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Loss Control: The First 24 Hours
Electronic Equipment Disaster Recovery Plan
This plan attempts to detail the necessary emergency protection
steps to be taken after a disaster has occurred to electronic
equipment. The plan considers fire, heat, smoke and water
damage and is designed to limit and mitigate potential losses.
The equipment under discussion includes office computers,
word processors, telephone switching equipment, test equipment,
process equipment and other electrical and electronic apparatus.
WARNING: It is most important that power be disconnected
from all electronic equipment immediately. Not only is there
a continuing danger from electrical shorts to the equipment,
but voltage potential within the circuitry tends to plate
contaminants onto printed circuit boards and backplanes.
Smoke Damage
Primary damage to electronic equipment is caused by smoke
that contains corrosive chloride and sulfur combustion by-products.
Smoke exposure during the fire for a relatively short period
of time does little immediate damage. However, the particulate
residue left after the smoke has dissipated, contains the
active by product which will corrode metal surfaces. The
corrosion of printed circuit traces, electrical contacts,
component leads and wire wrap terminals is most active in
the presence of moisture and oxygen.
The ultimate objective in restoration is the removal of
the contaminant. Since all of the equipment cannot be cleaned
simultaneously, it is most important that immediate steps
be taken to arrest the corrosion process.
Move the exposed equipment into an air conditioned and
humidity controlled environment as soon as possible. (40-50%
relative humidity will generally prevent an acceleration
of corrosive activity.)
If moving the equipment is not possible, make sure the equipment
area is sealed off from outside elements. (CAUTION: Do not
wrap the individual pieces of equipment in any material
that tends to trap moisture inside the chassis.)
Spray connectors, backplanes and printed circuit board surfaces
with fluorocarbon based aerosol contact cleaners. This will
leave a thin, but easily removable coating which helps to
prevent oxygen from activating the chlorides.
Once the corrosion process is stabilized, an analysis can
be made of the contaminants and appropriate decontamination
processes can be applied.
Water Damage
It is a popular misconception that electronic equipment
exposed to water and moisture is permanently damaged. Water
which is sprayed, splashed or dripped onto electronic equipment
can easily be neutralized, even equipment that has been
totally submerged can be restored. However, in every case
of water damage, immediate countermeasures are imperative.
Open cabinet doors, remove side panels and covers, and
pull out chassis drawers to allow water to run out of equipment.
Set up fans to move room temperature air through the equipment
for general drying. (CAUTION: Maintain room ambient temperature.)
Use compressed air at no higher than 50 p.s.i. to blow out
trapped water.
Use hand held hair dryers on lowest setting to dry connectors,
backplane wire wraps and printed circuit cards. (CAUTION:
Keep the dryer well away from components and wires. Overheating
of electronic parts can cause permanent damage.)
Use cotton tipped swabs for hard to reach places. Lightly
dab the surface to remove residual moisture. (CAUTION: Do
not rub the surface as it may cause physical damage to components
or disturb jumpers and wire layouts.) DO NOT USE COTTON
TIPPED SWABS ON WIRE WRAP TERMINALS.
Use petroleum-based preservative sprays on all critical
metal surfaces.
Tape/Disk Media
The most important asset to be preserved following the
loss is the corporate media (company database).
Severe damage to disk read/write heads is probable if an
attempt is made to operate with media which is not clean.
A "head crash" caused by particulate on the surface
of the media will not only damage the drive but result in
a loss of data.
Carefully remove all media to a dust free, humidity controlled
environment
Remove media from protective containers and allow to dry
naturally. Do not apply heat or wipe dry.
Contaminated disks and tapes should not run until cleaned
as damage may result to the read/write heads.
Cleaning of disk packs and tapes requires special techniques
and should be done by a qualified outside service
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