Event Recap
RECAP | ROUNDTABLE | Data Hall Cleaning in the New Normal
Introduction:
The COVID-19 pandemic has obviously heightened the awareness and increased the focus of data center cleaning and housekeeping. Most data center operators have adopted new cleaning regiments and frequencies to help combat the virus, and the thought is these practices will not be eliminated in this new normal environment. Amber Villegas-Williamson, Uptime Institute consultant, joined the roundtable discussion that allowed attendees to interact and engage on these recommended new cleaning and housekeeping best practices.
The discussion started with attendees introducing themselves and providing a quick synopsis of what they hoped to take away from the roundtable discussion. The overwhelming consensus was that attendees were interested in what their peers were doing in regard to data hall and data center cleaning. Amber then reviewed some questions that were prepared to get the conversation started:
• What new cleaning practices have you adopted as a result of the pandemic?
• What cleaning practices will you continue to follow post-pandemic?
• How has your budget changed and are other areas experiencing an impact as a result?
• What do you consider to be best-in-class data hall cleaning practices in this new normal environment?
In regard to cleaning the data hall white space, the attendees provided insight as to what practices they are following.
• Cleaning practices have not substantially changed in the data hall. Floors are being cleaned and IT equipment is being wiped down on a planned periodic basis. Cleaning is occurring more frequently on an as needed basis when work or activity is occurring in the space.
• Access to the data hall space is being restricted and limited, more so than before the pandemic. Limited access was discussed as a key element in controlling data hall cleaning.
• Spray disinfectant was not being used in the data hall because of its unknown effects on IT hardware, and also with the high volume of air being moved it is most likely ineffective.
• On a side note, it was mentioned how fresh air is being increase to the data hall if possible and practical.
There was also discussion on the data center administrative/office spaces. In these spaces, the cleaning practices mentioned are as follows:
• Spray disinfecting occurs on a planned frequent basis. The frequency varied by attendee. A colocation attendee reported they disinfect 3 times a week, while an enterprise company indicated more along the lines of monthly.
• Frequent cleaning of high touch areas occurs throughout the day.
• Another colocation attendee indicated they realigned the cleaning staff to focus on high traffic areas and have 24 hour cleaning staff to support their customers.
• For the data center facility, limit access even more so than prior to the pandemic, conduct 100% escorting of all visitors, require masks, temperature checks, and visitors have to complete and sign an acknowledgement form indicating no known COVID-19 exposure and symptoms.
Amber mentioned research that indicated the virus can stay on stainless steel handles for 72 hours, while for copper handles the time is down to 4 hours (https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMc2004973). There is a German article published about how you can cold-spray a coating of copper on existing steel handles as an option (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7455544/). Use CDC and WHO as a guide for latest information on how long the virus can survive on surfaces, and take the worst case scenario if there are conflicts or concerns.
Amber then asked if anyone is using UV lighting, and there was almost no response from the attendees indicating UV is not normally being utilized by those attending. A colocation attendee mentioned how they were evaluating a self-sanitizing door handle which utilizes UV light. They are in the process of researching the cost and effectiveness.
(https://www.jamesdysonaward.org/en-US/2019/project/self-sanitizing-door-handle/)
In regard to the question on the impact this is having on the cleaning budget, the feedback was overwhelming that it has caused an increase. Increased cleaning, along with the need to have PPE, means operating expense (OpEx) for cleaning has gone up. One attendee indicated they have increased common area cleaning by 35%, which overall has caused their cleaning budget to double.
Post-pandemic in the new normal, it was felt that these enhanced cleaning practices (CDC Level 2) are here to stay for the most part. Touchless restrooms are here to stay (toilets, sinks, hand dryers, and in some cases entry doors), which was deemed a positive. Data center and data hall access will continue to be heavily restricted, and more remote work will help ease concerns. Pandemic/disaster planning will be something all companies will have on their radar, and it will extend redundancy and reliability into staffing to address issues that could cause no site access.
Finally, Amber mentioned how one of the member companies in LATAM had a staff member contract the virus. It raised the question what would you do if you lost the entire onsite team? Consider this possibility and plan for it. Documentation can pay dividends when you have an unexpected staffing issue.
