QTS typically uses specialized storage containers and shelving units that are designed to be fire-resistant. We do this for several reasons:
- Environmental: Shipping material, including cardboard, is very porous. When placed on a data center floor with high airflow the particulates are likely to be ingested into the IT gear potentially causing damage or failure.
- Fire Hazard: Shipping, cardboard, and various other materials aren’t allowed in the data hall. In the event that electrical equipment has a shortage or causes a spark – a small event can become a catastrophic event if combined with combustible material.
- Trip Hazards: Cardboard and boxes left on the floor can create trip hazards for our employees. This is particularly dangerous in a data center environment, where QTSers and customers operate within and around electrical infrastructure and fragile IT systems.
