Particle Count Test for Data Centers
Importance Of Air Quality In Data Centers
Maintaining high air quality in data centers is essential for protecting critical IT infrastructure. Airborne particle concentrations, such as dust and fine particles, can accumulate on sensitive hardware, leading to contamination, overheating, and unexpected downtime. Poor air cleanliness also affects cooling efficiency, increasing energy costs and maintenance needs. Adhering to ISO 14644 and ISO Class standards ensures a controlled environment, extending hardware lifespan and preventing costly disruptions. Regular particle count testing, filter testing, and risk assessment play a critical role in minimizing contamination risks, optimizing performance, and maintaining facility compliance.
Why Particle Count Testing is Essential for Data Centers
Particle count testing helps detect airborne particle concentrations that may impact data center operations. Using optical particle counters, we measure contaminant levels to ensure ISO standards compliance. This process prevents hardware malfunctions, reduces maintenance costs, and safeguards overall environmental integrity.
Our Particle Count Testing Process
At CSI Testing, we specialize in testing and certifying controlled environments to ensure data centers, server rooms, and communication facilities meet the highest air quality standards. With over 45 years of experience and a 95% customer repeat rate, we are a trusted leader in environmental certification across 23 states.
Our Process
- Site Assessment & Preparation – Evaluate the facility, identify risks, and determine optimal testing locations.
- Air Sampling & Measurement – Use advanced laser particle counters to measure contaminants and assess compliance with ISO 14644-1 standards.
- Data Analysis & Reporting – Deliver a comprehensive report on particulate levels with recommendations for corrective actions if needed.
Benefits of Particle Count Test for Data Centers
Maintains Controlled Environment Standards:
ISO 14644-1 Class 8 sets strict limits on airborne particulate levels, ensuring that data centers, server rooms, and comms rooms maintain the cleanliness required for optimal operation.
Protects Sensitive Equipment:
Even sub-microscopic particulates can interfere with delicate electronic components, potentially causing malfunctions, hard-to-diagnose issues, or even data loss.
Prevents Unplanned Downtime:
The article highlights that contamination has indirectly caused more IT downtime than many other disasters. Regular ISO testing helps prevent such costly interruptions by keeping the environment within safe particulate limits.
Ensures OEM Warranty Compliance:
Many hardware manufacturers require that their equipment be housed in environments decontaminated to ISO standards. ISO testing and certification can be critical to keeping warranties valid.
Provides Audit and Certification Evidence:
ISO testing produces a certificate of conformity, which is invaluable for both internal and external audits, providing documented proof that the facility meets required cleanliness standards.
Establishes a Regular Cleaning Regime:
According to ISO 14644-2 2015, cleanrooms must be cleaned at least annually to maintain the required standard, emphasizing the importance of routine testing and maintenance.
Addresses Cooling System Challenges:
Data centers using air-side economizers (free air cooling) may face higher particulate contamination; ISO testing is essential to assess and mitigate these risks effectively.
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Why Choose CSI Testing
CSI has tested and certified controlled environments for over 45 years. When we started CSI testing we serviced Minneapolis and the surrounding areas. Today we service the entire Midwest and the New England area. Our team has over 100 collective years of experience in the industry, serving over 600 medical device, pharmaceutical, academic, and other clients.
We test, certify, and service all controlled environments, including cleanrooms, biosafety cabinets, fume hoods, and isolators. We provide biosafety cabinets, cleanbenches and fume hood reports the same-day, and turnaround electronic cleanroom reports in two weeks. For any emergency, we can get a technician to your site quickly.
We are proudly 100% founder and employee owned. CSI is a certified minority business enterprise.
Experience
45 years of company history
Quality
Highly trained technicians (average 10-year tenure)
Report Turnaround
2 weeks for cleanrooms, same-day for hoods, BSCs, etc.
Urgency
We take emergency calls seriously. We can get technicians on-site quickly
People
Founder and employee-owned. Certified minority business enterprise
Our Locations
We are a regional service provider
We primarily service the below states:
Minnesota
Minneapolis
Saint Paul
Rochester
We also service these additional states through our sister companies at the Scientific Safety Alliance:
Virginia
West Virginia
North Carolina
Washington DC
Maryland
South Carolina
Kentucky
Tennessee
Wyoming
Montana
As a regional service provider, CSI Testing provides scientific safety services across the United States. We offer regional coverage through our network of partner companies to better serve your facilities.