Partitioning off perimeter corridors SAVES ENERGY, which SAVES MONEY!

Creating dedicated “hot and cold aisles” or “rack and row” data center equipment placement configurations with PLENAFORM increases the static pressure delivering a higher volume of cooling through perforated tiles and at a further distance from the CRAC units. The Venturi effect is attained, whereby more air pressure rises in the dedicated cold aisles.

With the deployment of PLENAFORM, a “VUF” vertical under floor partitioning system, air flow distribution may be directed more efficiently from the CRAC units for maximum equipment air cooling or air blocking requirements in a data center raised floor plenum space.

Installing PLENAFORM to direct air flow from the “source of the air” plenum level, a data centre manager can better achieve a thermally tuned data centre. Integrating PLENAFORM into the data centre design helps to mitigate thermally associated risk to equipment hardware.

The key word here is high density computing and PLENAFORM helps to solve thermal imbalances in your data centre environment simply and inexpensively!

Do you want to lower your Data Centre energy consumption?

Not a problem with PLENAFORM. Decide where you want the air to flow, snap the panels together at the desired height for the under floor space, drop them in, and attach them to the pedestals.

PLENAFORM is a passive and contributory holistic solution that can be easily installed as an effective “VUF” or vertical under floor partitioning system, to direct air flow within the plenum space.

PlenaForm directs the source of the cold air from the CRAC units to where the air is needed most.

PLENAFORM helps to maintain the static pressure further away from a CRAC unit and is a simple solution to cool thermal hot spots in your Data Centre.

Since PLENAFORM is fire-rated they can even be used to make vertical blanking panels between racks or on the sides of open server racks to keep hot air from wrapping around and mixing with the intake air.

Partitioning off perimeter corridors SAVES ENERGY, which SAVES MONEY!

Plenaform Installation Guide

A flexible, snap together, air flow baffle system which helps to solve dynamic thermal imbalances in data centres.

PLENAFORM is scored both vertically and horizontally so sections can be removed or added onto to meet any height or width requirement. All angles of bend radius may be attained, including inside and outside mounting to raised floor pedestals.

Continuous punch out hole pattern allows attachment to any style raised floor pedestal at any height or width location with cable ties.

PLENAFORM is formed from a flame retardant polypropylene compound that is inert, non-conductive, and non-hygroscopic.

Easy to Install - Right Out of the Box!

· Control and Balance Data Center Airflow

· Separate Hot Aisles from Cold Aisles

· No Installation Tools Required

· On-Site Configurable (Width and Height)

· Fits ANY Raised Floor Pedestal

· Reduces Energy Consumption and Operating Costs

· An Inert, Non-Conductive and Non-Hygroscopic Material

· Flammability rating of UL V- 0 per UL94

· RoHS and WEEE Compliant

· An Energy Saving and Thermal Tuning Tool

PLENAFORM has many uses:

1. Seal off below tape auto loaders to stop tape reader condensation.
2. Seal off under PDU’s.
3. Works above the floor to stop lateral heat transfers in server racks.
4. Create dedicated return air paths above ceilings.
5. Create CRAC extension intake heads.

Plenaform Installation Guide

The guys at CIX.ie have published an interesting white paper that deals with how they plan to maximise the Air Conditioning at their new data centre facility in Cork, Ireland

1) Utilise Free Cooling - By taking advantage of the of the low out-door temperatures in Ireland.

2) Maximise Chilled Water Temperature

3) Eliminate Water Mixing

4) Eliminate Air Mixing - By utilising a cold aisle containment system (the opposite of the more common hot aisle containment system).

5) Utilising a low resistance slow speed air path - by taking advantage of the large under floor void and the high ceiling space.

6) Minimise humidification

The full white paper can be found here http://www.cix.ie/air-conditioning-efficiency-at-the-cix-data-centre/

We would also recommend that they fit Koldolk Cable Grommets to reduce by-pass air loss and by using the plenaform under floor air barrier system to direct the cold air to exactly where it is needed.

We look forward to following the progress of the new Data Centre Build.

As part of our cleaning service, we clean underneath raised access floor. So we have plenty of experience in lifting raised access floor tiles.

Some raised access floor tiles are “Screwed Down” this is where there is a screw in each corner of the four corners of the tile. The Screw joins the floor tile and the pedestal head.

Occasionally we will come across a floor tile that has a damaged screw. Either the screw head has been wrung or it is “free spinning” and just wont come out.

The best and easiest way of removing the screw is by using a “Damaged Screw Remover” or “Damaged Screw Extractor“

Removing Damaged Screws From Raised Access Floor Tiles

1. First we need to “Burnish the Screw” so we fit the screw extractor into the chuck with the burnisher end showing.
2. Set the screw gun to the reverse setting (counter-clockwise).
3. Place the burnishing end of the remover into the centre of the damaged screw and apply a slow power to your screw gun while applying pressure onto the screw.
4. Stop when there is a distinct 1/16″ or 1.5mm deep clean area in the centre of the screw.
5. Flip the remover tool around in the chuck so the that the “Remover” end of tool is now showing and place it into now smooth screw head.
6. Maintaining reverse setting (counter clockwise) apply a firm downward pressure, drill at slow speed. Apply lowest level of power to the screw gun.
7. Remover end will thread into screw head and remove.
8. For “Free Spinning” screws pull lightly on the screw gun to extract the screw.

The damaged screw remover that all our technicians carry in their tool kit can be purchased from our on-line store.

This is Part 2 of our guide to the Koldok range of Products

Part 1 can be found here

The KoldLok Surface Mount (Model 2020) is for existing holes with cables already in place.

It splits apart to encircle the cables and then snaps together as one piece. The unit is then adhered to the top of the tile with the included adhesive mounting kit.

The KoldLok Surface Mount offers all the features of the Integral (with the exception of the NFPA requirement), but with the added benefit of easily sealing holes without having to disconnect existing cabling.

Since it is mounted on top of the tile, it seals any size or configuration of opening in the tile up to10″ x 7″ in size. The KoldLok Surface Mount L (Model 2030) and XL, (Model 2040) include metal plates for sealing larger openings.

The KoldLok Surface L seals openings up to 10″ x 10″ and the XL seals openings up to 10″ x 13″.

Koldlok Split Surface Mount - Raised Floor Grommet - Model 2020 - Technical PackageKoldlok Split Surface Mount - Raised Floor Grommet - Model 2020

Koldlok Split Surface Mount - Raised Floor Grommet - Model 2030

Koldlok Split Surface Mount - Raised Floor Grommet - Model 2030 - Technical Package

Koldlok Mounted Xtra-Large Raised Floor Grommet Model 2040- Drawing

Koldlok Surface Xtra-Large Mount Raised Floor Grommet Model 2040 - Technical Package