Air Tightness Testing for COLO Data Centres & HAC Corridors
APT provides specialist air tightness testing for data centres, including COLO suites, data halls and Hot Aisle Containment (HAC) corridors.
Our specialist testing helps data-centre operators achieve improved cooling efficiency, stable rack inlet temperatures and effective airflow separation. As a UKAS-accredited air testing laboratory, APT provides accurate testing and detailed reporting to a consistently high professional standard.
Our experienced team identifies leakage paths, verifies containment performance and assesses whether your facility is delivering the airflow separation required for reliable, energy-efficient IT operations.
Why Air Leakage Testing Matters in Modern Data Centres
Effective airflow containment is essential for maintaining efficient and predictable cooling performance within modern data centres.
Well-designed and properly sealed containment can help deliver:
- Reduced cooling energy consumption
- More stable rack inlet temperatures
- Reduced bypass airflow
- Improved CRAC/CRAH efficiency
- Better airflow management around high-density IT equipment
Poorly sealed COLO pods, containment systems or HAC corridors can result in unwanted airflow movement, thermal instability, hot spots and increased cooling demand.
APT’s air tightness testing provides operators, contractors and commissioning teams with measurable evidence of containment performance, helping to identify and address leakage before it affects operational efficiency.
What We Air Test in Data Centres
APT carries out specialist air tightness testing across a range of data-centre containment environments, including:
- COLO containment zones
- HAC corridors
- Pod-based hot aisle containment systems
- Return-air plenums
- Enclosed containment areas
Our testing can assess both operational leakage performance and construction air tightness, providing a comprehensive picture of how effectively the containment system has been constructed and how well it performs under operating conditions.
Key Air Tightness Metrics We Report
1. 3% Leakage Rule – Performance Testing
APT can assess HAC and COLO containment leakage against a 3% leakage criterion, expressed as a percentage of the design IT airflow.
This provides a practical measure of how effectively the containment system is separating supply and return airflow under operating conditions.
By measuring leakage against the design airflow, operators can identify whether unwanted air movement could compromise containment performance or increase cooling demand.
2. ATTMA Air Tightness – Construction Quality
We can also measure air leakage in relation to the enclosure area, providing an assessment of the physical air tightness and construction quality of the containment system.
This approach can help identify defects such as:
- Poorly sealed doors
- Gaps between panels
- Failed or incomplete seals
- Cable and service penetration leakage
- Gaps at floor and ceiling interfaces
Using both operational performance measurements and construction air tightness measurements gives clients a more complete understanding of their containment system.
3. High-Pressure Integrity Testing for COLO & HAC Enclosures
In addition to operational air leakage testing, APT can carry out high-pressure integrity testing to assess the robustness of COLO pods and HAC corridors.
Elevated-pressure testing, typically up to around 75 Pa where appropriate, can help expose weaknesses that may not become apparent during normal operating conditions.
These can include:
- Panel deflection
- Door movement or bowing
- Seal failure
- Roof-panel movement
- Plenum interaction issues
- Other enclosure weaknesses
High-pressure testing provides additional information about the mechanical and sealing performance of the containment enclosure and can be particularly useful when assessing how systems respond to increased pressure caused by fan ramp-up or abnormal airflow conditions.
Detailed Blower Door Smoke Air Leakage Surveys
APT also provides specialist blower door smoke leakage surveys for COLO suites and HAC corridors.
This diagnostic technique combines high-powered blower doors with controlled smoke release to visually identify and trace leakage paths through the containment system.
Smoke testing can reveal defects that may be difficult to locate through airflow measurements alone, including:
- Leakage around containment doors and seals
- Gaps within panels and roof sections
- Cable-tray and service penetrations
- Leakage at floor interfaces
- Plenum bypass routes
- Hidden construction defects behind IT racks and equipment
By creating a controlled pressure differential, we can observe smoke movement through the enclosure and pinpoint areas requiring remedial work.
Photographic evidence can then be provided to help contractors carry out targeted sealing and rectification works.
APT’s blower door smoke surveys are particularly useful during:
- Data-centre commissioning
- Pre-go-live inspections
- Containment verification
- Defect investigations
- Post-remedial validation
This provides clients with clear visual evidence of leakage locations and helps verify that remedial works have delivered the required improvement.
Our Data Centre Air Tightness Testing Process
APT’s testing process can include:
- Full ATTMA flow-curve analysis
- Leakage measurement at 7.5 Pa operational pressure
- Optional elevated-pressure integrity testing
- Blower door smoke-tracing diagnostics
- Identification and documentation of leakage paths
- Clear performance criteria
- Photographic evidence where required
- Practical recommendations for remedial sealing
Our objective is to provide a clear and actionable assessment of your containment system, rather than simply reporting a single leakage figure.
Benefits of Air Testing COLOs & HAC Corridors
Effective containment air tightness testing can help data-centre operators achieve:
- Reduced cooling energy consumption
- Lower bypass airflow
- Improved CRAC/CRAH efficiency
- More stable rack inlet temperatures
- Better airflow separation
- Improved resilience during redundancy conditions
- Greater long-term operational stability
- Optimised airflow management for high-density IT loads
By identifying and addressing unwanted air leakage, operators can improve the predictability and efficiency of their cooling systems while supporting the intended performance of the containment design.
Why Choose APT for Data Centre Air Testing?
APT specialises in data-centre-specific air tightness testing, combining air testing expertise with an understanding of containment systems and data-centre cooling requirements.
We provide:
- Clear, detailed and actionable reports
- Accurate leakage measurements
- Specialist diagnostic testing
- Photographic evidence of leakage paths where required
- Practical, contractor-friendly recommendations
- UK-wide coverage
Our services are available across major UK data-centre locations, including London, Manchester, Poole, Dorset and other key data-centre hubs.
APT works with data-centre operators, COLO providers, M&E consultants, commissioning teams, main contractors and mission-critical facility managers.
Get a Quote for COLO & HAC Air Tightness Testing
APT provides specialist air tightness testing for COLOs and HAC corridors within data centres across the UK.
Whether you require operational leakage testing, ATTMA air tightness measurements, high-pressure integrity testing or detailed blower door smoke diagnostics, our team can provide a tailored testing programme for your facility.
For more information or to discuss your project, contact in**@****************ng.net or call our Head of Data Centre Testing on 07775 623 464.
