Services / Zinc Whisker Remediation
Most facilities do not know they have zinc whiskers until hardware starts failing without explanation. We identify the contamination, contain the affected area, and remediate without redistributing particles through your airflow system.
Zinc whiskers are microscopic crystalline structures that grow spontaneously from electroplated zinc surfaces, typically raised access floor tiles and structural components including pedestals and stringers installed before 1995. They are typically 2 microns in diameter and can grow to several millimetres in length over many years.
When disturbed, they become airborne. Even CRAC airflow is strong enough to dislodge and distribute zinc whisker particles throughout a data centre. Once airborne, they are drawn into equipment through cooling inlets and settle on circuit boards and inside power supplies, where they cause intermittent short circuits that are frequently diagnosed incorrectly as software or hardware faults.
There are two types of zinc-plated floor tiles. Electroplated zinc tiles are the problem. Hot-dipped galvanised tiles are not affected. If your facility uses electroplated zinc raised floor infrastructure installed before 1995, zinc whiskers are a realistic contamination risk that requires specialist assessment.
Priority Data Services, Brisbane, QLD
Zinc whisker contamination is age-dependent and infrastructure-specific.
Electroplated zinc floor tiles installed before 1995 are the primary risk source. The whiskers grow slowly over many years without causing any detectable problem until they are disturbed. Long-undisturbed facilities carry the highest accumulated risk.
Age dependentThe highest-risk moment for zinc whisker release is when subfloor barriers are removed during facility expansion. One documented case saw multiple power supply failures in a live data centre within minutes of the barrier being removed, after years of undisturbed whisker growth in the adjacent space.
High-risk momentIntermittent power supply failures, hardware faults that cannot be reproduced, and short circuits with no clear cause are all consistent with zinc whisker contamination. If your maintenance logs show a pattern of unexplained equipment failures, contamination should be assessed before replacing more hardware.
Diagnostic indicatorHigh airflow environments used in high-density computing accelerate the distribution of whisker particles once they become airborne. The more airflow, the faster contamination spreads across the facility.
Airflow riskContainment first. Remediation without redistribution.
Visual inspection of raised floor tiles, pedestals, and stringers to identify the presence and extent of zinc whisker growth. We confirm whether tiles are electroplated zinc or hot-dipped galvanised before any further work proceeds.
Affected areas are contained before any tile lifting or remediation begins. CRAC airflow in the work zone is managed to prevent particle redistribution. The surrounding facility is protected throughout.
HEPA-grade vacuuming of all affected surfaces, pedestals, stringers, and subfloor void. Tiles are cleaned and assessed. The work is documented throughout with a full record of the affected area and the actions taken.
Written report provided on completion, detailing the extent of contamination found and the remediation performed. Signed off by your authorised representative. Suitable for management reporting, insurance, and compliance purposes.
Microscopic evidence from real facility assessments across Australia.
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Electron microscope
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Whisker growth pattern
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Subfloor tile contamination
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Whisker vs hair scale
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Hot-dipped galvanised: safe
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Equipment contamination
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Filter post-remediation
Unexplained hardware failures?
If your facility has pre-1995 raised floor infrastructure or a pattern of unexplained equipment failures, contact us to discuss a zinc whisker assessment before the next hardware replacement.