GFCI requirement, humidity requirements, chlorine gas.
by
robo_dev
·
about 16 years ago
In reply to Utility sink and equipment rack
Any electrical outlet within six feet of the sink would need to be a GFCI outlet. (US National Electrical Code).
If there were a power strip inside the rack, it would be technically be an electrical code violation unless it were plugged into a dedicated GFCI-protected circuit.
If you violated the electrical code, that could lead to some serious liability issues if some janitor were electrocuted from a shorted-out router when filling his mop-bucket.
If the moisture level within your rack got to any measurable amount, it’s quite possible that it would trip the GFCI and shut off power.
Most routers can operate at 90-95% non-condensing humidity. The measured humidity directly above a sink when filling a mop bucket with hot water would likely be 100%, and it would likely go to ‘condensing’ if the closet temperature were low during the winter. That would trip the GFCI mentioned above, and create corrosion issues with your punch-down block and router. Water splashes would be a concern as well.
Cisco, for example, would not honor your warranty if the device is installed in a location where the environmental limits are exceeded.
However the biggest issue may be if chlorine bleach or lye were poured down the drain. Chlorine gas, even in small quantities, can corrode gold, aluminum, and even stainless steel or diamonds with some moisture present. Chlorine+water = hydrochloric acid.
Lye (drain cleaner) is highly reactive with aluminum, although it only produces hydrogen when reacting with aluminum.
Most installers put the phone block on plywood, which would warp if you got it moist. And chlorine vapors on an aluminum punch-down block would not be good.