Our Process
An AmCraft data center enclosure can be as simple as one rack / cabinet with cold air outlet nearby. The perimeter panel system should run floor to ceiling and should place the cold air outlet within the enclosure. Additionally, the rack should be part of the perimeter of the ‘enclosure’ so the cold air is forced through the servers and into the warmer air area.
OR,
You can totally enclose your rack (or racks) if you can move enough cold air in a ‘created’ floor to ceiling enclosure. Please note that you should make certain that the maintained ambient temperature of the enclosure is low enough to satisfy the desired set point of your equipment. Even if your set point / baseline temperature is low, it still helps to push the cooled air through the cabinets. The most common temperature set point is between 68˚ – 72˚.
See Data Center Enclosure Layout Options
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Mapping the server room layout
Key dimensions are necessary to determine the shape and size of a data enclosure. The measurements must have important factors figured into it to properly function as an air tight enclosure. Look around to understand your facility and see how it functions. By making a sketch / drawing, you will have a visual layout and understanding of the possibilities for the best design of your data center enclosure to work successfully.
Design a data center enclosure for your space
- Determine where your CRAC / HVAC units (cold air supply outlets) are located
- From this information you can assess if you want to make a hot aisle enclosure, cold aisle enclosure or both.
- Is your ceiling a consistent surface and sound enough to suspend approximately 5 pounds per linear foot?
- Draw a floor plan sketch of how you can create this enclosure utilizing the cold air supply and return ducts properly
- Measure the distance at several points where the curtain panels will be placed such as:
- Floor to ceiling
- Top of cabinet / rack to ceiling
- The top of a floor mounted obstruction to the ceiling
- The bottom of a ceiling obstruction to the floor
- Corners with angles other than 90°
Enclosure curtain panels sized precisely for your server room
Wall panels can be custom ordered to fit between server racks and also can also be cut onsite to modify for an exact fit.
Count out how many of each panel size you need, and add that to your sketch layout, numbering each piece.
The bottom of the panels can attach directly onto server racks with hook and loop velcro, using a more permanent adhesive, or can hang loose, just touching the cabinet.
The vertical edge panel to panel overlap is designed into the panels. There is no need to add additional measurements for overlapping edges. Instead, focus on an accurate measurement of the perimeter of your enclosure. There is usually one custom length / width panel needed per side to facilitate a sealed enclosure.
The corner panel fits into a standard 90˚corner bracket piece.
Doors and entryways are designed for airflow containment
The most typical entryways are strip curtains for smaller enclosures and hinged or sliding doors for larger enclosures. If using strip doors for entry, measure your entrance opening from where the strip door meets a solid clear panel or rack on each end to ensure that the curtain returns to a closed position after each entrance / exit.
