Facility Characteristics

This section contains information about facility characteristics that must be considered for the installation or operation of a Superdome server. Facility characteristics are:

Floor loading
Windows
Altitude effects

Floor Loading

The computer room floor must be able to support the total weight of the installed computer system as well as the weight of the individual cabinets as they are moved into position.

Floor loading is usually not an issue in non-raised-floor installations. The information presented in this section is directed toward raised-floor installations.




	NOTE: Any floor system under consideration for a Superdome server installation should be verified by an appropriate floor system consultant.

Raised-Floor Loading

Raised-floor loading is a function of the manufacturer's load specification and the positioning of the equipment relative to the raised-floor grid. While Hewlett-Packard cannot assume responsibility for determining the suitability of a particular raised-floor system, information and illustrations are provided for the customer or local agencies to determine installation requirements.

The following guidelines are recommended:

Because many raised-floor systems do not have grid stringers between floor stands, the lateral support for the floor stands depends on adjacent panels being in place. To avoid compromising this type of floor system while gaining under floor access, remove only one floor panel at a time.
Larger floor grids (bigger panels) are generally rated for lighter loads.




	CAUTION: Do not install any raised-floor system until you have carefully examined it to verify that it is adequate to support the appropriate installation.

Floor-Loading Terms

Table 3-1 “Floor-Loading Terms” defines floor-loading terms.

Table 3-1 Floor-Loading Terms

Term	Definition
Dead load	Weight of the raised-panel floor system, including the understructure. Expressed in lb/ft2 (kg/m2).
Live load	Load the floor system can safely support. Expressed in lb/ft2 (kg/m2).
Concentrated load	Load a floor panel can support on a 1-in2 (6.45 cm2) area at the panel's weakest point (typically the center of the panel), without the surface of the panel deflecting more than a predetermined amount.
Ultimate load	Maximum load (per floor panel) the floor system can support without failure. Failure expressed by floor panel(s) breaking or bending.Ultimate load is usually stated as load per floor panel.
Rolling load	Load a floor panel can support (without failure) when a wheel of specified diameter and width is rolled across the panel.
Average floor load	Computed by dividing total equipment weight by the area of its footprint. This value is expressed in lb/ft2 (kg/m2).

Average Floor Loading

The average floor load value, defined in Table 3-2 “Tate Series 800 Raised-Floor Tile Specifications”, is not appropriate for addressing raised-floor ratings at the floor grid spacing level. However, it is useful for determining floor-loading at the building level, such as the area of solid floor or span of raised-floor tiles covered by the Superdome server footprint.

Typical Raised-Floor Site

This section contains an example of a computer room raised-floor system that is satisfactory for the installation of a Superdome server.

Based on specific information provided by Hewlett-Packard, Tate Access Floors has approved its Series 800 all-steel access floor with bolt-together stringers and 24 in. (61.0 cm) by 24 in. (61.0 cm) floor panels.

Due to the large amount of floor panel material that must be removed for the purpose of routing cables, this particular floor must be braced as shown in Figure 3-1 “Tate Series 800 Floor Bracing”.

In the event that the flooring is being replaced or a new floor is being installed, Tate Access Floors recommends its Series 1250 all-steel access floor with bolt-together stringers and 24 in. (61.0 cm) by 24 in. (61.0 cm) floor panels be used to support the Superdome installation.

Figure 3-1 Tate Series 800 Floor Bracing




	NOTE: If the specific floor being evaluated or considered is other than a Tate Series 800 floor, the specific floor manufacturer must be contacted to evaluate the floor being used.

Table 3-2 “Tate Series 800 Raised-Floor Tile Specifications” lists specifications for the Tate Access Floors Series 800 raised-floor system.

Table 3-2 Tate Series 800 Raised-Floor Tile Specifications

Item	Rating
Dead load	7 lb/ft 2 (34.2 kg/m2)
Live load	313 lb/ft 2 (1528.3 kg/m2)
Concentrated load^[1]	1250 lb (567 kg)
Ultimate load	4000 lb (1814 kg) per panel
Rolling load	400 lb (181 kg)
Average Tile load	500 lb (227 kg)
^[1]With 0.08 in (0.2 cm) of span maximum deflection

Windows

Avoid housing computers in a room with windows. Sunlight entering a computer room may cause problems. Magnetic tape storage media is damaged if exposed to direct sunlight. Also, the heat generated by sunlight places an additional load on the cooling system.