Data Center Cold Aisle Containment Curtains

Measuring Curtains & Dimensions

Lateral Width (Run)

Curtains come in two basic widths; 12” and 48” wide. All other sizes are variations and combinations of these sizes. 12” strips are typically used for doorways. 48” wide panels are typically used to create walls. These are the basic building blocks for the containment system.

When determining how many panels are needed to complete a specific run, it’s important to understand that the overlap between panels reduces the lateral coverage distance. The 48” panels are installed with a 4” overlap so the coverage of panels 2-n is reduced to 44”per panel. The 12” door strips have a 2” overlap so coverage of panels 2-n is 10”per strip. Our Configurator system has these deductions built in.

Each curtain panel is prepared at the factory with a hook bead heat welded across the top. The hook bead provides the physical support for the hanging curtain. The hook bead is cut back from each edge to provide for proper overlap of each panel.

Note: Adjoining curtain panels overlap while the hook beads butt together.

Vertical Length

Drape on Top of Rack

The hang length is a simple measurement from the ceiling to floor or top of the rack, as appropriate. If no deduction is specified, the vertical height of the DCT and hook bar will cause the curtains to hang with some drape at the bottom. Most people prefer this as it provides a more positive seal as the curtain drape lays on the top of the equipment. In fact, most people will order curtains 6” longer than the distance between the ceiling and the shortest rack in the row. Curtains are easily trimmed in the field to accommodate taller racks. Curtain material and the hook bead can be cut with a utility knife or heavy scissors, such as tin snips.

Note: It’s better to have longer curtains and to trim than come up short.

Corners

Heat Formed Curtain

Curtains can be butted at the corners but because of the nature of the material, achieving and maintaining good closure is virtually impossible. One solution is to overlap one curtain by another 4-6”. Another solution is to use clear packing tape to hold the adjacent curtain edges together. The very best corner is achieved with a factory heat formed corner curtain.

Regardless of length, Data Clean’s standard heat formed corner is 12” on each side of the crease. The hook bead is cut back two inches from each edge to provide overlap with adjoining curtain panels.

Closure

The softwall curtain panels can be secured for better closure through a variety of means. Snaps can be installed in the field to provide alterable closure. Foam tape can be used between overlapping panels for a semi-permanent closure. Hook and Loop or Dual Lock Velcro products or magnets can be used for less permanent closure. Both Velcro products are available in a factory sewn option where one side of the fastener is permanently sewn to the curtain.

Snaps

Velcro

Dual Lock Velcro

Magnets

Note: Locating factory sewing requires an accurate drawing.

Data Center Track can also be used as a curtain backer to align the bottom of the curtains. DCT-B comes with an aluminum bar (batten) which is used to capture the curtain and clamp it to the DCT to achieve a permanent condition.