Effective heat load testing with temporary hot aisle containment

What are data centres and what is data centre commissioning?

Data centres are highly specialised facilities that house IT infrastructure like servers, storage systems, and networking equipment. Marked critical infrastructure by the government in 2024, these facilities are the backbone of modern digital operations, supporting everything from cloud services to business applications. 

240+ data centres were built to completion across Europe between 2017-2022. Global demand for data centre capacity is projected to rise at an annual rate of 19% to 22% from 2023 to 2030, potentially reaching between 171 to 219 gigawatts by 2030.

Whether a new build or retrofitted facility, hyperscale or colocation, data centre commissioning is the systematic process of testing and verifying that all systems in a data centre are functioning correctly. This includes ensuring that mechanical, electrical, and IT infrastructure meet performance and efficiency standards before full-scale operations begin.

What are the requirements of data centre commissioning, including heat load testing?

Key requirements of data centre commissioning include mechanical, electrical, and environmental assessments, as well as testing of backup power systems, cooling solutions, and fire safety. Among these, heat load testing is vital for evaluating the facility’s ability to maintain stable temperatures under simulated peak workloads, and to ensure the reliability of CRAC (computer room air conditioning) units and equipment.

What is heat load testing?

Heat load testing simulates the maximum thermal stress that a data centre would face during full operation. The test ensures that the cooling systems can handle the heat generated by the equipment, maintaining optimal temperature conditions for uninterrupted operations.

Heat load banks or emulators, are installed to generate artificial heat that mimics the heat produced by actual servers. This setup is crucial for testing the cooling systems under controlled conditions. Thermal output is measured, and the performance of the cooling systems is closely observed to ensure the system can handle the heat loads. This process is essential to ensure the data centre can handle operational stress without failure.

What is temporary hot or cold aisle containment?

Temporary hot and cold aisle containment systems are provisional setups in data centers designed to manage airflow by separating hot exhaust air from cold intake air. This separation enhances cooling efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and maintains optimal operating temperatures for equipment.

  • Hot Aisle Containment (HAC): This method encloses the hot aisle, capturing the hot exhaust air from IT equipment and directing it back to the cooling units. By preventing hot and cold air mixing, HAC enhances cooling efficiency and allows for higher set points on cooling equipment, leading to energy savings.

  • Cold Aisle Containment (CAC): In this approach, the cold aisle is enclosed, ensuring that the cold supply air is contained and delivered directly to the equipment intakes. This prevents the mixing of cold air with hot exhaust air, maintaining consistent inlet temperatures and improving cooling performance.

A temporary containment system is used to replicate the permanent hot and cold aisle set up once servers are in place. The temporary aisles prevent the mixing of hot and cold air, enabling more accurate heat load testing. Traditional methods involve a makeshift approach involving channel and plastic panels to create a temporary system.

Why is temporary hot or cold aisle containment needed?

Temporary aisle containment is essential for capturing accurate thermal readings during heat load testing. It ensures that airflow management is optimal, preventing unnecessary energy consumption and ensuring the reliability of cooling systems.

Temporary containment allows contractors to identify any issues with the HVAC and extraction, before the permanent containment is constructed, and easily make changes.

Westgate Global's solution

Westgate Global, renowned for their partitioning and screen solutions across industrial and construction industries, have engineered a temporary hot aisle containment panel solution. 

A proven global method for rapidly emulating a Data Centre Hot or Cold Aisle at commissioning and load testing stage. This solution is designed to withstand heat and pressure of the testing, maintaining vertical sides, resulting in accurate data readings. The method of installation is a combination of discreet fixings to the ceiling or steel-frame with floor weights (alternative methods available), so the client whitespace is maintained without damage. Easily installed, the system is also reusable and relocatable and does not create waste after each use as traditional systems do.

  • Accelerate HAC or CAC preparation – enable earlier staged payments
  • Highly accurate aisle emulation – quality benchmarking data
  • Flexible high tensile material – services into area can be fully sealed
  • Extremely fast install time – minimal disruption
  • Installation available – worldwide supervisor service
  • Relocatable and reusable – cost reductions over multiple projects
  • Easy to install – no damage to client whitespace
  • Huge savings on site waste – enhances CSR
  • Worldwide consistency for hyperscale clients

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