Cooling build-outs are one of the highest operational costs facing data storage facilities today, however executives at San Diego-based redIT have implemented a new cost-saving measure at their data centers. The new procedure involves adding cooling drops for individual partitions inexpensively, and only as new customers come onboard.

To ensure redundant capacity, data center construction requires a complete and expensive build-out of a space’s HVAC system, including ductwork and diffusers. Because it may take years to lease-out the entire space, this upfront cooling build-out can be a costly practice. A short-term, more cost-effective alternative is to install each sheet metal drop and diffuser only after a customer comes onboard. This approach postpones construction costs, saving data centers valuable time and resources. But, this phased sheet metal construction approach also has disadvantages. Sheet metal construction creates airborne particulates and poses other unnecessary risks to neighboring computer equipment. It also costs thousands of dollars in installation labor and material associated with each new cooling drop. Additionally, outsourced sheet metal contractors in highly restricted access control areas can potentially jeopardize security efforts.