ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 48

Humidity Controls For Data Centers Are They Necessary? By Mark Hydeman, P Fellow ASHRAE; and David E. Swenson .E., SHRAE’s Special Publication Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments1 recommends humidity control in data centers in all climates. The Current State of Practice The same is true for ANSI/TIA-942-1 2005, Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers2 developed by the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA). In contrast, telecommunications facilities covered by Telcordia’s Network Equipment Building Systems (NEBS) requirements have no lower humidity limit.1 This article examines the background of these guidelines, the issues they try to address, and the practical impacts of controlling humidity in data centers. The background discussed in this article was discovered in the development of TC 9.9’s Research Work Statement 1499, The Effect of Humidity on the Reliability of ICT Equipment in Data Centers. The research 48 ASHRAE Journal Table 1 shows the current published recommendations for humidity control in ASHRAE, NEBS and TIA. As shown in this table, only ASHRAE and TIA have lower humidity limits. NEBS has no lower humidity limit but has recommended personnel grounding practices to prevent electrostatic discharge events. All three documents have upper humidity limits. In About the Authors Mark Hydeman, P is a principal and founding .E., partner at Taylor Engineering in Alameda, Calif. He is a member of ASHRAE TC 9.9 and vice-chair of SSPC 90.1. He was lead developer of TC 9.9’s Research Work Statement 1499 on humidity control. David E. Swenson founded Affinity Static Control Consulting in Round Rock, Texas. He has been a member of the ESD Association since 1984 and serves on the standards committee and the ANSI/ ESD S20.20 Standard Task Team. He is a member of the Electrostatic Society of America and is a U.S. Technical Expert to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Technical Committee, TC101—Electrostatics. proposal investigates the relationship between humidity and the severity of electrostatic discharge (ESD) events in datacom environments over a range of thermal conditions and grounding of the floor and personnel. ashrae.org March 2010

ASHRAE Journal - March 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - March 2010

Contents
Commentary
Industry News
Letters
Meetings and Shows
Feature Articles
Standard 62.1-2007: Dynamic Reset for Multiple-Zone Systems
35 Years of Standard 90.1
Humidity Controls for Data Centers: Are They Necessary?
ASHRAE’s Best: 2010 Technology Awards
Technology Award Case Studies: Green Warehouse
Building Sciences
Products
Emerging Technologies
Special Products
Classified Advertising
Advertisers Index
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Cover1
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Cover2
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 1
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 2
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Contents
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Commentary
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 5
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Industry News
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 7
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 8
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - MIT1
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - MIT2
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - MIT3
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - MIT4
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - MIT5
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - MIT6
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - MIT7
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - MIT8
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 9
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 10
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 11
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Letters
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 13
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 14
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 15
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 16
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 17
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 18
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 19
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Meetings and Shows
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 21
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Standard 62.1-2007: Dynamic Reset for Multiple-Zone Systems
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 23
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 24
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 24a
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 24b
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 25
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 26
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 27
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 28
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 29
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 30
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 31
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 32
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 33
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 34
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 35
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 35 Years of Standard 90.1
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 37
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 38
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 39
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 40
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - MITE1
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - MITE2
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 41
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 42
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 43
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 44
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 45
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 46
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 47
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Humidity Controls for Data Centers: Are They Necessary?
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 49
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 50
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 51
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 52
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 53
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 54
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 55
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - ASHRAE’s Best: 2010 Technology Awards
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 57
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 58
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 59
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 60
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 61
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 62
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 63
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Technology Award Case Studies: Green Warehouse
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 65
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 66
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 67
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 68
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 69
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 70
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 71
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Building Sciences
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 73
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 74
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 75
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 76
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 77
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 78
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 79
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Products
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 81
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Emerging Technologies
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 83
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Special Products
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Classified Advertising
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 86
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - 87
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Advertisers Index
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Cover3
ASHRAE Journal - March 2010 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_MCDEBX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WNYSQY
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XATVOD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_FJSHSS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_CCBZDS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XDEFVG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2023november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2023november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_VHGNBL
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WPKBNJ
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_UUVCDE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RTGDEW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LKRFXS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_AZSOFG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ERCDBH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QWDFRV
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JHGVDF
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OPUYHG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SREIBM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LRTGLK
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OKRFGH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2022november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2022november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TZSERA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LVRUIX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RPTVYZ
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/mini_pub_catalog
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XIYTGD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RFGDOB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PABXNU
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_REMKLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PICVBT
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_AOYTVW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JQOPLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_IOYTBC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SGAJJF
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_IGHYER
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PDRKLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2021november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2021november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XCODFR
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QSLFGO
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ILKVNM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OPDJKD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_VJKSRY
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SDHUTC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JPPKRR
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SDLTTH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_CKLLES
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SLDOX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_HJETUK
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OLUHGE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2020october
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2020october_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ZERDGH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QVMNEO
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RTPOKE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_BBATRE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_STUBMW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TPEMPE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JNMKDS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_FBTTPA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WQMMNE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TVBRYN
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_showguide2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_KTUZMA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ABEDGD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2019septmeber_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2019september
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2019april
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2019march
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_showguide2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018december
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2018fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018october
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraeinsights_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2017fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashrae_meetinginsert_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2016fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acrexindia
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2015summer_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/amca/2014summer2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/amca/2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acma_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acmasupp_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2013winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/achr_expo_mexico2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201208_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201208_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2012summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2012winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201111_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201109_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2011summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201103
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com