Space requirements

The floor area required for the equipment is determined by the specific systems to be installed, the location of columns, the floor loading capacity, and the provisions for future expansion.

When the amount of space is determined, allow more space for furniture, carts, and storage cabinets. Additional space, not necessarily in the computer area, is required for air conditioning, electrical, security systems, fire protection equipment, and storage of tapes, forms, and other supplies. Plan to store all combustible materials in properly designed and protected storage areas.

A computer room or area should be separated from adjacent areas to allow air conditioning, fire protection, and security. The floor-to-ceiling height must be sufficient to allow system top covers to open for service and should be adequate to allow air circulation from the data processing machine. The recommended heights are 2.6 m to 2.9 m (8 ft 6 in. to 9 ft 6 in.) from the building floor or (if used) from the raised floor to the ceiling, but higher ceilings are acceptable. In new construction or remodeling, the computer room area should have a minimum door width of 914 mm (36 in.). Because many machine frames are close to 914 mm (36 in.) in width, the use of a 1067 mm (42 in.) door width would be preferable. The door height should be a minimum of 2032 mm (80 in.) of unobstructed height (no threshold plate).

For information about floor loading and weight distribution for your system, see Floor construction and floor loading.