Microscopic zinc whiskers from galvanized floor tiles cause short circuits. We identify, remediate, and prevent recurrence.
Medical Facility
XIRI provides data center zinc-whisker remediation services for facilities in Mineola, NY and the surrounding Nassau County area. Mineola, the county seat of Nassau County, is a vibrant village with a population exceeding 19,000. As the anchor community of the Greater Mineola area, it features a mix of commercial and government activity, particularly along Old Country Road. The area serviced by the Mineola Post Office extends into Garden City, indicating a broad service area.
Zinc whiskers are microscopic metal filaments that grow from galvanized steel floor tiles. They break off, become airborne in sub-floor plenums, and cause short circuits in IT equipment. A single whisker can take down a server. Most data center operators don't know they have a zinc whisker problem until equipment fails.
We inspect sub-floor plenums for zinc whisker contamination, HEPA-vacuum affected areas with H14-grade filtration, assess galvanized tiles for replacement priority, and implement ongoing monitoring protocols. All work follows ASHRAE TC 9.9 and iNEMI guidelines.
Sub-floor plenum inspection and HEPA vacuuming
ASHRAE TC 9.9
Zinc whisker identification on galvanized tiles
iNEMI Guidelines
HEPA-H14 filtered airborne particle control
ISO 14644-1
Anti-static protocols for equipment proximity work
ANSI/ESD S20.20
If your data center has galvanized steel floor tiles (common in pre-2005 builds), you likely have zinc whiskers. We perform a sub-floor inspection with magnification and particle sampling to assess severity.
The whiskers themselves can be removed with HEPA vacuuming, but they regrow from galvanized surfaces. Long-term solutions include tile replacement with non-galvanized alternatives and ongoing HEPA maintenance cleaning.
Book a free site audit. We'll assess your facility and build a compliance-ready protocol.
Get Your Free Site Audit