A Warehouse Lift Is Not A Data Center Lift

When you’re evaluating a serverlifter for your data center there are two aspects to consider - one is about suitability for use in data centers and the other relates to code or policy violations.  Sure, you can buy a general purpose warehouse lift very cheaply and in doing so you’ll be trying to jam a square peg into a round hole.

Here’s Why:

Most are poorly designed, not robust and hard to maneuverable in tight aisles.  They lack adequate safety features that prevent them from toppling over or dropping your equipment.  None of them have a means of extending the load into the rack.  It’s like using a screwdriver to chisel wood; looks similar, lower price, easy to get purchase approval - but the result is an epic fail.

The other concern is for lift systems that use hydraulic fluid or oil in the mechanisms.  Sooner or later they leak.  Not a question of “if” but “when”.  A couple drops on the floor are worse than invisible banana peels.  Someone is sure to slip and fall. Unlike cartoons - not funny.  Oil driven systems are probably a violation of your data center policies which are in place for a good reason - to protect people and equipment.

If you truly have a tight budget you might consider buying a demonstrator model or a rental unit to save money.  For gosh sakes, whatever you do, get a proper data center lift tool to protect your people and equipment.  Nuff said.

Why Not Move The Entire Loaded Cabinet?

If you are pulling out servers to relocate cabinets and then reinstalling them you could avoid all that time and hassle with an electric Mass Lift.  

A Mass Lift is a server rack lifter that provides a safe method to move fully populated server cabinets, battery UPS, cooling units and anything that weighs up to 5,000 lbs. (Yup – that’s not a typo – we actually said five thousand pounds)  It’s push-button powered by battery operated synchronized motors.  Using this type of Mass Lift, one technician can move a fully loaded rack unassisted from one location to another.  The weight is spread across eight dual castor wheels to distribute the load evenly on raised floors. 

Watch The 2-Minute Video

Containment Access – It’s A Job For Shorty

If you use “POD style” server rooms or “hot/cold data rooms” you may find the access door height a limiting factor for some server lifts.
Once inside the next hurdle is maneuverability.  Try this – go inside the POD and imagine dragging around a four foot server lift.  For cramped quarters like those, you will want to insist on a “tower style” server lifter designed specifically for PODS.

The RackLift RL600C is just short enough to fit through the door.

The Lift Tool Has To Reach High Enough

General purpose lifters may not have the capability or safety features to lift heavy IT equipment to the height you’ll need.   A data center lift tool should be able to install equipment at the bottom or top of your racks without concern for equipment falling or injury to workers.  

It’s that gravity thing again!

The Server Lifter’s Footprint Size And Shape Actually Matters

A big footprint is a big problem.  Some server lifts are the Sasquatch of the industry with a rectangular footprint nearly four feet long!  They are typically side-loading devices. 

RackLift has a 28 inch square footprint on which a “tower style frame” is mounted to support the front-loading lift table.  A server lift four feet in length could require a “27-point turn” to do an about-face in the aisle for installing gear on the opposite side or to return the way you came.

RackLift rotates 360˚ in a two-tile aisle.  The smaller footprint easily manages tight aisles and eliminates the need to preplan side-loading orientation before entering the aisle.  If time really is money we just saved you a fortune!

Safety Straps Are Like Seat Belts For A Server Lift (Don’t Be A Crash Test Dummy)

A.         When lifting or installing equipment, ratchet straps are used to temporarily fasten the RackLift frame to the cabinet. Barring an earthquake, there’s virtually no chance of the unit toppling over.  Every data center equipment lift should come with safety straps and you should use them.  A floor brake alone offers little safety – especially for heavy loads.  According to ServerLIFT regarding their own product* “…the stabilizer brake is not to provide braking but to impart sideways stability...”  The ServerLIFT design has no frame for fastening straps. Hmm.

Safety Straps Prevent Injury. ServerLift Have None

B.         Because RackLift is secured to the cabinet you also gain the unique ability to insert your load a full 23 inches into the receiving rack space.  The lift table is attached to military grade gliders a single technician can completely and safely install equipment from beginning to end.  ServerLIFT’s insertion is only 6 inches.  Hmm. Our engineers tell us the limited six-inch travel may be to prevent toppling over since their design doesn’t facilitate strapping in.  So how do you move the load beyond the six inch insertion?  You grunt, push and drag it the rest of the way. 

that fully extend and hold the load securely in position during the bolt-in phase.  It is the only way

C.         Picture the journey that communications gear makes as it travels from the warehouse to the data center.  Vibrations and bumps along the way can cause the load to bounce and shift.  Remember gravity?  The same safety straps used to fasten RackLift to the cabinet are also used to secure the load when in motion.

*Information provided by ServerLIFT FAQ web page January 22, 2016 - ServerLIFT is a trademark of ServerLIFT Corporation.

Smart Things To Know Before Buying A Server Lift System

Installing heavy IT equipment manually is risky.  It’s a good idea to get a data center equipment lift before someone gets hurt or drops a piece of expensive gear that makes that sudden stop at the end of the gravity trip.
Before you dash out to get a server lift of any kind there are six important points you need to know.   Some characteristics that are touted as benefits actually have serious consequences if you don’t know what to look for.

This will be the first of many points to consider:

1. If It’s Not Made For Data Center, Don’t Walk Away – Run!

There are two aspects to consider - one is about suitability for use in data centers and the other relates to code or policy violations.  Some data centers cheap out and get a “general purpose warehouse lift.”

This Goes At The Top Of Your Server Lift Checklist

Most are poorly designed, not robust and hard to maneuverable in tight aisles.  They lack adequate safety features and have no means of extending the load into the rack.  It’s like using a screwdriver to chisel wood; looks similar, lower price, easy to get purchase approval - but the result is an epic fail. 

The other concern is for lift systems that use hydraulic fluid or oil in the mechanisms. Sooner or later they leak.  It’s that simple.  A few drops on the floor are worse than invisible banana peels.
Someone is sure to slip and fall. (Not funny)  Oil driven systems are probably a violation of your data center policies which are there for good reason - to protect people and equipment.

Provided courtesy of RackLift