4. Equipment Room

An equipment room is essentially a large telecommunications closet that may house the main distribution frame, PBXs, secondary voltage protection, etc. The equipment room is often appended to the entrance facilities or a computer room to allow shared air conditioning, security, fire control, lighting and limited access.

Number of Workstations	Equipment Room Floor Space (sq. ft.)
1-100	150
101-400	400
401-800	800
801-1,200	1,200

Rule of Thumb: Provide 0.75 square feet of equipment room floor space for every 100 square feet of user workstation area.

Location
Typically, rooms should be located away from sources of electromagnetic interference (transformers, motors, x-ray, induction heaters, arc welders, radio, radar) until interference is less than 3 V/m across the frequency spectrum. Avoid sources of flooding.

Perimeters
Typically, no false ceiling; all surfaces treated to reduce dust; walls and ceiling painted white or pastel to improve visibility.

Limited Access
Typically, single or double 36" „ 80" lockable doors. Other Typically, no piping, ductwork, mechanical equipment or power cabling should be allowed to pass through the equipment room. No unrelated storage.

HVAC
24 hours/day, 365 days/year, 64°-75°F, 30%-55% humidity, positive pressure.

Lighting
Typically, 8.5 feet high, providing 50-foot candles @ 3 feet above floor. Electrical Typically, a minimum of two dedicated 15A, 110VAC duplex outlets on separate circuits is required. Convenience duplex outlets shall be placed at 6-foot intervals around the perimeter. Emergency power should be considered and supplied, if available.

Dust
Less than 100 micrograms/cubic meter/24-hour period
Note: The term "typically" is applied here to indicate, where applicable, that these requirements also apply to other elements of the cabling system spaces. Lighting requirements, for instance, are largely identical for entrance facilities, equipment rooms and telecommunications closets.