3 Essential Qualities Of A Computer Storage Facility

For many start-up businesses that are product-oriented, the often prohibitive costs of leasing industrial space means that the responsibility of product storage is outsourced to a commercial storage facility.

If you're selling computers, the ideal storage facility for your product must be tailor-made for safe storage of these electronic devices. Here are three things you shouldn't sacrifice as you choose between different facilities.

Fire Suppression Systems

Like other business entities, storage facilities are required by law to invest in fire suppression systems as a precautionary measure. You should take a keen interest in the kind of system used in each facility that you may consider.

There are two main types of commercial fire suppression systems. Wet-type systems will sprinkle water into a room once the system detects smoke or an actual fire, while dry-type systems will release a chemical agent that 'blankets' the fire and deprives it of oxygen.

The facility you end up choosing should have a dry-type fire suppression system. In the event of fire, the dry chemical agent is not as likely to damage computers. The kind of damage that computers are likely to suffer if exposed to water from a wet-type fire suppression system is obvious.

Humidity Control

Your chosen facility also needs to have serious measures in place to combat excess humidity within individual storage units. Humidity control is more important than the right fire suppression system because excess humidity poses a threat to the 'well-being' of your computers on a daily basis. The wet-type sprinkler only poses a threat in the event of fire outbreak, which is a rare occurrence.

A storage facility that's serious about humidity control should have invested in dehumidifiers for most (if not all) of their individual storage units. Humidifiers allow for precise control over the amount of moisture that will be present in the air within the storage units at any given time. Some facilities may have hygrometers instead of humidifiers. 

Alternatively, AC units within the facility should have been fitted with humidity sensors. You shouldn't get into a contract with any facility that hasn't made an effort with respect to humidity control.

Dust Control

Finally, it's not enough that your computers will be covered with some sort of fabric to protect them from dust until the day you'll get them out of the facility.

Facilities that are serious about dust control should have air purifiers in their storage units. These devices filter dust particles from the air, meaning that your computers will be better protected from the potentially harmful effects of dust.