HP BL260c HP BladeSystem c-Class Site Planning Guide - Page 27

Rack placement and arrangement for proper airflow Racks must be placed and arranged properly in the data center to provide sufficient airflow and clearance for access to the rack. In the front of the rack, a clearance of 1219 mm (48 in) is required. This requirement applies to individual rack installations as well as when aligning rack rows so that the front doors are facing each other. In the rear of the rack, a clearance of 762 mm (30 in) is required to provide space for servicing the rack. If a data center has multiple rows of racks, the rows of racks can be arranged to take advantage of the front-to-back airflow by arranging racks front-to-front and back-to-back. Additionally, conditioned air registers can be oriented along the front aisles and the return air registers in the back aisles. This arrangement utilizes the aisle space as air plenums and increases the efficiency of the air conditioning. CAUTION: Always use blanking panels to fill empty vertical spaces in the rack. This arrangement ensures proper airflow. Using a rack without blanking panels results in improper cooling that can lead to thermal damage. Third-party racks If a third-party rack is used, observe the following additional requirements to ensure adequate airflow and to prevent damage to the equipment: • Front and rear doors: If the rack includes closing front and rear doors, a minimum of 65 percent open area must be provided to ensure adequate airflow. • Front door: The clearance from face of rack to inside of the front door must be a minimum of 77 mm (3 in). Environmental requirements 27