IT Room Components
Below is a list of typical components that make up an IT room:
Hot & cold aisle
When layering racks it is important that they are strategically placed to allow for hot and cold aisle configurations. The cold aisle is where the cold air from the air conditioning plant feeds into the racks / servers and the hot aisle is where it is rejected from and starts its return path into the air conditioning plant to begin the very same cycle.
AHU
AHU is abbreviated from the terms Air Handling Unit. This is the plant which contains the heat exchanger and refrigeration plant and removes the heat from the environment.
‘Up-flow’ and ‘Down-flow’ configurations are offered to suit the air flow characteristic and construction of the room.
Floor grilles
The conditioned air is discharged into the area via strategically placed floor grilles when used in conjunction with a down-flow style AHU.
These grilles are normally of an aluminium construction and measure 600mm x 600mm to snap into the existing floor grid. Grilles can be offered with opposed blade dampers ( OBD ) to allow balancing.
Raised floor
Anti-static floor tile measuring 600mm x 600mm . The floor is ideally raised to 450mm and supported upon resin fixed pedestals. Floor construction differs dependant upon the size and loading of the room.
Wall construction
Wall construction is floor to ceiling to ensure compartmentalisation of both the ceiling and floor voids. Wall construction is either double skin plasterboard or plywood and double skin plaster board fixed upon a metal frame. In the event ultimate security is to be achieved concrete / brick built reinforced secure rooms can be produced. All walls will be suitably insulated.
IT equipment racks
Equipment racks can vary in size but the average modern rack is approx 600-800mm wide x 1000mm deep and up to 2350mm high. These racks populated can weigh up to 1000KG. Each rack will reject between 5 & 20KW dependant upon the technology involved and how densely populated
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