BS EN IEC 62966-2:2020 - Mechanical Structures for Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Aisle Containment for IT Cabinets: Details of Air Flow, Air Separation, and Air Cooling Requirements

In the ever-evolving world of information technology, maintaining optimal conditions for IT equipment is crucial. The BS EN IEC 62966-2:2020 standard provides comprehensive guidelines for mechanical structures designed to house electrical and electronic equipment, specifically focusing on aisle containment for IT cabinets. This standard is essential for ensuring efficient air flow, effective air separation, and optimal air cooling, which are critical for the performance and longevity of IT systems.

Key Features of the Standard

• Standard Number: BS EN IEC 62966-2:2020
• Pages: 30
• Release Date: October 1, 2020
• ISBN: 978 0 580 98840 0
• Status: Standard

Why This Standard is Essential

The BS EN IEC 62966-2:2020 standard is a vital resource for professionals involved in the design, installation, and maintenance of IT infrastructure. It provides detailed specifications that help in creating an environment where IT equipment can operate efficiently and reliably. By adhering to this standard, organizations can achieve:

1. Enhanced Air Flow Management

Proper air flow is crucial for preventing overheating and ensuring that IT equipment functions at its best. This standard outlines the necessary requirements for air flow management, helping to maintain a stable temperature within IT cabinets. This not only enhances the performance of the equipment but also extends its lifespan.

2. Effective Air Separation

Air separation is a critical aspect of maintaining the integrity of the cooling system. The standard provides guidelines on how to effectively separate hot and cold air within the aisle containment system. This separation is essential to prevent the mixing of air streams, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased energy consumption.

3. Optimal Air Cooling

Cooling is a significant concern in data centers and IT environments. The BS EN IEC 62966-2:2020 standard offers detailed requirements for air cooling systems, ensuring that they are capable of maintaining the necessary conditions for IT equipment. This helps in reducing the risk of equipment failure due to overheating.

Who Should Use This Standard?

This standard is indispensable for a wide range of professionals, including:

• Data Center Managers
• IT Infrastructure Engineers
• Facility Managers
• Cooling System Designers
• Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturers

Benefits of Implementing the Standard

Implementing the BS EN IEC 62966-2:2020 standard offers numerous benefits, such as:

• Increased Efficiency: By optimizing air flow and cooling, organizations can reduce energy consumption and operational costs.
• Improved Equipment Reliability: Proper environmental conditions help in minimizing the risk of equipment failure, ensuring continuous operation.
• Compliance and Standardization: Adhering to international standards ensures compliance with industry best practices and facilitates interoperability between different systems and components.

Conclusion

The BS EN IEC 62966-2:2020 standard is a comprehensive guide for anyone involved in the management and maintenance of IT infrastructure. By following the guidelines set forth in this standard, organizations can ensure that their IT equipment operates in an optimal environment, leading to improved performance, reliability, and efficiency. Whether you are designing a new data center or upgrading an existing one, this standard is an invaluable resource that will help you achieve your goals.

BS EN IEC 62966-2:2020

This standard BS EN IEC 62966-2:2020 Mechanical structures for electrical and electronic equipment. Aisle containment for IT cabinets is classified in these ICS categories:

• 31.240 Mechanical structures for electronic equipment

IEC 62966-2:2020 is dedicated to aisle containment techniques for information technology (IT) equipment typically used in data centres, describes the quantification of its air tightness, in particular the air loss ratio that describes the content of the volumetric flow not used for cooling the IT equipment. This ratio provides an index of efficiency, being inversely proportional to efficiency (the lower this ratio, the higher the efficiency). This document provides methods to measure an aisle containment air leakage rate and defines a classification system for aisle containment leakage. This document defines: - the measurement of the air leakage of the individual components of an aisle containment; - a method for calculating the air leakage of an aisle containment based on its individual components; - a method for calculating the air leakage rate of an aisle containment in relation to the utilised IT equipment; - a classification system for aisle containment leakage.