Protecting Critical Networks During Earthquakes
October 14, 2014
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit the coast of El Salvador on Oct.14, near the municipality of Intipuca. Power in the city was down and a local hospital suffered light structural damages.
The International Building Code (IBC) states that hospitals and emergency management agencies are considered Risk Category IV facilities, and must continue to be operational, especially during and after an earthquake, because:
- They require direct access to the network at all times for patient records
- Life support and monitoring devices must remain operational
- Communications equipment must remain operational
- Access to network for data is essential to remain functioning
- Communications services are critical for monitoring and planning
Consequently, components that will be attached to a Category IV building and that are required to keep operating in such building should have a special seismic qualification from an accredited institution.
Chatsworth Products (CPI) has designed and tested its seismic products to the highest performance, ensuring functionality in the case of even the most severe earthquake.
The Z4-Series SeismicFrame® Cabinet delivers:
- Market-leading seismic load rating of 1500 lb
- Multiple size options, including 1200 mm D cabinets to support deeper equipment, like modular network switches and high-density server applications
- Simplified installation that only requires floor anchorage eliminating the requirement for costly engineering calculations for external bracing
- Increased chance of continued operation after seismic event
- Seismic code compliant
As seismic events continue to draw attention on a global scale, preparing for the next seismic event is especially important for data centers that cannot afford to be offline or are not backed up at a secondary location. To reduce risk and minimize equipment damage, seismic protection is necessary.
For details, visit the product page.
Raissa Carey, eContent Specialist