floor visibility and proof of encapsulation at a glance. Since there are a great variety of concrete floor sealers, we recommend the use of one designed especially for data centers and their environments. Results of Concrete Seal Tests GDCW- 2nd Floor New is an old tile floor- not concrete. GDCE - 1st Floor is covered with the black sealant and is in good shape. GDCW - 1st Floor - The seal on the concrete deck in this room is continuing to deteriorate and is beginning to crack and peel. There is a lot of concrete dust present in the room as well. Serious thought should be given to applying a fresh "coat" of concrete seal to this room in the next 18 - 24 months.
H)
CONCLUSION When correct Psychometric conditions exist in the data center, including total vapor seal, correct humidity and temperature readings, outside air filtration, proper placement of air flow registers, and a proper subfloor deck seal, the factors that cause contamination and downtime will be greatly reduced. This together with regular maintenance (performed with proper equipment, chemicals, and technique) of the top of floor, equipment, and subfloor will ensure continued operation with no threat of contaminate caused downtime.
Sincerely, Paragon International 1-800-526-1095
Paragon International
February 2007