Air Tightness Testing for Data Centres
Specialist Air Tightness Testing for COLO Data Centres & HAC Corridors
APT provides specialist air tightness testing for data centres, including COLO suites, data halls, containment pods and Hot Aisle Containment (HAC) corridors.
Our testing helps data centre operators verify containment performance, minimise unwanted airflow, maintain stable rack inlet temperatures and optimise cooling efficiency. As a UKAS-accredited air testing laboratory, APT provides accurate testing, detailed analysis and clear reporting to support commissioning, compliance and ongoing operational performance.
Our specialist testing identifies leakage paths, measures containment performance and highlights areas where improvements may be required to achieve the intended airflow separation within mission-critical environments.
Why Air Leakage Testing Matters in Modern Data Centres
Effective airflow containment is essential to maintain efficient, reliable data centre cooling. Uncontrolled air leakage can allow conditioned and return air to mix, reducing cooling effectiveness and creating unnecessary load on CRAH and CRAC systems.
Air tightness testing can help operators achieve:
- Reduced cooling energy consumption
- More stable rack inlet temperatures
- Lower bypass airflow
- Improved CRAH/CRAC efficiency
- Better airflow separation
- Improved cooling performance for high-density IT environments
Poorly sealed COLO pods, containment systems or HAC corridors can contribute to thermal instability, hot spots and increased cooling demand.
APT’s specialist testing provides measurable evidence of containment performance and helps identify areas requiring remedial work.
What We Air Test in Data Centres
APT can test a range of containment and airflow-controlled areas, including:
- COLO containment zones
- HAC corridors
- Hot aisle containment systems
- Pod-based containment systems
- Return-air plenums
- Data hall containment enclosures
Our testing can assess both operational leakage performance and construction air tightness, giving operators and project teams a comprehensive understanding of how effectively the containment system is performing.
Key Airtightness & Leakage Measurements
3% Leakage Criterion – Performance Testing
APT can assess HAC and COLO containment leakage against the specified project performance criterion, including a 3% leakage target based on the design IT airflow, where tthe projecthas bdopted fthis criterion
This provides a practical measure of how effectively the containment system is separating supply and return airflow under controlled test conditions.
Always confirm the applicable leakage criterion against the project’s design specification, commissioning requirements, and relevant standards.
ATTMA Air Tightness Testing – Construction Quality
APT can also measure air leakage relative to the enclosure’s surface area. This assesses the physical airtightness and construction quality of the containment system.
Testing can help identify defects such as:
- Poorly sealed doors
- Gaps around containment panels
- Inadequately sealed joints
- Cable and service penetration leakage
- Floor and ceiling interface gaps
- Construction defects within the enclosure
Using both performance-based leakage measurements and air permeability testing gives project teams a more complete picture of containment quality.
High-Pressure Integrity Testing for COLO & HAC Enclosures
In addition to operational air leakage testing, APT can undertake high-pressure integrity testing of COLO pods and HAC corridors.
A higher-pressure test, typically around 75 Pa where specified, can expose weaknesses that may not appear during lower-pressure operational testing.
Potential issues can include:
- Panel deflection
- Door movement or bowing
- Seal failure
- Roof-panel movement
- Plenum interaction
- Weaknesses around interfaces and penetrations
High-pressure testing provides additional information about the enclosure’s behaviour and integrity under increased pressure conditions. This can be particularly useful when assessing containment systems during commissioning or investigating performance concerns.
Blower Door Smoke Air Leakage Surveys
APT also provides specialist blower door smoke leakage surveys for COLO suites and HAC corridors.
This diagnostic approach combines controlled pressure testing with smoke tracing to identify the location and direction of unwanted air movement visually.
Smoke surveys can reveal leakage paths that may be difficult to locate through airflow measurements alone, including:
- Leakage around containment doors and seals
- Gaps between panels and roof sections
- Cable tray and service penetrations
- Leakage at floor interfaces
- Plenum bypass routes
- Construction defects behind or around IT equipment
By pressurising the containment area and introducing controlled smoke, our engineers can trace air movement and identify specific leakage locations.
Photographic evidence can then help contractors undertake targeted remedial sealing.
This makes blower door smoke surveys particularly useful during:
- Data centre commissioning
- Pre-go-live inspections
- Defect investigations
- Remedial works
- Post-remediation validation
Our Data Centre Air Tightness Testing Process
APT’s testing process can include:
- Initial assessment of the containment area and test requirements.
- Test preparation, including identifying and temporarily sealing relevant openings where required.
- Blower door installation and controlled pressurisation of the test enclosure.
- ATTMA flow-curve analysis and leakage measurement.
- Operational pressure testing, including testing at 7.5 Pa where specified.
- Higher-pressure integrity testing, where required by the project.
- Smoke-tracing diagnostics to identify individual leakage paths.
- Leakage identification and photographic documentation.
- Clear reporting against the agreed project criteria.
- Practical recommendations for remedial sealing and retesting.
This gives project teams clear, actionable information on the airtightness and containment performance of their data centre environment.
Benefits of Air Testing COLOs & HAC Corridors
Specialist air tightness testing can help data centre operators and project teams achieve:
- Reduced cooling energy consumption
- Lower unwanted or bypass airflow
- Improved CRAH/CRAC performance
- More consistent rack inlet temperatures
- Better airflow separation
- Improved cooling performance for high-density loads
- Greater confidence during commissioning
- Identification of construction defects before handover
- Verification of remedial works
- Improved long-term containment performance
For mission-critical facilities, early leak detection can prevent avoidable cooling inefficiencies and increase confidence that the installed containment system is performing as intended.
Why Choose APT for Data Centre Air Testing?
APT specialises in air tightness testing for data centres, combining air testing expertise with an understanding of containment systems and the airflow requirements of mission-critical environments.
We provide:
- Accurate leakage measurements
- Detailed and easy-to-understand reports
- Specialist diagnostic testing
- Smoke leakage surveys
- High-pressure integrity testing
- Practical, contractor-friendly recommendations
- Post-remediation verification
- UK-wide testing coverage
Our services support data centre operators, COLO providers, M&E consultants, commissioning teams, main contractors and mission-critical facility managers.
APT provides testing across the UK, including major data centre locations such as London, Manchester, Poole, Dorset and other UK data centre hubs.
Get a Quote for COLO & HAC Air Tightness Testing
APT Sound Testing provides specialist airtightness testing for COLO suites, HAC corridors, and data centre containment systems across the UK.
Whether you require testing during construction, commissioning, pre-go-live checks, or after remedial works, our team can provide accurate measurements, diagnostic investigation, and clear reporting.
For more information or to discuss your data centre testing requirements:
Email: info@airpressuretesting.net
Telephone: 01525 303905
Contact APT today to discuss your COLO or HAC air tightness testing requirements and arrange a quotation.