scope:

The surface temperature considerations and criteria in this standard are applicable to equipment intended to be installed in environmentally-controlled Information and Communications Technology (ICT) facilities and to network equipment that is designed for use in unprotected outdoor environments. Examples of environmentally-controlled locations are inside of Central Offices, Controlled Environmental Vaults, Data Centers, aboveground Huts, Outside Plant Cabinets, and Pedestals. This standard does not apply to auxiliary monitoring equipment such as oscilloscopes, personal computers, portable test equipment, etc., which are not integral to the equipment.

Purpose & Application

The purpose of this standard is to provide test methods and define limits for surface temperatures of equipment. Equipment shall not have hot exterior surfaces that would cause injury or accident through deliberate or accidental contact. Limiting surface temperatures or preventing contact will reduce the potential risk of injury to craft personnel or the possibility of damage to equipment that could result in an operational failure.

The equipment surfaces that face aisles or surfaces where normal maintenance functions are anticipated shall be in conformance with temperature limits established in Table 1.1. Passive equipment, wherein no heat is generated, is exempt from testing.

Surfaces protected from normal craft access are not subject to temperature limits described. These protected surfaces are as follows:

1) Equipment side surfaces shielded by cable bundles, cabinet side panels, and/or rack uprights;

2) Top and bottom panels isolated by equipment vertically stacked above/below;

3) Protective shields, backplanes inboard of cables/rear.

The surfaces to which a craftsperson may be exposed are typically equipment parts that are used for normal function of the operation or servicing of the equipment:

1) Equipment surfaces that the hands, arms, or face of the craftsperson may contact.

2) Equipment surfaces that could cause burns or result in unexpected reaction of the craftsperson.

These surfaces shall have lower temperature limits than surfaces with shorter exposure time.

The stated temperature limits do not include the direct exhaust air discharge temperatures of equipment. However, if applicable equipment surface temperatures should become elevated by the heated exhaust airflow, the temperature limits would apply to those surfaces.