Which of the following is the optimal humidity level for a data center, per the guidelines established by the America Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)?

The correct answer is D. 40-60 percent relative humidity. ASHRAE guidelines recommend maintaining relative humidity between 40% and 60% in data centers. Humidity that is too low (below ~40%) increases the risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD), which can damage sensitive electronic components. Humidity that is too high (above ~60%)…

Submitted by anna_se· Apr 18, 2026Cloud Platform & Infrastructure Security

Question

Options

A30-50 percent relative humidity
B50-75 percent relative humidity
C20-40 percent relative humidity
D40-60 percent relative humidity

How the community answered

(57 responses)

A
5% (3)
B
2% (1)
C
4% (2)
D
89% (51)

Explanation

ASHRAE guidelines recommend maintaining relative humidity between 40% and 60% in data centers. Humidity that is too low (below ~40%) increases the risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD), which can damage sensitive electronic components. Humidity that is too high (above ~60%) risks condensation forming on equipment, leading to corrosion and short circuits. The 40-60% range balances both risks and is the accepted industry standard for protecting data center equipment.

Topics

#Data Center Environmental Controls#Humidity Control#ASHRAE Standards#Physical Security

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