Data Halls
Room boundaries around rack layouts, supply and return paths, and access routes in larger equipment spaces.
Data Center Enclosure & Contamination Control Solutions
Modular wall and ceiling panels, doors and coordinated enclosure interfaces for data halls, server rooms and data center retrofit projects.
DATA CENTERS / ENCLOSURE & INTERFACES
Plan data center wall panels and modular enclosures around the equipment, cooling layout and contamination-control requirements. AILV manufactures wall and ceiling panels, with doors, windows and openings coordinated for the agreed project package.
From a server-room partition to an AI data hall, define the room boundary and its interfaces early. Equipment requirements guide the environmental target; drawings turn that target into a coordinated enclosure.
FIND YOUR APPLICATION
Where Enclosure Components Fit
Explore six common settings. Each needs a defined layout, operating brief and supply boundary.
AI & HPC Halls
Enclosures coordinated with high-density racks, cooling distribution units, pipe routes and continuing air-cooling needs.
Edge & Modular Facilities
Compact panel packages coordinated around transport constraints, module dimensions, equipment entry and service access.
Network & Server Rooms
Partitions, doors and vision panels for smaller IT rooms, network equipment areas and local infrastructure.
Support & Entry Rooms
Room separation for staging, unpacking, maintenance and controlled entry into agreed equipment areas.
Live-Site Retrofit
Staged enclosure installation and temporary separation planned around operating equipment and owner access procedures.
DEFINE THE REQUIREMENTS
Six Coordination Priorities
Raised-floor supply routeUpper return-air route
Air Management
Match enclosure boundaries and openings to the cooling design. Review hot-air recirculation, cold-air bypass and service penetrations.
Particles & Construction Dust
Plan clean delivery, protected storage, sealed interfaces and site cleaning around the agreed equipment contamination requirements.
Gaseous Corrosion
Identify relevant outside-air and process risks. The mechanical specialist selects assessment and treatment measures where required.
Static & Surface Selection
Review material handling and electrostatic-control needs against equipment and operating procedures, including the complete floor and enclosure system.
Access & Maintenance
Confirm door clear openings, rack and equipment movement, replaceable components and access to filters, pipework and overhead services.
Fire & Safety Interfaces
Coordinate partitions and openings with the fire strategy, service penetrations, detection, suppression and required product documentation.
THREE SYSTEMS, ONE COORDINATED BRIEF
Keep the Controls Distinct.
Cooling, contamination control and the enclosure solve different problems. Review them together so a filter, opening or partition does not compromise the intended air path.
Cooling conditions, contamination measures and enclosure details are coordinated inputs, rather than interchangeable specifications.
Deliver Air to the Equipment
Rack inlet conditions, cooling capacity and supply/return routes guide the air-management design. Aisle containment limits unwanted mixing; it does not assign a cleanliness class.
Address the Actual Pollutants
Identify particles, conductive dust and relevant gaseous contaminants. The equipment documents and site assessment guide filtration and monitoring.
Coordinate Every Interface
Panel joints, access doors, floor junctions and service penetrations complete the enclosure. Material and personnel routes influence how contamination enters.
1. Site AirOutside conditions and contamination sources.
2. TreatmentParticle and, where needed, gas-phase filtration.
3. Air DeliveryApproved supply and rack inlet conditions.
4. Room BoundarySealed interfaces and controlled entry.
5. Return & ReviewReturn path, monitoring and maintenance access.
Positive pressure can reduce ingress through leaks when supplied air is appropriately treated. It is not a substitute for filtration, sealing or the fire and cooling strategy.
Engineering reference: U.S. Department of Energy data center design guide.
MATCH THE CONTROL TO THE SPACE
A Facility Is More Than One Room.
Document each room’s use and its relationship to operating IT equipment. A support area does not automatically inherit the environmental target of the server hall.
