Pollution by Solid Particles

Solid particles present multiple dangers for electronic equipment. They are harmful because of their abrasiveness and the damage which they cause, their electrostatic properties, or their absorption capacity.

In general, they can have various origins:

They can be caused by the surface crumbling of construction materials used in fitting out the computing room.
They can be produced by the formation of rust inside the air conditioners and on the supports of the raised floor.
They can be generated by the machines themselves (for example, the printers).
They can be caused by insufficient filtering of the new air.
They can be introduced by the personnel.

The effect of such polluted air on the computers is:

Clogged filters, which greatly hamper the evacuation of heat loads
Damage to connections (contact points) = intermittent breakdowns
Deterioration of the magnetic media
Premature wear and tear on components and moving parts

Thorough and careful cleaning of computer rooms at frequent intervals is very important. For more details, see Cleaning.

The filters should be easily accessible so that they can be regularly checked and cleaned easily.

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