Chatsworth Products, a California-based manufacturer providing voice, data and security products, as well as service solutions that store and secure technology equipment, has come up with a white paper as part of its ongoing development of sustainable airflow management solutions. It endeavours to define efficient cooling solutions for data centres by asking, “How much containment is enough?” We bring a bird’s eye view.

The primary aim of the white paper titled “How much containment is enough?” Chatsworth Products (CPI) claims, is to help data centre managers and facilities directors personalise their airflow containment needs, options and returns on investment (ROI). Its avowed goal is to also provide tactics that can help data centres manage the rising cooling costs associated with dense servers and networking equipment, and prepare for sustainability efforts like the impending California Title24-2013 Energy Code or best practices, as defined by the European Data Centre Code of Conduct. In defining the strategies, this white paper explains the following:

How minimal leakage and inlet temperature variations will maximise access to free cooling hours, efficiency of the chiller system and return air temperatures

Comparison strategies for fire suppression, work environment temperatures, retrofits, raised floors, thermal ride through and more

Quick ROI on containment through high cooling unit efficiencies and increased partial economisation hours

Containment solutions for equipment with sub-optimised airflow paths, such as side-to-side, front-to-side, side-to-rear, side-to-front and rear-to-front

Answering the question, “How much containment is enough?” CPI Global Technology Manager, Ian Seaton explains that an optimum degree of airflow containment cannot be reached through a one-size-fits-all solution. The true measurement of any containment solution is dependent upon using a Hot Aisle, Cold Aisle or Cabinet Containment strategy that has been optimised for airflow, static pressure, leakage, bypass air and temperature variance. Seaton further defines the argument by presenting real-world case studies of data centres that benefited from lowered costs and reduced energy usage through improved aisle containment strategies.

According to CPI, “How Much Containment is Enough?” is available for download at www.chatsworthproducts.co.uk/how-much-containment-is-enough-white-paper.