Cleanstar National Conducts Data Center Zinc Whisker Remediation Without Downtime

Cleanstar National, a commercial cleaning specialist, has completed a zinc whisker remediation at a 40,000-square-foot telecommunications hub in Atlanta. The project ensured the facility's continued operation, preventing catastrophic hardware failures.

"Zinc whiskers are microscopic metallic filaments that can grow from galvanized steel and cause short circuits in sensitive electronic equipment," stated a company representative. "This is a significant threat to data centers, particularly in older facilities where HVAC systems can disperse these particles." The legacy facility experienced a sudden spike in power supply failures across server racks, traced back to zinc whiskers accumulating from the under-floor ventilation system. The critical challenge was that the facility could not be powered down, necessitating a specialized cleaning approach.

The company implemented a dedicated protocol involving ambient air scrubbing with HEPA filters, an anti-static tile lifting technique, and the use of HEPA-filtered vacuums to clean the sub-floor. Surfaces were also treated with a chemical anti-static solution to prevent future buildup.

The entire operation was completed within 96 hours. An independent auditor verified that the space met ISO 14644-1 Class 8 standards. In the 12 months following the remediation, the telecom hub reported zero hardware failures linked to metallic short-circuiting, safeguarding its multi-million dollar infrastructure.