Thermal Insulation Materials for Data Center Air Cooling System

Benefits of thermal insulation materials on HVAC systems

Data centers are changing, becoming more versatile and more powerful. The growing demand for data centers with more processing power requires improved cooling strategies with better energy efficiency. Armacell‘s insulation products can take the pressure off cooling systems in this fast-paced industry. Keep systems cool today - enjoy faster processing speeds tomorrow.

Servers housed in data centers generate vast amounts of heat and as much as 40% of the total operational costs can be attributed to the energy expenditure for cooling systems. Insulating cooling equipment and distribution systems can help to optimize energy consumption and prevent condensation.

HVAC Thermal Insulation Materials

As electrical equipment in data centres generates vast amounts of heat, round-the-clock cooling is required to ensure optimum operating temperature ranges. Independent of the design, three important factors need to be considered when choosing the right insulation material for the cooling system.

• Efficient Thermal Insulation - The goal of insulation is to prevent heat loss or heat gain. The selected material must be efficient in minimising energy losses from piping while refrigerant or cooling liquid is being piped to its destination.
• Effective Condensation Control - Insulation can help to prevent condensation on pipework carrying cooling liquid or refrigerant. Dripping condensed water can lead to serious issues, especially with electrical equipment located close by. The installed insulation material should not be prone to absorbing any condensation because for every 1% of moisture gained in cellular plastic insulation material, there is an estimated loss of 3% to 5% in thermal efficiency.
• Dust and Fibre Free Material - Customers expect the highest quality of air cleanliness, as contaminants in a data centre can lead to components overheating, and electrical or mechanical failure of components, power supplies and circuit boards. A dust- and fibre-free insulation material is recommended in such cleanroom and mission-critical environments.

Condensation Control

Wherever energy is transmitted, part of this valuable resource will be lost if the equipment is not, or poorly, insulated. Our dedicated range of ArmaFlex® products offers enormous energy-saving potential. Armacell‘s in-house quality control programmed ensure that the insulation material has a fine, closed-cell structure to provide consistent low thermal conductivity and high resistance to water vapor transmission. This means that equipment installed with ArmaFlex enjoys reliable and long-term protection against energy loss and condensation. Unlike conventional insulation materials that have to be protected against moisture penetration with a separate vapor barrier, ArmaFlex has a built-in water vapor barrier to offer reliable resistance to water vapor transmission throughout its entire insulation thickness.

Excellent Fire Performance

Leading international bodies have certified that ArmaFlex offers an excellent fire safety performance in line with stringent fire safety test standards. It is a self-extinguishing insulation material that does not drip or spread fire. ArmaFlex Class 0 with Arma-Chek Silver insulation material is highly recommended for data centres due its aesthics nature and mechanical protection properties. Depending on the area of installation, other ArmaFlex products could also be considered. ArmaFlex Class 0 is FM Approved and classified as Class 0 according to British Standards BS 476 Parts 6 and 7. The product also complies with the safety, reliability and performance standards of various local and international fire safety and green building bodies, such as the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) & GRIHA. AP/ArmaFlex is a low smoke insulation material than standard flexible elastomeric foam insulation during a fire as per ASTM E84.

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