Environmental specifications

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The 9176 is among the most powerful group of mainframe processors ever built. Technology improvements have placed the 9176 in the top levels of Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability. But it takes more than premium computer equipment to achieve these goals. The data center environment must be able to support the demands that the 9176 capability requires. On the following pages, environmental specifications are presented in tabular and graphic forms to emphasize how important it is that you provide the conditions necessary to utilize all of the power the 9176 offers.

The 9176 is designed to operate in an ASHRAE Class A3 (4th Edition) environment.

Environmental specifications are presented in two categories: Recommended and Allowable. Obviously, meeting the required specifications is prerequisite to using the 9176. It is strongly suggested that you strive for a long-term operating environment within the recommended specification range. The powerful computing the 9176 provides generates heat that must be removed from the machine. Operating your data center most of the time within the recommended range instead of the allowable range will enhance its overall resiliency, energy efficiency, and reliability.

Unless otherwise noted on individual specification pages, the following environmental specifications, based on an altitude from sea level to 900 meters (2953 feet), apply:

Table 1. Environmental specifications - table format
Environment, Operating: 9
  Recommended 1,6 Allowable 2,3,4,5,6
Temperature 18°C - 27°C (64.4°F - 80.6°F) 5°C - 40°C (41°F - 104°F)
Low end moisture -9.0°C (15.8°F) dew point -12°C (10.4°F) dew point and 8% relative humidity
High end moisture 60% relative humidity and 15°C (59°F) dew point 85% relative humidity and 24°C (72.5°F) dew point
Gaseous contamination Severity level G1 according to ANSI/ISA S71.04-1985 7,8
Particulate contamination Cleanliness level of ISO 14644-1 Class 8 8
Allowable environment, Non-operating: 10
Temperature 5°C (45°F) to 45°C (113°F)
Relative humidity 8% to 85%
Maximum dew point 27°C (80.6°F)
Gaseous contamination Severity level G1 as per ANSI/ISA 71.04-1985 7,8
Environment, shipping: 9
Temperature -40°C (-40°F) to 60°C (140°F)
Relative humidity 5% to 100% (no condensation)
Maximum wet bulb temperature 29°C (84.2°F)
Shipping package IBM®-approved crate with vapor barrier bag with desiccant
Environment, storage: 10
Temperature 1°C (33.8°F) to 60°C (140°F)
Relative humidity 5% to 80% (no condensation)
Wet bulb 29°C (84.2°F)
Shipping package IBM-approved crate with vapor barrier bag with desiccant
Notes:
  1. The recommended operating environment specifies a long-term operating environment that can result in the greatest resiliency, energy efficiency, and reliability.
  2. The allowable operating environment represents where the equipment has been tested to verify functionality. Due to the stresses that operating in the allowable envelope can place on the equipment, these envelopes should be used for short-term operation, not continuous operation (for example, in the case of a cooling failure).
  3. Must derate the maximum allowable temperature 1°C (1.8°F)/175 m (574 ft) above 900 m (2953 ft) up to a maximum allowable elevation of 3050 m (~10,000 ft).
  4. The minimum humidity level is the larger absolute humidity of the -12°C (10.4°F) dew point and the 8% relative humidity. These intersect at approximately 25°C (77°F). Below this intersection the dew point (-12°C) represents the minimum moisture level, while above it, the relative humidity (8%) is the minimum. See Figure 1 for a graphical explanation of the envelope.
  5. For temperatures in the allowable envelope, the acoustical noise levels of the system may increase significantly as the speeds of the air moving devices increase. See Acoustics for the declared acoustical noise emission levels for the system.
  6. Based in research funded by ASHRAE and performed at low relative humidity, the following are the minimum requirements:
    1. Data centers that have non-ESD floors, where people are permitted to wear non-ESD shoes, might want to consider increasing humidity; given that the risk of generating 8 kV increases from 0.27% (at 25% relative humidity) to 0.43% (at 8% relative humidity).
    2. All mobile furnishings/equipment is to be made of conductive or static dissipative materials and bonded to the ground.
    3. During maintenance on any hardware, a properly functioning and grounded wrist strap must be used by any personnel who contacts IT equipment.
  7. ANSI/ISA-S71.04. 1985. Environmental conditions for process measurement and control systems: Airborne contaminants. Instrument Society of America, Research Triangle Park, NC, 1985.
  8. See Conductive contamination for details of the requirements for gaseous and particulate contamination.
  9. See System acclimation for guidance on how long the system must be acclimated before being attached to the power source.
  10. For equipment that has been removed from original shipping container and installed but powered down. The allowable non-operating environment is provided to define the environmental range that a non-powered system should be able to experience short-term without being damaged. It assumes that the system has not been contaminated with low deliquescent relative humidity dust, which could damage the equipment and require the system to dry out before powering on. (See Conductive contamination for details.) Under all conditions, the environment must remain non-condensing. The allowable non-operating environment is meant for abnormal conditions (for example, power or cooling failure). It is expected that the data center will return conditions to the recommended operating conditions within a short period of time. The allowable non-operating environment is not meant to be used for periodic, planned changes from an operating to non-operating condition.

