V RICO N D ITIO N®

COOLING SOLUTIONS

Next Generation
Cold Corridor
Takes modular thinking in energy-efficient
data centre design to a new level
In 2006, Minkels became the first data centre supplier in Europe to commercially launch Cold Corridor® solutions, in

order to separate data centre airflows in an energy-efficient manner. Today, data centre users worldwide have a need

for extraordinarily high levels of flexibility in Cold Corridor implementations. Minkels’ Next Generation Cold Corridor

is the ultimate modular solution to meet your flexible and dynamic data centre construction requirements.

Since 2006, the Cold Corridor system has enabled countless
data centres to effectively improve their energy efficiency by
separating hot air from cold.
As further experience was accumulated from project to project,
an increasing understanding was gained of the role of the Cold
Corridor within the IT infrastructure. An industry characterised by
incessant progress requires ever more sophisticated solutions, such
as Minkels’ Cold Corridor.
Not only has Minkels R&D department further improved the energy
efficiency of its Next Generation Cold Corridor, it has also raised
modular thinking in the field of data centre design to a new level.
Minkels Next Generation Cold Corridor
Takes modular thinking in energy-efficient data centre
design to a new level

NEW FEATURES:
Modular options based on clients’ best practices.
Ease of installation.
R&D based airflow optimization.
Wide choice of security options and (automatic) door systems.
Plug & play integration of measuring sensors.
Adaptable to all kinds of fire suppression systems.
High level of roof light transmission.
COLD CORRIDOR PRINCIPLE
The basic principle behind the Minkels Cold Corridor is the
segregation of hot and cold airflows at row level. Airflow
segregation is a vital step towards the achievement of integrated
energy saving throughout data centres. However, the two main
benefits to be gained by installing a Cold Corridor are:
Constant air conditions for your IT equipment.
Considerable energy saving potential.
The fact that air conditions around the IT equipment remain
constant also implies that higher inlet temperatures are
permissible. The application of higher inlet can therefore
increasingly be taken for granted. The ASHRAE specifications
widely applied throughout the data centre market are therefore
raised on an annual basis. Furthermore, the application of higher
inlet temperatures also implies that there is greater potential for
the use of free cooling, which yields a reduction in the amount of
highly costly compressor operating hours. Experience gained from
the numerous projects Minkels has executed in this field has
shown the real potential for savings of up to 50%!
Constant air conditions around server equipment also
substantially reduce the risk of hotspots. This yields sharply
increased levels of predictability and reliability for your valuable
IT equipment. Minkels has over the past six years acquired a great
deal of knowledge and experience in this field. Knowledge and
experience that have of course been incorporated in the latest
design.
Minkels also naturally strives to achieve the highest possible
levels of flexibility and modularity. Phased investment and a high
degree of flexibility assure you of the most appropriate technical
solution at low cost.
 Modular cable system
Pivot roof

High level
of roof light
transmission

Flexible wall system

R&D based
airflow optimisation

Wide choice of
security options

(Electric) sliding door

Hinged door

The basic Cold Corridor system comprises the following:

Doors: both sliding and hinged doors.
Top panels: top panels are fitted to rails, independently of the
server racks. The top is fitted with highly illuminating top panels,
enabling light ingress of up to 83%.
Wall panels: in the event that one or more cabinets are missing
from a row, or are to be installed later, then the apertures can be
closed using a flexible wall system.

SYSTEM INTEGRATION Cooling & airflow management

Minkels’ clients increasingly express the need for complete Security

system integration. The Next Generation of Cold Corridor caters Cable management

closely to such needs. Complete integration with the ecosystem Fire detection and extinguishing

