Containing a Single Row of Racks in an Open Data Hall
Not all data centre layouts follow a traditional hot-aisle / cold-aisle pairing. In some environments, a single row of racks may be positioned in the middle of a room, making conventional containment approaches difficult.
The Challenge
The customer needed to contain a standalone row of racks located centrally within the white space. Without an opposing row of cabinets, there was no natural boundary to form a cold aisle. Leaving the row uncontained would have allowed cold air to spill into the surrounding room, reducing cooling efficiency and increasing energy costs.
The DCE Solution
DCE designed a custom UPACS configuration that created a fully enclosed cold aisle, even with only one row of racks present. The solution included:
- A solid containment wall installed opposite the rack row
- Two UPACS single doors, positioned within the wall — one at each end of the aisle
- Full integration with the existing rack line and overhead containment
This configuration effectively created a complete cold aisle environment, ensuring cold air was
delivered directly to the IT intake while preventing air leakage into the wider data hall.
Key Benefits
- Enables effective containment for non-standard layouts
- Improves cooling efficiency and reduces bypass airflow
- Maintains safe and controlled access at both ends of the aisle
- Provides flexibility for future expansion or layout changes
Designed for Real-World Data Centresrs
This project highlights the versatility of UPACS. Whether the requirement is a single rack row, an incomplete pod, or a phased deployment, DCE can design containment solutions that work around existing infrastructure, not against it.
