In the tropical climate of Kuala Lumpur, the most significant enemy of data centre efficiency is air mixing. Without physical separation, the cold air supplied by your CRAC/CRAH units mixes with the hot exhaust from servers before it ever reaches the equipment intake. This results in "Hot Spots" and forces your cooling plant to run at much lower temperatures than necessary, driving up your PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness).
EKG M&E Sdn Bhd specializes in the design and "live" installation of Hot Aisle and Cold Aisle containment, allowing for a 20% to 40% reduction in cooling energy costs.
In a CAC system, the aisle where cold air is supplied (usually through a raised floor) is completely enclosed using roof panels and end-of-row doors.
How it Works: The entire cold aisle becomes a pressurized "plenum" of chilled air. Servers pull air from this reservoir and exhausted hot air flows freely into the rest of the room.
The Benefit: It is generally easier to retrofit into existing data centres. It ensures that even the servers at the very top of the rack receive air at the same temperature as those at the bottom.
KL Specifics: Because the rest of the room becomes a "Hot Aisle," this setup is ideal for facilities where the surrounding building environment is not occupied by people.
In an HAC system, the aisle where hot air is exhausted is enclosed. The hot air is then ducted directly back to the return intake of the cooling units.
How it Works: The "Cold Aisle" is essentially the entire room. The hot air is "trapped" and sent back to the CRAC/CRAH units at high temperatures (35°C+).
The Benefit: This is technically more efficient than CAC. Cooling units operate much more effectively when receiving hot return air (higher $\Delta T$). It also makes the data centre floor a comfortable "ambient" temperature for technicians to work in.
The VFD Advantage: We use Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) on the cooling fans to match the exhaust pressure. As servers ramp up and push more hot air into the contained aisle, the VFD instantly speeds up the return fans to pull that heat away.
| Feature | Cold Aisle Containment (CAC) | Hot Aisle Containment (HAC) |
| Ease of Retrofit | High (Modular Roofs/Doors). | Moderate (Requires ducting to ceiling). |
| Cooling Efficiency | Good. | Superior (Highest Chiller Efficiency). |
| Technician Comfort | Room is Hot (~30°C+). | Room is Cool (~22°C - 24°C). |
| Failure Safety | Limited thermal buffer. | High (The whole room acts as a cold reservoir). |
Installing containment requires more than just plastic sheets; it requires precise MEP integration:
Fire Suppression Interlock: In Malaysia, BOMBA regulations require that containment roofs must "drop" or open automatically when the fire alarm (FM200/Novec 1230) is triggered so the gas can reach the racks.
Pressure Management: We utilize differential pressure sensors linked to VFDs. If the containment is too tight, the fans can "struggle"; our system automatically balances the pressure to ensure optimal airflow without over-working the motors.
Vibration Analysis: We perform FFT Spectrum Analysis on the blowers. Increased static pressure from containment can sometimes shift the "operating point" of a fan; we ensure your equipment remains in a healthy vibration zone.
34-Year Legacy: We have managed "live" containment retrofits for major Malaysian telcos and banks without a single second of IT downtime.
PUE Optimization: We don't just install partitions; we re-tune your entire chilled water or DX plant to take advantage of the new thermal architecture, maximizing your ROI.
Turnkey Execution: From the BMS (Building Management System) logic to the structural rack-mounting, we handle the entire engineering scope.
Malaysia
