Network infrastructure specialist, Siemon has announced the expansion of its line of WheelHouse Advanced Datacentre Solutions to include comprehensive aisle containment solutions with both cold aisle containment (CAC) and hot aisle containment (HAC) options that significantly improve efficiency and cost-effectively expand capacity for today’s data centres.

By either containing and isolating the cold air supply (CAC), or by guiding hot exhaust to overhead return air spaces (HAC), Siemon’s Aisle Containment Solutions prevent the mixing of hot and cold air in the data centre. This allows for higher temperature return air to improve the efficiency of existing cooling systems and reduce energy costs while preventing over-provisioning of computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units.

Alternatively, these solutions cost-effectively expand the capacity of the data centre to cool higher heat densities, maximising both cabinet and data centre floor space without the need for supplemental cooling.

“Hotter return air temperatures facilitate heat exchange within cooling systems, improving power usage effectiveness (PUE) and reducing energy costs through lower fan speeds, higher chilled water temperatures and greater economiser hours while sufficiently cooling data centre equipment to maximise performance and life expectancy,” says Siemon product manager Stuart grey.

“For both new and retrofit situations, aisle containment systems are an economical way to prevent costly oversupply of cold air while enabling growth in data centre environments—whether using cold aisle containment for a raised floor environment with no overhead return air space or hot aisle containment to maintain an overall cooler working environment outside of the contained area.”

Designed with robust seals for optimal thermal isolation, Siemon’s Aisle Containment Solutions consist of CAC roof panels, HAC vertical standing and end panels, single and double manual and self-closing doors and end panels that have been designed for quick and easy on-site attachment to rows of Siemon VersaPOD, V800 and V600 data centre cabinets.

The containment systems are also compatible with Siemon’s SidePOD and Baffle solutions that support side-to-side ventilated active equipment.

A range of accessories are also available to complement the system, including filler panels to fill spaces where cabinets are not present, wall mount brackets for installation against a wall for a single cabinet row, angled support brackets to provide lateral support to vertical panels when attaching to the ceiling is not feasible and riser brackets to increase clearance within the contained aisle when using shorter (42U) cabinets.