Room level airflow management is fraught with misconceptions and half-truths, making it the least understood aspect of airflow management. Ironically, it’s the most important. While it’s fairly well understood that the first three levels — or R’s — of airflow management refer to implementing solutions such as brush grommets, blanking panels, and containment for the raised floor, rack, and row levels, respectively, the room level isn’t quite as simple. This is primarily because the necessary changes are invisible (except for the occasional displays on cooling units).
For clarity, room-level airflow management is better defined as cooling optimization, referring to the process of making adjustments to cooling system controls. If done well, this process will improve energy efficiency (resulting in reduced operating costs), improve cooling capacity, improve IT equipment reliability, and defer capital expenditure. It’s important to note here that without cooling optimization (i.e., room-level airflow management), any other airflow management solution that has or will be implemented — including the products listed above — is an expense. While these solutions may have improved IT intake air temperatures, the financial and capacity benefits are left on the table. The only way to realize energy savings from airflow management improvements made at the raised floor, rack, and row levels, is through cooling optimization.