When considering energy efficiency improvements for data centres, considerable importance must be placed on the climate control provision. The 'Retrofit' containment concept from Schroff can substantially improve the cooling efficiency even of existing computer rooms while simultaneously reducing energy costs significantly. Modular, standard components allow a containment structure to be fitted flexibly around existing rows of cabinets.

Schroff's individual cold and hot aisle containment is based on basic elements of the VARISTAR cabinet range. The containment elements and a rigourously designed universal profile can accommodate server cabinets from different manufacturers, with different heights and widths, accurately, securely and without a large design outlay. Top cover elements with flexible fixing options link the parallel cabinet rows and seal the aisle from above. Gaps between cover and cabinet that may arise due to different cabinet heights are fully sealed with blanking elements. Access to the cold and hot aisles is offered with a wide range of Schroff's standard doors. These are available as hinged doors or as manual or electrically operated sliding doors, the latter also available with a movement detector option. An individual access control system is available (locks, transponder cards etc) if required.

Containment ensures that the cold and hot air in the data centre are consistently separated, thus avoiding wasteful mixing of the two airstreams. In principle, a retrofit containment can be designed to isolate either the cold or the hot aisles. The more efficient of the two options is determined in each case by the specific conditions of the installation.