The COVID-19 pandemic will fuel demand for data center containment solutions in the future, owing to rise in internet usage that has necessitated the need for more data centers.

Before jumping into cost-effective raised floor suggestions, remember the goal of any airflow management initiative is to improve the intake air temperatures to IT equipment.

When we talk to data center operators about improving airflow efficiency at the row, they’ll jump ahead to containment a little too quickly. The fact is, there are several areas in the row that can be addressed without engaging in a full-blown containment initiative.

In a reality where cabinet densities are rising — with recent research stating upwards of 10 kW per rack, on average — increasing energy efficiency and keeping operating costs down in data centers has never been so relevant or so challenging.