Temperature and Humidity Requirements

The operating and nonoperating temperature specifications listed in Environmental Specifications reflect the system’s hardware limits, in order to meet all functional requirements. Note that the operating temperatures apply to the air entering the system and not necessarily the temperature of the air in the aisles.

Avoid temperature and humidity extremes. The optimum operating ambient temperature and humidity ranges are the recommended operating environment. Operating the system within the ambient temperature range is optimal for system reliability. At 23^o C (73.4o F) it is easy to maintain safe relative humidity ranges and to provide a buffer if the environmental support system fails.

Ambient relative humidity levels between 45 percent and 50 percent are the most suitable for system operations to:

• Prevent corrosion.

• Provide an operating time buffer in the event of an environmental control system failure.

• Help avoid failures due to intermittent interference from static discharges that can occur when relative humidity is too low. ESD is easily generated and less easily dissipated in areas where the relative humidity is below 35 percent, and becomes critical when levels drop below 30 percent.

Conditions should not be allowed to fluctuate by more than 5.5 ^o C (10 ^oF) or 10 percent relative humidity during a 60-minute period.