Data Clean Corporation has introduced a set of guidelines aimed at educating IT and Network Administrators about contamination control in datacom environments including datacenters, server rooms, telecom facilities, and other environments where sensitive electronics are present.
As computer components get smaller, they become more susceptible to failures caused by contamination. Common dust and dirt can accumulate on circuitry and cause short circuits, overheating, and other problems. Contamination related failures can lead to downtime and ultimately lost revenue.
Following these basic guidelines will help prevent contamination bit errors, packet loss, and failures.
To protect sensitive equipment, establish guidelines for all staff and visitors to follow. A contamination prevention initiative should outline activities that are and are not acceptable for your environment.
Guidelines for Contamination Control in Datacom Environments

Establish Datacom Environment Protocols.
No food or drink inside the datacom environment.
Do not unpack or uncrate equipment or other items inside the datacom environment. A staging area outside the environment should be established for unpacking or uncrating activity.
Do not store cardboard, wood or paper type products inside the datacom environment. These items easily shed large amounts of contamination.
Do not prop open doors that lead to non-datacom environment areas.
Do not allow any work to occur in datacom environment until the environmental impact of the work is known AND protocols for contamination control have been reviewed and approved.
Any tools and/or materials brought in the datacom environment by vendors or employees should be reasonably clean and contaminant free.

Limit access to the datacom environment.
In addition to security risks, unnecessary personnel can add to contamination levels. People generate contamination through clothing fibers, dead skin, hair, and dirt on their shoes. Place contamination control mats at all entrances to the datacom environment.
Contamination control mats help ensure that dust, carpet fibers and other small particulate are not tracked into the room via people's shoes or wheels on carts. Maintain positive air pressurization in the datacom environment relative to surrounding areas.
Positive pressurization helps prevent contaminated air from entering the room.
Maintain a disciplined datacom environment cleaning program.
Clean top of floor surfaces quarterly.
Clean equipment and environmental surfaces quarterly.
Clean underfloor plenum at least once per year.
Maintain a consistent cleaning schedule.
Increase cleaning frequency during construction or other contamination producing events.