in and around the Cold Corridors has also been taken into Monitoring

consideration.
INTEGRATION WITH COOLING SYSTEMS
The Cold Corridor system is always used in combination with your
data centre cooling system. This can be achieved in various ways,
the most common of which are:
Room cooling in combination with a raised floor.
While this is a traditional method of cooling, it is nevertheless
still widely applied.
Integration of active cooling in the Cold Corridor.
This row-based cooling system moves the cooling much closer to
the heat source. This is often a highly practical and inexpensive
option in compact spaces in particular, due to its highly modular
nature and reduced distance between the cooling and IT
equipment. It naturally also yields further energy savings.
Row based cooling is ideally suited for the construction of High
Density Clusters, even in existing circumstances. Furthermore,
the fact that there is no need to install a (high) raised floor in this
case enables a further reduction in the amount of investment
required.
The demand for integrated cooling systems in Cold Corridors
is increasing sensationally! Minkels offers attractive total
solutions in this field with its VariCondition-DX and -H2O systems.
The Corridor system can naturally also be applied in order to
enclose the hot side (Hot Corridor). While most clients opt for a
setup whereby the cold side is enclosed, there are nevertheless
circumstances in which setting up a Hot Corridor is preferable. In
each case, however, the same basic principle is applied, namely to
* Row based cooling is ideally suited for the
construction of High Density Clusters, even in
existing circumstances.
segregate hot airflows from cold, which can yield opportunities
to achieve considerable energy savings. Minkels’ specialists would
be pleased to advise you on the most optimum setup for your
particular data centre environment.
Airflow management
Minkels recently introduced a new airflow management portfolio
for its (server) racks. This portfolio is based on the accurate control
of the airflows in and around the racks. The simple yet highly
effective products it comprises help minimise the amount of
energy wasted due to inefficient airflows (also see whitepaper 04:
Rack airflow optimisation). The same philosophy has also been
applied in the Next Generation Cold Corridor system. Minkels
therefore offers the market a state-of-the-art proposition!
INTEGRATION WITH FIRE DETECTION AND EXTINGUISHING
SYSTEMS
There are numerous types of fire detection and extinguishing
systems which can be installed in data centres. However, the
design and fitting of such systems is naturally a job for the
experts. During the past few years, almost all the popular
versions of these systems have been fitted in combination with
the Minkels Cold Corridor.
Minkels fits special bushed panels through which
the piping for the fire extinguishing system can be
conveniently led into the Cold Corridor.
 Minkels offers various options which ideally support integration
with such systems (also see whitepaper 05: Integration of the
Cold Corridor with Fire Suppression Systems).

Pivot roof panels

In the event that a sprinkler or water-mist system is installed,
then the Cold Corridors need to be rendered readily accessible to
these agents.
Minkels has therefore developed a system comprising thermal
fuses, which ensures that the top panels are unlocked and
automatically fold open at a temperature of 57 degrees Celsius.
Minkels holds the patent for this unlocking mechanism.

Minkels has developed a system comprising thermal Pivot roof panel control by means of BMS is also supported. Pivot

fuses, which ensures that the top panels are unlocked panel is electrically released using potential free contact. The

and automatically fold open at a temperature of 57 system is equipped with panel position indicators.

degrees Celsius. Control by BMS system, based on

potential free contact, is also available. Bushed panels
It is sometimes necessary to install a nozzle in the Cold Corridor
itself. In such cases, Minkels fits special bushed panels through
which the piping for the fire extinguishing system can be
conveniently led into the Cold Corridor.
Motion sensor
Key pad
Portal
Modular Integrated Solutions
INTEGRATION WITH CABLE MANAGEMENT
Data centres are increasingly equipped with top-of-rack cable
infrastructure. Installing the cabling above the racks offers major
benefits in terms of order, neatness and manageability. Minkels
supplies a modular cable tray system which can be fitted on top
of the rack. This system is perfectly compatible for use with the
Cold Corridor. The system can be installed both longitudinally
in line with the (row of) racks and transversely as a connecting
bridge between Cold Corridors. Given that the cable tray system is
directly attached to the racks, it can save you valuable time which
would otherwise have to be spent installing it.
INTEGRATION WITH SECURITY SYSTEMS
Besides excellent availability and low energy bills, the Cold
Corridor system also greatly contributes to the (physical) security
of your valuable equipment. Restricted access to the Cold Corridor
can be achieved in several ways, such as:
Door position
contact
Locking mechanism
Push button
Varicontrol-L
HiD system
Sliding door system, with mechanical soft closure.
Sliding door system which is opened and closed electrically.
Security is maintained by means of a keypad, card reader or
integration with the existing security system.
The Minkels VariControl-L electronic closure system is
supported by the electrically operated Cold Corridor.
The top panels are secured on the inside by means of square
pin locks (non pivot roof only).
The mechanical and electric sliding doors also offer the added
advantage aclosed automatically to maintain cooling efficiency.
MINKELS SERVICE PROVISION
The Minkels service team is ideally qualified and equipped to
carry out the on-site assembly of your racks and Cold Corridor
system swiftly, efficiently and at little cost. In this regard, we can
take all the worries off your hands by performing:
Site surveys
(Internal) transport
Installation service
Waste management
Commissioning and user training

The Minkels Sales & Service team invariably remains

at your service!

