Data Hall Etiquette & Behavior Policy
Behavioral and operational standards for all individuals working inside GridColo data halls to maintain safety, cleanliness, and professional atmosphere in shared critical environments.
The Data Hall Etiquette Policy establishes behavioral and operational standards for all individuals working inside GridColo data halls. Data halls are shared, critical environments that require a higher standard of discipline than typical workspaces. Noise, debris, poor cabling practices, or careless movement of equipment can compromise airflow, obstruct egress, or distract other tenants, ultimately threatening uptime.
The objective of this policy is to preserve the safety, cleanliness, and professional atmosphere of the data hall while ensuring equal respect for all customers operating within it.
This policy applies to all non-GridSite personnel — customers, vendors, contractors, auditors, and escorted visitors — who enter any GridColo data hall, regardless of Security Level (1–4). It supplements the General Rules & Regulations Policy and Safe Working Practices Policy, but is specifically focused on conduct within active equipment rooms.
Every individual in the data hall is expected to conduct themselves with professionalism, respect for others, and awareness of the sensitivity of the environment. This includes maintaining low noise levels, controlling materials and tools, handling equipment carefully, and leaving the hall as clean as it was found. Customers may work only within their authorized allocations and must never interfere with other tenants' equipment or pathways. GridColo staff will intervene if behavior compromises safety, airflow, security, or the professional character of the data hall.
Movement within the data hall must be purposeful and limited to the aisles and allocations that an individual is authorized to access. Lingering in shared aisles, observing neighboring equipment, or entering restricted rows is prohibited.
Equipment Staging Requirements:
Equipment carts, ladders, or tools must be staged within the customer's footprint or against unused wall sections, never obstructing cold aisles, hot aisles, or egress paths. Aisles must remain free of debris, packaging, or tools at all times.
Data halls require a low noise floor to ensure concentration, communication, and operational monitoring. Conversations should be brief, professional, and at low volume.
Prohibited:
- • Shouting across aisles
- • Using mobile phone speakers
- • Playing music
- • Running or horseplay
- • Disruptive conduct
Safety Note:
Headphones that block situational awareness are not permitted for safety reasons.
Photography or recording in the data hall is prohibited unless expressly authorized by GridColo Operations.
Authorized Photography Restrictions:
- • Limited to customer's own equipment only
- • No capture of other tenants' systems, racks, or cabling
- • Visitors under escort are not permitted to take photographs or recordings under any circumstances
Prohibited Items:
- • Food and drink
- • Tobacco and vaping products
- • Cardboard packaging
- • Foam materials
- • Shrink-wrap
- • Wood materials
Required Practices:
- • Uncrate equipment in staging areas
- • Promptly remove packaging materials
- • Leave work areas clean after each task
- • Remove all loose fasteners and scraps
Customers must respect aisle containment systems, perforated tile layouts, and airflow management strategies in the data hall.
Required Practices:
- • Keep cabinet doors closed except during servicing
- • Use blanking panels in unused rack spaces
- • Seal floor penetrations with approved grommets
- • Maintain thermal balance
Prohibited Actions:
- • Opening containment barriers without authorization
- • Repositioning airflow management systems
- • Obstructing perforated tiles
- • Blocking CRAC/CRAH intake areas
Equipment must be moved carefully to avoid contact with other racks, cabling, or containment structures. Anti-tip procedures must be followed when loading racks.
Installation Requirements:
- • Conduct work methodically using proper tools
- • Minimize noise, dust, and disturbance
- • Follow anti-tip procedures for rack loading
- • Temporary staging allowed only for necessary maneuvering time
Prohibited Practices:
- • Overloaded racks
- • Unstable stacking
- • Unsafe lifting practices
Required Standards:
- • Neat and labeled cabling within racks
- • Proper strain relief
- • Route through designated pathways
- • Customer patching within own rack/cage only
Prohibited Practices:
- • Patch cords crossing aisle boundaries
- • Cables hanging loosely in aisles
- • "Flying" cables on the floor
- • Unsecured cable runs
Important Note:
All rack-to-rack cabling must be installed by GridColo personnel or designated cabling contractors.
Visitors may enter the data hall only under continuous escort. Escorts must maintain line-of-sight with their visitors at all times.
Escort Responsibilities:
- • Maintain continuous line-of-sight
- • Ensure visitors don't touch equipment
- • Prevent unauthorized access
- • Accountable for guest behavior
Visitor Restrictions:
- • May not operate devices
- • Cannot open cabinets
- • Must not remain unattended
- • No interference with equipment
In the event of an alarm or emergency instruction, all individuals must stop work immediately, secure equipment if possible, and evacuate calmly along marked exit routes.
Emergency Procedures:
- • Stop work immediately upon alarm
- • Secure equipment if time permits
- • Leave tools and carts in place if retrieval would delay evacuation
- • Escorts must ensure visitors exit promptly
- • Accompany visitors to designated muster points
The data hall is a multi-tenant environment. Individuals must not observe, comment on, or interfere with neighboring customers' racks or activities.
Professional Discretion Requirements:
- • Information inadvertently visible must not be discussed
- • No photography of other tenants' equipment
- • No recording of neighboring activities
- • Privacy of tenants treated as extension of security
Individual Responsibilities:
- • Follow etiquette requirements
- • Remain in authorized spaces
- • Maintain clean, quiet, safe environment
Customer Responsibilities:
- • Brief personnel and vendors on policy
- • Ensure compliance with requirements
Vendor Responsibilities:
- • Confine activities to customer allocations
- • Follow GridColo cabling standards
- • Maintain airflow requirements
GridColo Staff Responsibilities:
- • Monitor behavior and compliance
- • Intervene when necessary
- • Enforce etiquette consistently
Violations of this policy may result in immediate removal from the data hall, suspension of credentials, or revocation of escort privileges.
Potential Consequences:
- • Immediate removal from data hall
- • Suspension of access credentials
- • Revocation of escort privileges
- • Financial responsibility for remediation costs
- • Termination of colocation services (repeated/serious violations)
This policy is effective upon publication and remains in force until superseded. GridColo may amend this policy to address evolving best practices, technologies, or operational requirements.
Amendment Notification:
Customers will be notified of material changes through the customer portal and formal communications.