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In the Data Center: Is Safe, Safe Enough?

“I’m a pretty big guy, but I can’t lift a 300-pound server without throwing my back out. It’s not something we want our customers to experience, either. Having something like a ServerLIFT® on the floor for my techs and the clients saves us from injuries. Before we got it, we’d get several guys to lift equipment together and put it on the rails, which isn’t really the best option. Now, we’re doing that job easily with one guy.” Chris Boyle, TAC Manager, Flexential Every manufacturer will claim that their products are safe. Especially in a data center, where uptime is paramount and server equipment costs millions, how can you trust and know that to be true? One way is to see which lifts are able to back that claim with unbiased, third-party safety inspections and certifications. ServerLIFT®-brand data center lifts are the only lifts designed to function effectively in the data center without compromising  safety. Our customers put our lifts to the test every day with a 100% accident-free record (client-reported).

The ServerLIFT® Creation and Certification Processes

“It doesn’t matter how much it weighs, and it doesn’t matter how much effort it takes to move stuff; safety and an understanding of process (when it comes to data center fit-out) is really important. We think about the safety of our staff all of the time.” A.D. Robison, Rahi Systems A considerable amount of effort goes into creating ServerLIFT® products and attachments that function well and keep operators safe under both data center and warehouse safety regulations. This includes extensive research and regular audits for compliance, resulting in important third-party endorsements on a global scale.  Our assisted lifting devices (ALDs) meet worldwide standards for both safety and for health and safety management systems. In order to make that happen, we have to maintain the highest standards of operational improvement. There is a tight and constant focus on both mechanical and electromagnetic safety. Each regulation and standard is detailed below.  It is important to remember: This is a level of internal and external scrutiny that, in the world of server handling, is unique to ServerLIFT® products. Certain warehouse lifts may meet some of the standards listed above, but this does not mean they are appropriate solutions for handling servers in a data center. They are still designed specifically to take on warehouse work. 

Data Center Regulations and Lift Safety

The standards for data centers shift globally and are dependent on design, operation, and other factors. There are international standards, national and local codes, and optional rules that could be set industry-wide or over specific equipment and machinery used anywhere in the region in which the data is located. But, there are some product certifications that are widely accepted—or even universally applicable—for a data center facility in any given region. The certifications adopted by ServerLIFT® were chosen for their ubiquity and global trust. You can trust that all ServerLIFT® products, as applicable, have achieved the following certifications:

UL Global Product Certification

Underwriter Laboratories (UL) is a company with well over a century of comprehensive certification programs for products, facilities, processes, and systems. The overarching commonality is their focus on safety, accepted across the world.  UL is an independent certifying agency. Many of our data center clients have also adopted the UL standard for products that they use in their facilities. 

CE  European Conformity

CE was the first formal standard ServerLIFT® pursued for product compliance. The CE marking signifies that products sold in the EEA (European Economic Area) have been assessed to meet high safety, health, and environmental protection requirements The CE stamp is required on all products imported into and sold in Europe, but we have voluntarily elected to ensure CE compliance for every product we build regardless of its ultimate in-service location. CE compliance focuses on two types of safety: mechanical and electromagnetic.

FCC Certification

FCC certification is for electromagnetic conformance. While the FCC is an American government entity, this certification is recognized in many other places.  The product performance thresholds required to attain FCC certification are similar to CE standards. Compliant devices cannot cause electromagnetic interference with the computers and servers which come into close proximity. This type of disturbance can degrade performance or stop equipment from functioning entirely.  Any harmful emissions, including electromagnetic interference (EMI) can cause injury due to radiation, noise, an affected power supply, or a failure of equipment.

IC Certification

IC is a Canadian certification issued by the Certification and Engineering Bureau. Testing is parallel to CE and FCC testing.  Canada’s approach to RF or radiofrequency testing (a part of the electromagnetic spectrum) is particularly stringent. This certification ensures operators are not affected by any RF energy being emitted by a ServerLIFT® product.

ISO:9001 and ISO:14001

ISO certification is company-focused instead of product-focused. As a manufacturer, ServerLIFT® meets ISO standards voluntarily. Earning and maintaining these certifications is very important to us. They mean that our clients can rest assured that ServerLIFT® has established stringent systems for maintaining and continuously improving quality (ISO:9001) and environmental responsibility (ISO:14001). While achieving these certifications is more difficult than not, maintaining them underscores our relentless commitment to the level of excellence and professionalism that our clients expect from themselves and those with which they do business. 

Help Us Continue to Help You Stay Safe

Our dedication to multiple safety, engineering, and management system checks is a company-wide endeavor. To continue providing our clients with the best data center lifts on the market, we are constantly getting feedback on product development. We follow a comprehensive methodology for making improvements and consistently delivering better-quality machines. This includes internal checks and opening our doors regularly to outside independent auditors.  Delivering on our customer’s highest expectations of safety and quality is job #1 at ServerLIFT®. Whether you need a part or simply have a question about data center lifts or safety in the data center, feel free to call us at 602-254-1557. Also, Consider joining the Data Center Safety group, powered by experts in the field and fueled by a shared interest in improving safety and efficiency in data centers worldwide. 

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