A conceptual room map separates staging, equipment, support and service spaces without assigning a universal cleanliness class.
| Space | Planning Focus | Enclosure Interface |
|---|---|---|
| Server hall / white space | Equipment environment, cooling and access. | Partitions, aisle boundaries and service openings. |
| Network and critical equipment rooms | Equipment-specific conditions and maintenance. | Doors, separations and equipment movement. |
| Colocation zones | Tenant boundaries, security and approved routes. | Partitions and access coordinated with fire protection. |
| Disaster-recovery rooms | Defined equipment requirements and readiness procedures. | Room boundaries and service access. |
| Receiving, staging and burn-in areas | Unpacking, cleaning, testing and debris control. | Separation from operating equipment areas. |
| Entry and support spaces | People, tools, materials and cleaning routes. | Entry doors, cleanable surfaces and transfer openings. |
“White space” describes the IT equipment area; it is not an ISO classification. Set any classification target separately.
REPLACE ASSUMPTIONS WITH A ROOM SCHEDULE
What Should the Environmental Brief Define?
Record each environmental attribute with its location, method, operating state and acceptance owner; a single sensor does not verify the whole brief.
| Requirement | Record in the Brief | Coordinate With |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature & moisture | Equipment inlet conditions, dew point and operating envelope. | Installed equipment documents and cooling designer. |
| Airflow | Supply, return, recirculation and containment paths. | Rack layout and air or liquid cooling package. |
| Particles | Particle sizes, concentration target and testing state, if specified. | Equipment owner and appointed test provider. |
| Filtration | Selected media, pressure drop, fan capacity and change-out access. | Mechanical designer and filter supplier. |
| Pressure relationships | Adjacent spaces, door use and the approved control strategy. | Air balance, fire strategy and enclosure leakage. |
| Corrosive gases | Site risks, assessment method and treatment requirements. | Equipment manufacturer and contamination specialist. |
| ESD & materials | Required surface properties, handling procedures and test method. | Owner’s ESD plan and the complete floor/enclosure assembly. |
There is no single temperature, humidity range, filter grade or air-change rate suitable for every data center. The selected equipment and mechanical design establish the operating requirements.
Equipment example: Dell PowerEdge R260 contamination specifications. Cooling interfaces: NVIDIA DGX GB rack-system guide.
CLASSIFY. MONITOR. TEST.
Three Standards, Three Different Jobs.
Classification establishes the specified particle result, monitoring follows performance, and test methods define how verification is carried out.
Airborne-Particle Classification
Defines classification of air cleanliness by airborne particle concentration. Agree the class, particle sizes and occupancy state for the specified space.
Official overview →A Monitoring Plan
Addresses monitoring that provides evidence of particle-related cleanroom performance. It does not replace routine maintenance of the facility systems.
Official overview →Performance Test Methods
Provides methods for relevant cleanroom performance tests. Select applicable tests and record whether the space is as-built, at-rest or operational.
Official overview →A particle classification report is one part of the evidence package. Cooling acceptance, electrical reliability, fire compliance and product certification have their own requirements.
Technical references reviewed 30 October 2026. Use the editions and acceptance criteria named in the project specification.
CLASSIFICATION / READ THE LIMIT
ISO Classes. One Particle Size.
Compare maximum airborne-particle concentrations at ≥ 0.5 μm. Select a class to highlight its limit; the project brief determines whether a data center needs classification.
Concept Diagram
| Class | Density* | Limit / Logarithmic Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| ISO Class 5≥ 0.5 μm | 3,520 particles/m³ | |
| ISO Class 6≥ 0.5 μm | 35,200 particles/m³ | |
| ISO Class 7≥ 0.5 μm | 352,000 particles/m³ | |
| ISO Class 8≥ 0.5 μm | 3,520,000 particles/m³ | |
| Particles/m³ · Base-10 Logarithmic Axis | ||
*Particle windows are illustrative, not simulated counts. Classification requires the agreed particle sizes, sampling and occupancy state. ISO classes do not prescribe a universal air-change rate, and EU-GMP grades are not interchangeable class labels. ISO 14644-1 overview · ASHRAE particle-limit table · When does ISO 8 apply?
PARTICLES / GASES / MATERIALS
Two Contaminants. Different Controls.
Airborne particles and corrosive gases need different assessments. Select the treatment path to see why a particulate filter alone does not establish gas-phase protection.
ParticlesGaseous contaminantsSelected gas-phase media
Particulate filters capture particles. Sulphur-bearing gases can remain in the air and react with susceptible copper or silver surfaces.
