Design and Installation Challenges:

Aisle Containment Systems

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 We all know the Benefits of Containment

1. Reduces Total Cost of Data Center Ownership

2. Eliminates hot spots
3. Supports higher heat and power densities
4. Eliminates CRAH fan energy waste
5. Maximizes CRAH cooling coil efficiency
6. Increases chiller efficiency
 Common Types of Containment

Hot Aisle Containment (lid) - Close

Cooling is placed adjacent to IT equipment
Coupled Cooling (In-Row,
reducing supply and return air paths
Overhead)
Hot Aisle Containment – Vertical Hot aisle is enclosed typically at the rear edge of
Exhaust the cabinets and sides

Cold Aisle Containment – lid or Similar to hot aisle system except containment
vertical air chamber is at the front edge of the cabinet

Cabinet Level Containment – Similar to hot/cold aisle containment but

Vertical Exhaust dramatically different

So which is best?
 What is the Best Type of Containment?

Hot-aisle and Cold Aisle Containment Efficiencies Reveal No

Significant Differences

Copyright © 2011 Intel Corporation.

Data from: The Datacenter 2020, which is a joint T-Systems

and Intel data center test laboratory in the Munich-based
Euroindustriepark.

www.datacenter2020.com
Let’s take a closer look –
Cold Aisle Containment (Lid Style)

Requirements
Air delivery via raised floor.
All cabling should be overhead to reduce
underfloor airflow restrictions.
Pros
Does not require exhuast duct.
Can usually be added to existing room without
too much difficulty.
Cons
Must provide for lighting and sprinkler heads
within the containment area (lid penetrations,
equipment support and servicing).
Must invest in complete aisle structure up
front. Difficult to add/move cabinets once
completed.
Cold Aisle Containment –
Vertical Air Chamber
Cold Aisle Containment –
Vertical Air Chamber

Requirements
Air delivery to the cold aisle via raised floor or
downflow from ceiling plenum
Pros
Increased aisle air volume - longer runtime on
power outage. Easier to work around sprinkler
heads and lighting systems.
Cons
Must invest in complete aisle structure up front.
Difficult to add/move cabinets once completed.
Cold Aisle Containment – Vertical
Air Chamber
Hot Aisle Containment –
Vertical Exhaust
 Hot Aisle Containment –
Vertical Exhaust

Requirements
Ceiling return air plenum or ductwork to
exhaust return air
Pros
Easier to work around sprinkler heads
and lighting systems.
Cons
Uncomfortable aisle temperatures for
performing work in

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Hot Aisle Containment – Close Coupled / In Row
Cooling
Hot Aisle Containment – Close Coupled / In Row
Cooling

Requirements
In Row / Close Coupled cooling units
Pros
Provides a solution where alternative cooling
strategies cannot be used
Cons
Must provide for lighting and sprinkler heads
within the containment area (lid penetrations,
equipment support and servicing).
Must invest in complete aisle structure up
front. Difficult to add/move cabinets once
completed
Takes up valuable floor space
High initial install cost
High ongoing maintenance costs
Cabinet Level Containment (Vertical Exhaust Duct)
Cabinet Level Containment (Vertical Exhaust Duct)

Requirements
Ceiling return air plenum or ductwork to
exhaust return air
Pros
Easier to work around sprinkler heads
and lighting systems.
High Kw capacity (30 Kw)
Lowest air leakage as compared to
other solutions
Easily add, move or relocate cabinets
Lower install cost – built one cabinet at
a time versus complete build
Cons
Your room dictates your solution

Data Center Cooling Design - General Recommendations

Is there a raised floor capable of Is there a ceiling return air plenum space or
delivering the needed volume of supply can ductwork be installed capable of moving Are new cabinets being deployed? Recommended Solution
air? the needed volume of return air?

Yes Yes Yes Chimney Cabinets

HAC (cabinet supported) ducted to

Yes Yes No
return plenum

Yes No Yes CAC

Yes No No CAC (cabinet supported)

No Yes Yes Chimney Cabinets

HAC (cabinet supported) ducted to

No Yes No
return plenum

HAC w/ceiling panels and close

No No Yes
coupled cooling

HAC (cabinet supported) w/ceiling

No No No
panels and close coupled cooling
So, you’ve decided on Aisle Containment,
however….

• Your cabinets have different:

• Heights
• Widths
• Depths
Your challenge is how to…
Contain them!
You need to achieve something like this:
 Dealing with height and width variances

• Infill Panels Required

• Maximum Flexibility

• Allows on site engineering

• Simple assembly

• Simple to Order
Consider the Frame Structure

Top Containment
Row Length
Extrusion

Vertical
Extrusion
Width 3/8”-16UNC
screw Containment
Gusset Extrusion Row length
plate Extrusion

Width Extrusion
Gusset plate
Framing Up

Extrusion C Extrusion A = 94” (uncut)

Extrusion B = Length cut
Extrusion C = Width cut
Extrusion D = Height cut

Extrusion B

Extrusion D

Extrusion A

Extrusion A

Extrusion A
Attaching Polycarbonate Panels
 Doors

Aisle Containment Doors

• Compatible with all containment
options
• Independent self-supporting
assembly
• Self-closing double sliding doors
• Self-closing single sliding door
• Arrives pre-assembled
• Door mounting kits Foam
Seal
• Door installation template
Doors

Door mounting brackets; flush or offset

Self-closing double
sliding doors 

Optional Raised floor

Concealed mounting offset kit

Door installation template 

Aisle View
Top View
How to contain a single row – against a wall
How do I bring in my cable tray???
Consider how you will seal cable runway
openings that penetrate the containment
Running cable inside the containment area
Perhaps you would be better off to run your
bulk cable on the outside of the containment
Filling gaps between cabinets…

For example, when a pillar is

located in the middle of your
cabinet run, and you need to
“seal” around it, consider
using and infill panel.
You may need to build a corner unit to
stretch a short row on one side of the aisle
Consider how you will anchor the
structure to the floor
Frame it now
Fill it later!
 Overlooked Issues
Lack of air control

Cabinet
with no
air dam. Server

Air is uncontrolled
 Overlooked Issues
Poor Airflow Control and Wire
Management
Open spaces allow hot air to
flow through cabinet and mix
with cooling air

Air flow from servers is

blocked; cable support arms
become heat sinks
 Overlooked Issues
Raised Floor Concerns

• Cut tiles – can impact airflows

and cooling capacities
Any questions?

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