Eliminating the Shock Factor: Antistatic Flooring Grounds Data Center

Earth-Friendly Tiles are a ‘Snap to Install’

For many years this national communications company has relied on MicroAge’s Rich Birberick to support its diverse technology needs. Working with the client on various infrastructure projects, Rich has been involved in supporting its data center, providing networking switches, and delivering power-over-Ethernet ‘atomic’ clocks with digital signage to manage high-volume call center activity.

This time, the request was a bit more unusual: the company needed flooring! To clarify, it specifically needed antistatic electrical discharge flooring to serve as the foundation for its 2,300 square foot data center, accessed by approximately 2,000 users. The company was consolidating two existing data centers into one; the possibility of a stray electrical charge hitting data center equipment and potentially rendering it useless was a valid concern. By sourcing and installing an antistatic electrical discharge base, the chance of accidentally harming equipment or disrupting operations was greatly reduced.

Since MicroAge has such wide-ranging relationships with numerous manufacturers, Rich was able to research and source an appropriate vendor for the task in a relatively short time frame. “The unique advantage in working with MicroAge is that we have the freedom and ability to pursue new solutions, open up relationships with new vendors, and creatively respond to our clients’ needs,” he comments.

Rich sourced StaticStop, manufacturer of SelectTile ESD, an antistatic electrical discharge flooring. StaticStop not only fabricated the right material, but also provided it in easy-to-use, interlocking panels that fit together over the existing floor. Additionally, since a minimum 20 percent of the flooring derives from recycled materials and it is fully recyclable at the end of its life, the product helps support the company’s LEED certification standing as it pursues sustainable solutions. LEED, an acronym for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” is an internationally recognized green building certification system that identifies green building design, construction, operations and maintenance and a goal of numerous corporations.

Installing antistatic electrical discharge flooring in any data center makes eminently good sense; with significant leading technology investments in place, ensuring that their foundation is charge-free is a proactive solution that ultimately pays for itself many times over.

Literally building this solution from the ‘ground up,’ MicroAge demonstrates that no solution is out of reach for clients, no matter how unexpected it may be!