Gas-phase media selection, sealing and pressure control require a site-specific design. Assess removal performance and maintenance separately from particle classification.
1 / Assess Exposure
Review outside air and relevant gaseous contaminants, including H₂S and SO₂.
2 / Match the Controls
Coordinate filtration, room boundaries and controlled entry with the mechanical designer.
3 / Verify Conditions
Use the specified measurements and equipment limits to assess the operating environment.
Conceptual educational diagram; not an AILV test result or a service-life prediction. Corrosion depends on materials and exposure conditions. OEM contamination requirements · ASHRAE contamination-control guidance
A MEASURABLE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENT
Corrosivity Is Measured Separately.
Metal-coupon corrosion rates can reveal a gaseous-contamination risk that particle counts do not show. Compare results with the requirements for the installed equipment.
Copper and silver coupon results are assessed against the installed equipment requirements; particle counts alone do not measure corrosivity.
| Reference Metric | Dell PowerEdge R260 Example Limit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Copper corrosion rate | Less than 300 Å/month | The equipment document associates this with ISA71.04 severity level G1. |
| Silver corrosion rate | Less than 200 Å/month | A separate OEM threshold; do not substitute the copper value. |
Å means angstrom. These are equipment-reference corrosion limits, not AILV panel test results or a universal room specification. Agree the monitoring location, exposure conditions and response plan with the appointed specialist.
Sources: Dell R260 contamination requirements · ASHRAE Handbook: data centers and telecommunication facilities.
READ THE FILTER SPECIFICATION
HEPA and ULPA Grades in Context
When a design specifies high-efficiency filtration, compare the grade, test conditions and installed system together.
Filter grades describe component performance under their stated test method. That rating does not independently establish room classification or gaseous-contaminant control.
| Filter Class | Group | Minimum Overall Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| H13 | HEPA | 99.95% at MPPS |
| H14 | HEPA | 99.995% at MPPS |
| U15 | ULPA | 99.9995% at MPPS |
A filter grade describes the filter, while an ISO class describes measured room air. The selected arrangement also needs suitable airflow, pressure-drop allowance, seals and maintenance access. Gas-phase treatment is a separate selection.
Reference: MANN+HUMMEL EN 1822 classification table. This table is a selection reference, not an AILV filter test report or a requirement for every data center.
EXPLORE THE INTERFACES
One Enclosure. Different Cooling Layouts.
Select a layout to see where panels, openings and services need coordination. These simplified concepts explain interfaces; your appointed design team defines the cooling system and project details.
Air Path Coordination
Keep supply air and server exhaust paths separate in the approved layout. Containment may use a hot- or cold-aisle arrangement; this concept highlights one supply aisle.
What AILV Coordinates
Panel infill, door openings and perimeter interfaces with the selected containment system. The mechanical designer determines airflow and filtration.
Liquid Cooling Still Has Interfaces
Coordinate CDU position, pipe routes, penetrations, leak-detection access and service clearances. Some equipment components can continue to need air cooling.
Related guide: Data Center Panel Pipe-Opening Checklist.
What AILV Coordinates
Enclosure openings, access doors and wall or ceiling interfaces around the approved equipment package. Specialist cooling systems remain within their agreed supplier scope.
Define the Room Boundary
Agree wall and ceiling locations, door clear openings, vision panels and service penetrations before manufacture. Detail junctions against the approved project requirements.
What AILV Coordinates
Modular panels, profiles, doors, windows and documented enclosure details. Fire protection, air-tightness and testing criteria require project-specific coordination.
Supply air / liquid supplyWarm air / liquid returnEnclosure interface
Explore Panel Connection Details →A cooling layout does not determine an ISO cleanliness class. Check the installed equipment requirements and the project contamination-control plan.
ONE AGREED SUPPLY BOUNDARY
Manufacture, Coordinate, Integrate
Assign each package before ordering, with drawings and documentation linked to the selected products.