The COVID-19 pandemic has obviously heightened the awareness and increased the focus of data center cleaning and housekeeping. Most data center operators have adopted new cleaning regiments and frequencies to help combat the virus, and the thought is these practices will not be eliminated in this new normal environment. Amber Villegas-Williamson, Uptime Institute consultant, joined the roundtable discussion that allowed attendees to interact and engage on these recommended new cleaning and housekeeping best practices.
The discussion started with attendees introducing themselves and providing a quick synopsis of what they hoped to take away from the roundtable discussion. The overwhelming consensus was that attendees were interested in what their peers were doing in regard to data hall and data center cleaning. Amber then reviewed some questions that were prepared to get the conversation started:
• What new cleaning practices have you adopted as a result of the pandemic?
• What cleaning practices will you continue to follow post-pandemic?
• How has your budget changed and are other areas experiencing an impact as a result?
• What do you consider to be best-in-class data hall cleaning practices in this new normal environment?
In regard to cleaning the data hall white space, the attendees provided insight as to what practices they are following.
• Cleaning practices have not substantially changed in the data hall. Floors are being cleaned and IT equipment is being wiped down on a planned periodic basis. Cleaning is occurring more frequently on an as needed basis when work or activity is occurring in the space.
• Access to the data hall space is being restricted and limited, more so than before the pandemic. Limited access was discussed as a key element in controlling data hall cleaning.
• Spray disinfectant was not being used in the data hall because of its unknown effects on IT hardware, and also with the high volume of air being moved it is most likely ineffective.
• On a side note, it was mentioned how fresh air is being increase to the data hall if possible and practical.
There was also discussion on the data center administrative/office spaces. In these spaces, the cleaning practices mentioned are as follows:
• Spray disinfecting occurs on a planned frequent basis. The frequency varied by attendee. A colocation attendee reported they disinfect 3 times a week, while an enterprise company indicated more along the lines of monthly.
• Frequent cleaning of high touch areas occurs throughout the day.
• Another colocation attendee indicated they realigned the cleaning staff to focus on high traffic areas and have 24 hour cleaning staff to support their customers.
• For the data center facility, limit access even more so than prior to the pandemic, conduct 100% escorting of all visitors, require masks, temperature checks, and visitors have to complete and sign an acknowledgement form indicating no known COVID-19 exposure and symptoms.
Amber mentioned research that indicated the virus can stay on stainless steel handles for 72 hours, while for copper handles the time is down to 4 hours (https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMc2004973). There is a German article published about how you can cold-spray a coating of copper on existing steel handles as an option (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7455544/). Use CDC and WHO as a guide for latest information on how long the virus can survive on surfaces, and take the worst case scenario if there are conflicts or concerns.
Amber then asked if anyone is using UV lighting, and there was almost no response from the attendees indicating UV is not normally being utilized by those attending. A colocation attendee mentioned how they were evaluating a self-sanitizing door handle which utilizes UV light. They are in the process of researching the cost and effectiveness.
(https://www.jamesdysonaward.org/en-US/2019/project/self-sanitizing-door-handle/)
In regard to the question on the impact this is having on the cleaning budget, the feedback was overwhelming that it has caused an increase. Increased cleaning, along with the need to have PPE, means operating expense (OpEx) for cleaning has gone up. One attendee indicated they have increased common area cleaning by 35%, which overall has caused their cleaning budget to double.
Post-pandemic in the new normal, it was felt that these enhanced cleaning practices (CDC Level 2) are here to stay for the most part. Touchless restrooms are here to stay (toilets, sinks, hand dryers, and in some cases entry doors), which was deemed a positive. Data center and data hall access will continue to be heavily restricted, and more remote work will help ease concerns. Pandemic/disaster planning will be something all companies will have on their radar, and it will extend redundancy and reliability into staffing to address issues that could cause no site access.
Finally, Amber mentioned how one of the member companies in LATAM had a staff member contract the virus. It raised the question what would you do if you lost the entire onsite team? Consider this possibility and plan for it. Documentation can pay dividends when you have an unexpected staffing issue.
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