How Much Air Conditioning Do You Need For Your Server Room?

Server rooms need to be kept cool in order to protect the sensitive IT equipment they house. If the room becomes too warm, even if only for a few hours, the equipment could fail and important data could be lost. As such, it is highly important for any server room to be properly air-conditioned. Here’s a closer look at what that means.

Temperature Requirements

The air conditioning system you install should be sufficient to keep the server room between 18 and 27 degrees C, or 64 and 80 degrees F. This is the server room temperature range recommended by ASHRAE,  the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers. Your commercial HVAC mechanical contractors will take this into account when recommending air conditioning units.

Humidity Requirements

Air conditioners do more than simply cool air. They also remove humidity from the air. In a server room, it is very important to keep humidity levels between 40 and 60% relative humidity. Too much moisture in the air could lead to the corrosion of certain metal components, and air that is too dry can perpetuate static.

Your commercial HVAC repair and service contractors will generally try to satisfy humidity control requirements with an air conditioner alone, but in some cases, they may also opt to install a dehumidifier. These appliances remove excess moisture from the air and can usually be coordinated with your thermostat for easy control.

Amount of Equipment

Calculating the best-size air conditioner for a server room is a bit more complicated than calculating the best-size air conditioner for the average space. Server equipment gives off a substantial amount of heat as it runs. The air conditioner has to be capable of exhausting this excess heat. The more equipment a server room contains, the more heat will need to be removed. In other words, a very full server room requires a more powerful air conditioner than a nearly empty one.

If you have plans to add additional IT equipment to your server room, tell your HVAC contractor about these plans. They will need to take the added equipment into account when calculating how many BTUs of cooling your AC unit needs to offer.

Server rooms can hold millions of dollars worth of equipment, and proper air conditioning is essential to protect that equipment. The best way to determine what size air conditioner you need is to consult with commercial HVAC contractors Philadelphia residents have come to depend on. A knowledgeable HVAC contractor will look over your server room and precisely calculate your necessary cooling capacity.

If you’re in need of a commercial HVAC company in the Philadelphia area, contact H&H Commercial Services, Inc. We offer comprehensive AC installation, repair, and maintenance services for computer rooms, server rooms, and more.

This blog was originally posted at https://hhcommercialonline.com/how-much-air-conditioning-do-you-need-for-your-server-room/