Assign the enclosure supply, engineering coordination and specialist systems before ordering; shared interfaces are reviewed together.
| AILV Manufactures | Project Coordination | Appointed Specialists |
|---|---|---|
Handmade and machine-made wall and ceiling panels. Agreed doors, vision windows, profiles and enclosure components. | Panel layout, openings, junctions and installation sequence. Sales and engineering support through K-STONE, with packing and delivery aligned to scope. | HVAC, aisle containment, liquid cooling, electrical and fire-protection systems. Environmental assessment, testing and operating acceptance. |
CHOOSE THE INSTALLATION CONTEXT
New Build or Operating Facility?
Select the project context to see what changes in the enclosure plan.
Both routes need defined verification. Operating-site work also requires approved isolation, access and staged installation procedures; no fixed duration or outage-free outcome is assumed.
- Set the Requirements EarlyAgree equipment environment, room boundaries and documentation before manufacture.
- Coordinate Before Equipment ArrivesPlan panels, services, containment, installation and protected storage as one sequence.
- Inspect Before AcceptanceComplete cleaning, interface checks and the specified environmental tests before handover.
- Survey the Operating SiteRecord existing airflow, access, active services and the owner’s permitted work windows.
- Agree the Work StagesDefine temporary separation, debris control, material routes and service isolation with the operator.
- Verify Each StageInspect the completed interfaces and coordinate agreed checks before returning the area to service.
An operating-site programme is agreed with the owner and responsible contractors. Panel prefabrication can reduce site fabrication; it does not by itself guarantee work without an outage.
FROM BRIEF TO PANEL PACKAGE
Eight Drawing Inputs to Coordinate
Expand each input to see what the enclosure team needs.
Overlay the room, equipment, service and access information before releasing openings and panel dimensions. This is a coordination concept, not a construction drawing.
Room Layout & Sections
Room dimensions, elevations, boundaries and installation sequence establish the panel layout and supply quantities.
Rack & Equipment Arrangement
Rack positions, clearances and equipment entry sizes define access openings and usable working space.
Aisle & Containment Layout
Approved hot- or cold-aisle boundaries identify infill panels, doors and interfaces with the containment supplier.
HVAC & Airflow Plan
Supply, return, filter and pressure-control arrangements identify openings and interfaces that affect the room boundary.
Liquid-Cooling Interfaces
CDU positions, pipe penetrations, leak-detection zones and maintenance clearances are coordinated with the cooling supplier.
Electrical & Cable Routes
Cable trays, busways and access requirements identify penetrations, support coordination and installation sequencing.
Fire Protection & Monitoring
Fire strategy, compartment lines, suppression and detection layouts define safety interfaces and the documentation schedule.
Delivery & Maintenance Routes
Loading limits, lifting routes, storage areas and operating-site restrictions inform packing and staged installation.
MATERIAL & DETAILING
Which Panel Configuration Fits?
Concept Diagram
Rock-wool panel sample. Confirm the offered facing, core, edge and joint configuration.
View Assembly Reference
How Should We Choose the Core, Thickness and Finish?
Start with panel dimensions, wall or ceiling use, supports, required fire documentation and surface exposure. Then match a documented configuration to the project. Panel thickness alone does not establish structural capacity, fire performance or room cleanliness.
What Makes the Enclosure Boundary Effective?
Panels work together with joints, door seals, service penetrations and floor or ceiling junctions. Agree the sealing details and any leakage-test requirement against the complete assembly and operating conditions.
Which Documents Should Accompany a Quotation?
Request the proposed configuration, layout assumptions, supply exclusions, relevant report references and packing information. Use the AILV report library to review available evidence and its tested construction.
MANUFACTURING & INTERFACE REFERENCES
See the Enclosure Work Behind the Package
FROM REQUIREMENTS TO A TRACEABLE PACKAGE
Six Stages. Defined Responsibilities.
A sequence of review points links the brief to delivery and handover. The stages are responsibilities to agree, not a promised project timetable.
- Capture the BriefRecord room use, equipment, dimensions, environmental requirements and project location.
- Coordinate the DesignAlign the panel layout with cooling, services, access and the approved safety strategy.
- Agree the SubmittalIdentify panel construction, finishes, drawings and applicable product documentation.
- Manufacture & InspectProduce the agreed enclosure components and record the specified factory checks.
- Pack & Plan InstallationCoordinate identification, protection, transport and the installation sequence within scope.
