Heat Stress
As temperatures rise within the data center environment, the risk of heat-related illnesses for technicians and other staff working in the hot aisles increases significantly. Use this metric to make sure your hot aisle is not too hot for your staff.
What is Heat Stress?
The Heat Stress Index or Heat Index is a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is taken into account along with the actual air temperature. This is used to prevent potential heat stress caused by the combination of working in a hot environment and the metabolic heat from the task performed.
How to Measure Heat Stress?
Purkay Labs utilizes the Heat Index formula developed by the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States, which takes into account both air temperature and relative humidity to determine how hot it feels to the human body. The Index categorizes heat stress levels and provide guidance on safety precautions for outdoor activities (Figure 1).
How to Measure Heat Stress Index in the Data Center?
To measure HSI in the data center, you would need to collect temperature and relative humidity data throughout your aisles.
Step 1: Collect Temperature & Humidity Data
The AUDIT-BUDDY system automatically collects temperature and humidity simultaneously.
Temperature View
Humidity View
Step 2: Calculate the HSI
This information can be presented as a numerically or as a Static Map.
What Do You Need to Generate HSI?
You will need:
At least 1 AUDIT-BUDDY Stand
AUDIT-MATE 2.0 (included with every purchase and rental)
or
Utilize Purkay Labs’ Thermal Survey Service
What are the Benefits of the Heat Stress Index?
Figure out how hot is “too” hot for the hot aisle environment
Set standard for how long techs should spend in contained spaces.
Get a baseline of your current environment (to compare later)
Numbers based, not imagination based.