Electric Shocks and Hard Drive Failures: Resolving Datacenter Safety Concerns

Preventing Electric Shocks and Hard Drive Failures

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Question

Technicians working with servers hosted at the company's datacenter are increasingly complaining of electric shocks when touching metal items which have been linked to hard drive failures.

Which of the following should be implemented to correct this issue?

Answers

Explanations

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A. B. C. D.

B.

The situation described in the question indicates the presence of static electricity, which is causing hard drive failures and electric shocks to technicians. Static electricity occurs when two materials come into contact and then separate, causing a buildup of electrical charge on the surfaces of those materials.

Option A, Decrease the room temperature, would not address the issue of static electricity, as it is caused by the buildup of electrical charge on surfaces and is not related to temperature.

Option B, Increase humidity in the room, could help to reduce static electricity, as it can help to dissipate electrical charge from surfaces. However, if the humidity is too high, it could cause other problems, such as corrosion or mold growth.

Option C, Utilize better hot/cold aisle configurations, would not directly address the issue of static electricity or electric shocks, as it is related to the airflow and temperature management within the data center.

Option D, Implement EMI shielding, would be the most effective solution to address the issue of static electricity and electric shocks. EMI (electromagnetic interference) shielding is designed to prevent electromagnetic radiation from interfering with sensitive electronic equipment. It can also help to dissipate static electricity and prevent it from building up on surfaces. Implementing EMI shielding can involve various strategies such as grounding, shielding tapes, and conductive coatings.

In summary, the best option to address the issue of electric shocks caused by static electricity in the data center is to implement EMI shielding.