Figure 1 shows the environmental specifications in line graph format.

Figure 1. Environmental operating specifications - line graph format
This graphic shows a environmental specifications in a psychrometric chart format. These specifications include: dew point temperature in Celcius, dry bulb temperature in Celcius, dew point temperature in Celcius, and relative humidity.
Notes:
  1. Psychrometric chart is shown in SI (metric) units and a barometric pressure 101.325 kPa (sea level).
  2. The recommended operating environment specifies a long-term operating environment that can result in the greatest reliability and energy efficiency.
  3. The allowable operating environment represents where the equipment has been tested to verify functionality. Due to the stresses that operating in the allowable envelope can place on the equipment, these envelopes should be used for short-term operation, not continuous operation, for example in the case of a cooling failure.
  4. Must derate the maximum allowable temperature 1°C (1.8°F)/175 m (574 ft) above 900 m (2953 ft) up to a maximum allowable elevation of 3050 m (~10,000 ft).
  5. For temperatures in the allowable envelope, the acoustical noise levels of the system may increase significantly as the speeds of the air moving devices increase. See Acoustics for the declared acoustical noise emission levels for the system.
  6. Based in research funded by ASHRAE and performed at low relative humidity, the following are the minimum requirements:
    1. Data centers that have non-ESD floors, where people are permitted to wear non-ESD shoes, might want to consider increasing humidity; given that the risk of generating 8 kV increases from 0.27% (at 25% relative humidity) to 0.43% (at 8% relative humidity).
    2. All mobile furnishings/equipment is to be made of conductive or static dissipative materials and bonded to the ground.
    3. During maintenance on any hardware, a properly functioning wrist strap must be used by any personnel who contacts the system.

Figure 2 shows the environmental specifications in bar graph format.

Figure 2. Environmental operating specifications - bar graph format
This graphic shows the environmental specifications in a bar graph format. This graphic shows what environment specifications meet the ASHRAE recommended environmental guidelines, meet the ASHRAE allowable environmental guidelines, and exceeds the ASHRAE environment limits.
Notes:
  1. Graph is shown in SI (metric) units and a barometric pressure 101.325 kPa (sea level).
  2. The recommended operating environment specifies a long-term operating environment that can result in the greatest reliability and energy efficiency.
  3. The allowable operating environment represents where the equipment has been tested to verify functionality. Due to the stresses that operating in the allowable envelope can place on the equipment, these envelopes should be used for short-term operation, not continuous operation, for example in the case of a cooling failure.
  4. Must derate the maximum allowable temperature 1°C (1.8°F)/175 m (574 ft) above 900 m (2953 ft) up to a maximum allowable elevation of 3050 m (~10,000 ft).
  5. For temperatures in the allowable envelope, the acoustical noise levels of the system may increase significantly as the speeds of the air moving devices increase. See Acoustics for the declared acoustical noise emission levels for the system.
  6. Based in research funded by ASHRAE and performed at low relative humidity, the following are the minimum requirements:
    1. Data centers that have non-ESD floors, where people are permitted to wear non-ESD shoes, might want to consider increasing humidity; given that the risk of generating 8 kV increases from 0.27% (at 25% relative humidity) to 0.43% (at 8% relative humidity).
    2. All mobile furnishings/equipment is to be made of conductive or static dissipative materials and bonded to the ground.
    3. During maintenance on any hardware, a properly functioning wrist strap must be used by any personnel who contacts the system.

It is very important the environmental specifications be met immediately in front of the frame of the 9176. Ideally, it would be best if the temperature and humidity controls are good enough to surround the service area in front of the 9176.