3 Reasons to never use Network Closets for Storage
Network closets can be a scary place (checkout these actual closet pictures)
It is very tempting to use these closets for storage. This is a bad idea, here are 3 reasons to never do this:
Fire Hazard
These rooms are designed to be empty of items on the floor to avoid a fire hazard. You can even get a citation from the fire inspector if they see closets like this! If you truly think about it though, what if there were a fire caused by the clutter in a closet like this. Don’t think about just the value of the building or equipment you might lose but also the lives you may put in danger.
In-accessible equipment
If storage Items are put into these rooms, it may infringe on access to the equipment they were designed for. These rooms are used all the time by Phone, IT, Electric, Plumbing and Fire supression technicians that need to get to their equipment for maintenance and installation. If they are packed full of storage items, it can cost you more as they need to take the time to move or remove items so they can work.
Accidental Damage
People or storage items may bump and cause damage to sensitive equipment. When people do place or remove items in these rooms they can accidentally bump or move equipment that can cause the Internet to go down, phone service to stop working, Electricity to go down and worst of all they may not even know they did anything. Then there is the repair bill for having the technician come on site and find the issue.
We see a lot of messy equipment rooms, some with storage items, some with terrible installations of equipment, and some with both. Whenever we find these types of closets we will bring it to your attention, so please take a serious look at them when we do and see if we can’t work to help each other out and keep a safe, clean and well installed closet for everyone.
Greg Durnan is the Owner/President of AcaciaIT and very active in the business community of Southern Arizona. One of the founding members of the Greater Vail Area Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is very passionate about the needs of businesses in Arizona. He also strives to educate clients on Computer and Network Security through Lunch and Learns, articles, and webinars.
On the weekends he enjoys spending time with his wife and son at their ranch in Vail and working with horses.