Health Care and Office Challenges
When planning your layout for IT/Networking equipment in an open space or front office not only do you need to consider your employees, but any customers, clients, and through traffic as well.
Services
Common Challenges
Include rack security, excessive noise production, thermal airflow management, aesthetics, and location based on a limited footprint. Without a data closet or server room, placing a rack in an open environment makes security a much more delicate issue as unauthorized employees and customers will have access to the enclosure. The equipment in these racks often produce great amounts of noise and heat, both of which can be problematic for non-IT employees as well as clients near the rack.
Aesthetically the standard server enclosure can be somewhat of an eye-sore, requiring the selection of this rack to blend into the office or attempt to be hide in plain sight. Finally the cabinet needs to be carefully placed in a location that is not only accessible, but also not a hazard for walking traffic.
Airflow / Heat Management
Servers and networking equipment produce heat making it vital to consider how they will dissipate heat without effecting clients and employees. One simple suggestion is to start by funneling airflow properly so you can control it. One solution is a pack of HotLok Blanking Panels. These blanking panels are tool-less and snap into any rail type forcing the air to go through the equipment and not bypass your gear. After funneling the air you can properly address heat loads, and add rackmount Quiet Fan Panels or individual QFans to existing knockouts which will help keep your equipment cool without producing additional unwanted noise. Our team can find the right rack, the right cooling, and the right airflow management to keep your work space operating at an appropriate temperature all the while keeping your equipment operating at the appropriate temperature.
Reliable Power
In an open space like a front office a single-phase UPS System and network PDU are recommended. Our selection of Minuteman, CyberPower, ServerTech and Tripp Lite power provides a range from 500VA to 3kVA of rackmount UPS solutions. Power distribution may vary depending on the draw or power and the features you require. A rackmount power strip, more common for wall mounts and network racks, features surge, thermal, or noise protection for your open environment equipment. For more complex needs we have GE and Eltek Critical Power along with a group of experts for sizing and power questions.
Solutions
One of our most common solutions for the health care industry includes our UCoustic Soundproof Cabinet Series. These server rack cabinets not only provide sound dampening technology (Up to 28.5 dBA) and heat dissipation for the equipment (Up to 7.2 kW), but these soundproof server cabinets can also be designed to feature wood paneling creating the illusion of office furniture for aesthetic appeal.
Soundproof Racks
The UCoustic Soundproof Cabinet Series also incorporates locking doors and sides for security, preventing unwarranted tampering. Our depth of relationships with server rack and wall mount manufacturers help us to provide any rack solution you need. With a variety of depths, widths, and styles we can solve any space, heat, or security issues you may have.
Think Flex MDC
The UCoustic Soundproof Cabinet Series also incorporates locking doors and sides for security, preventing unwarranted tampering. Other popular rack options for smaller applications include fixed wall mounts (Commonly the Kendall Howard LINIER Series), UCoustic Soundproof Wall Mounts, and the VRS/WRS Series of Vertical Wall Mounts which protrude significantly less off the wall reducing any potential walking hazards.