- Accept & HandoverClose enclosure checks and provide agreed documents. Appointed specialists complete system testing.
AILV’s manufacturing package and K-STONE’s sales and engineering support are defined separately from specialist cooling, electrical, fire and environmental-testing services.
EVIDENCE FOR THE TEAM THAT OPERATES THE ROOM
What Should Be Checked and Handed Over?
The handover record should retain traceable links between the supplied construction, installed interfaces and the agreed room-performance checks.
- Installed EnclosureApproved panel arrangement, joints, door operation, seals, penetrations and access clearances.
- Mechanical CoordinationAir paths, selected filters, change-out access and the specified pressure relationships.
- Environmental AcceptanceWhere specified: particle results, test state, sampling locations and relevant supporting test records.
- Traceable DocumentsAs-built drawings, panel configuration, applicable reports, inspection records and maintenance information.
What Changes After Handover?
Plan inspections around filter condition, door seals, service changes and cleaning access. Include subfloor spaces where used. The owner’s operating plan defines cleaning methods, monitoring locations, review intervals and responses to out-of-range conditions.
What About Corrosive-Gas Monitoring?
Particle counts cannot establish gaseous corrosivity. Where a site assessment identifies a risk, the equipment and contamination specialists define a suitable monitoring method and treatment review.
Are Pharmaceutical DQ/IQ/OQ/PQ Documents Mandatory?
They are not a universal requirement for server rooms. Use the owner’s commissioning and acceptance framework; include any qualification documentation expressly required by the project.
References: particle-performance monitoring · data center systems and air-management guidance.
MORE DESIGN QUESTIONS
Make the Procurement Brief More Precise.
Concept Diagram
Does an ISO Class Set the Air-Change Rate?
No. An airborne-particle class is not an air-change prescription. The design considers equipment cooling, contamination sources, filtration, airflow and the specified particle result together.
Must a Data Hall Have a Raised Floor?
No. Air distribution can use different arrangements, including overhead delivery. Coordinate the selected supply and return strategy with rack positions, containment and cable routes.
Does Higher-Grade Filtration Always Improve Efficiency?
No. Review capture requirements together with pressure drop, fan capability, loading and maintenance. A suitable filter and air-management design should meet the equipment requirements without unnecessary resistance.
Can Modular Panels Be Used Around Air-Side Economisers?
The enclosure can be coordinated with the selected air system. Outside-air contaminants, moisture and filter requirements need a site-specific assessment before the openings and control strategy are fixed.
Does a Cleaner Room Guarantee Uptime or a PUE Improvement?
No. Contamination control addresses identified environmental risks. Equipment reliability, operational availability and energy performance depend on the full facility and its operating conditions; evaluate them with project measurements.
Discuss Your Data Center Enclosure
For a data center enclosure quotation, send the rack layout, room dimensions, cooling and containment drawings, service openings and equipment-access clearances. Identify new-build or operating-site constraints and separate the panel package from specialist cooling, power, fire-safety and monitoring systems.
Combine the available layout, equipment requirements, supply scope and documentation brief before requesting an enclosure proposal.
COMMON PROJECT QUESTIONS
Data Center Enclosure FAQ
Route the question to the correct evidence: classification data, equipment conditions or the defined enclosure package.
Does Every Data Center Need an ISO 8 Cleanroom?
No. Some equipment specifications call for an ISO Class 8 particulate environment for defined installations. Confirm the equipment, space, testing state and acceptance method. ISO 14644-1 classifies airborne particles; it does not establish cooling or fire requirements. Read the ISO 8 FAQ.
Does Liquid Cooling Replace Airflow Planning?
No. Liquid-cooled racks can still contain air-cooled components. Coordinate residual air cooling, CDU access, pipe penetrations and service routes with the equipment and cooling suppliers.
Do Data Centers Always Need HEPA Filters?
No. Filter selection follows the contamination sources, equipment requirements and mechanical design, including pressure drop, fan capacity and maintenance access. Avoid assigning a universal filter grade or air-change rate.
Can an Existing Server Room Be Modified?
Yes, where the owner approves the scope and live-site procedures. Review equipment access, temporary separation, debris control, service isolation and installation stages before fixing the enclosure design.