Data Center Containment
In a typical Data Center, only 30% of the conditioned air actually gets to where it’s needed. A typical Data Center uses 2 1/2 X more cooling than necessary and frequently still has hot spots. Using containment to aid in Data Center Airflow Management can cut energy costs. There are several ways containment can be accomplished in a data center. We can help you decide if soft, rigid, or a combination of the two is right for you.
Cold & Hot Aisle Containment Solutions
Increase cooling capacity by up to 40%.
Separating hot and cold air results in increased return air temperature back to the CRAC unit. This improves overall cooling capacity and provides colder air to the racks.
Every degree in CRAC set point = 4% savings in cooling costs. Data center containment solutions allow you to increase your CRAC set point by 8°F – 10°F.
Why Consider Data Center Containment Solutions:
• Eliminates hot spots.
• Supports 4x higher heat and power densities. (6kw to 30+kw)
• Effectively utilizes 100% of supplied air
• Reduces chilled air waste.
• Increase chiller efficiency through higher set points.
• Save Energy 20-40% on cooling costs.
• Short ROI. (Typically 1 year, definitely less than 2 years)
• Improves appearance.
• Extend the life of IT and cooling equipment.
• Some type of containment solution is now required in CA.
Rigid Containment
Structured Data Center Aisle Containment
Rigid containment systems are the most effective way to isolate conditioned air and control airflow between data center racks, while still providing access to the IT equipment. We offer rigid containment solutions for end of row containment, overhead containment, and everything in between. Each solution is custom built to the needs of the customer.
DOORS
Double swinging doors sit on pivot hinges, allowing them to swing both toward and away from the racks. Spring loaded, the doors automatically return to the closed position. The doors are made from sturdy aluminum with clear or corrugated top panels and steel powder-coated bottom panels, allowing plenty of light into the aisles while withstanding the abuse of carts.
Double sliding doors are the most popular door type. They come standard with auto-closers and door catches to hold the doors open. Choose from transparent Plexiglass or translucent corrugated glass paneling.
Designed as a solution for access in tight quarters, single swinging doors can be mounted to a cabinet, to wall, or around beams and other obstructions. Choose from transparent Plexiglass or translucent corrugated glass paneling.
Single sliding doors are designed for hot and cold aisle installation. They can be customized for any size of opening. This door is ideal for cabinet to wall installations, or where the opening prevents a door from sliding both directions.
WALLS
Rigid walls are designed to fill gaps above cabinets, restrict access to unauthorized areas, close off leaks and bypasses, and to fill open space between aisle cabinets. They offer the highest level of airflow containment solutions where access is not desired or feasible. Choose from transparent Plexiglass or translucent corrugated glass paneling.
CEILING
Rigid roofing panels are designed to span the gap across the top of cabinets for containment solutions. Two options are available to meet varying fire code requirements.
- Shrink-Away (heat activated)
- Mechanical Drop-Away (smoke activated)
Shrink-Away
These rigid roofing panels are designed to span the gap across the top of cabinets in cold aisle containment. Shrink-Away ceilings are designed to shrink and drop away in the event of a fire allowing the fire suppression system to operate as required. It may be used for installation under fire suppression systems with an activation temperature of 165°F. Black or clear anodized options available.
Mechanical Drop Away
Mechanical Drop-Away Ceiling is a new product in Cold Aisle Containment. It provides the ability to remove the ceiling panels prior to the engagement of any fire suppression system, in accordance to NFPA 75-76 standards.
Soft Containment
Soft Data Center Aisle Containment
Soft containment systems are a cost efficient way to isolate conditioned air and control airflow between data center storage racks, while still providing access to the IT equipment. Soft containment is made up of two parts; thermal doors and thermal walls. Combine the two for effective 360° airflow management. Each containment solution is custom built to the needs of the customer.
DOORS
Thermal doors are designed to go ceiling to floor at the end of the aisles. They are a more economical solution for isolating the hot from the cold air while still providing access to the the cabinets and racks. The overlapping 16 inch vinyl strips are hung from an aluminum track system. Thermal doors are available in fire rated clear vinyl curtain material.
WALLS
Choose from two curtain types:
NFPA 701 passed
Meets and exceeds all of the updated NFPA 75 and 76 fire ratings for flame spread and smoke density.
Installation
A modular snap together aluminum track is hung from the ceiling. No tools are needed to attach the links to a drop ceiling. The rounded corners on the track prevent breaks in the wall where the possibility of air leakage exists. Select from two link options.
- Standard fusible (heat activated)
- Electronic fusible (smoke activated)
GapFill™ Sheets
Data Center Airflow Leak Solution
Fine-tuning an airflow system by keeping chilled air from escaping into places where it is not used to cool servers- such as above, below and in-between data center hardware or into hot aisles and through data center flooring- is a critical part of every efficient data center.
GapFill™compressible memory foam sheets, with a fire and chemical retardant impregnated throughout the material, is the most efficient way to eliminate airflow leaks.
You may be losing a few thousand dollars each year in electrical charges due to these “leaks” in your system. The money you spend on GapFill products comes back to you year after year through improved airflow circulation, which means lower energy bills.
- Fills gaps between data center racks
- UL94 Listed
- Fire and chemical retardant impregnated throughout the material
- Efficient and easy installation
- Customizable to fill gaps of any size