INTEGRATION WITH MONITORING SYSTEMS
Monitoring the conditions in and around server racks is an
increasingly vital factor in managing the quality and availability
of IT equipment. It has also become popular to monitor at various
levels: namely at room, corridor and rack level. Minkels’ Cold
Corridor system therefore comprises special sensor integration
panels which are fitted in the roof. The wide range of standard
sensors contained in the Minkels VariControl-S portfolio can be
fitted to these panels toollessly. Our designers naturally took
into consideration that the sensors also need to be neatly and
conveniently wired to the monitoring infrastructure.
FLEXIBILITY
Wall system
It is a common occurrence that a Cold Corridor has to be installed
in circumstances where the rack setup is not entirely symmetrical.
In such cases, a flexible wall system is required with which to
perfectly cope with the irregularities. Minkels therefore designed
a flexible system which can be readily adapted – often on site, too
– to the particular requirements in question.
The same system can also be used to enclose the following
structures:
Columns
Height variations between racks.
Apertures in a row of racks, where a rack is missing or is to
be installed at a later stage. After all, some clients opt not to
completely fill a Cold Corridor with racks from the outset. The
flexible wall system can then be used to seal the Cold Corridor
systematically and efficiently, thus ensuring that performance
remains high. The wall panels can be readily and conveniently
adapted whenever another rack is installed.
It is simply not practical to fit top panels in certain cases, and
this is where the flexible wall system offers a solution in blanking
off the vertical opening up to the ceiling.
 Product overview

Basic product data

Standard Remarks
Aisle widths (W) 1000-1800mm Standard widths are 1200 and 1800mm

Minimum Depth (D) 800mm

Height (H) 2000mm Other heights on request
2075mm
2200mm
2275mm
Color RAL7047
RAL9011

Door systems
Standard Optional Remarks
Sliding door system - mechanical
Double doors X Manually operated with soft close
Single door X Manually operated with soft close
Synchronised X Mechanical with soft close
Lock – Euro profile cilinder X Standard Cilinder
Lock - Electronic X Access Control System not included*
Door Portal X Depth 100mm
Door Handles X
Door position contact X Potential Free
*Door Portal is required

Standard Optional Remarks

Sliding door system – electric
Double doors X Electrical operated
Single door X Electrical operated
Synchronised X Electrical synchronised
Door Portal X Depth 100mm
Access – Push Button X
Access – Motion Sensor X Outside access*
Lock – Keypad X Wireless*
Lock – VariControl - L X HID access cards*
Door Handles - - Not Applicable
Door position contact X Potential Free
* Replaces standard push button

Standard Optional Remarks

Hinged door system - mechanical
Double doors X Manually operated
Single door - - Not Available
Synchronised - - Not Available
Lock - - Not Available
Door Handles - - Not Applicable
Door position contact - - Not Available
 Product overview

W = Aisle width X = Panel size

D = Depth Y = Flexible start/
H = Height end panel

Roof systems
Standard Optional Remarks
Standard roof system
Roof rail system X Independent of racks
High Light Transmission X >83%
Lockable panels X Square key locks (inside)
Panels Sizes (X) 600mm Start and end panel, flexible 100-175mm (Y)
700mm
Sensor integration panel X VariControl – S compliant
Fire Suppression panel X ø 35mm hole

Standard Optional Remarks

Pivot roof system
Roof rail system X Independent of racks
High Light Transmission X >72%
Lockable panels - - Not Applicable
Panel Release – Thermo Bulb X Opens at 57°C
Panel Release - Electrical X
Panel Release – Position Indication X Only icw Electrical Panel Release
Panels Sizes (X) 700mm Start and end panel, flexible 150-225mm (Y)
800mm
Sensor integration panel X VariControl – S compliant
Fix panel 400mm None Pivot Panel

Wall system
Standard Optional Remarks
Standard wall system
Wall width 300mm Other widths on request
600mm
800mm
Wall height 2000mm Other heights on request
2075mm
2200mm
2275mm
Wall Thickness 25mm
Self supporting X
MINKELS NETHERLANDS MINKELS FRANCE
Eisenhowerweg 12 Bâtiment D2
P.O. Box 28 19 Bd. Georges Bidault
5460 AA Veghel 77183 Croissy Beaubourg
t. +31 (0)413 311 100 t. +33 (0)164 61 61 91
info@minkels.com info-fr@minkels.com

MINKELS BELGIUM MINKELS INTERNATIONAL

Vaartdijk 59 Eisenhowerweg 12
3018 Wijgmaal (Louvain) P.O. Box 28
t. +32 (0)16 44 2010 5460 AA Veghel
info-be@minkels.com t. +31 (0)413 311 100
info@minkels.com
MINKELS SWITZERLAND
Riedstrasse 3-5 USA
CH -6330 Cham Uptime Technology Solutions
t. +41 (0)41 748 4060 1630 North Main St. #333
info-ch@minkels.com Walnut Creek, CA 94596
t. +1 925-783 4668
MINKELS UK
Unit 4 GERMANY
M40 Industrial Centre In der Mühlweide 20
Blenheim Road 61130 Nidderau
Cressex Business Park t. +49 (0) 173 6634 862
High Wycombe
Bucks, HP12 3RS
t. +44 (0)1494 451706
info-uk@minkels.com WWW.MINKELS.COM

VCD-CC-BRV04-EN