DATA CENTRE COOLING
Why resilient cooling systems are critical to reliability
Dean Oliver, Spirotech area sales manager commercial (South and London areas), explores why uninterrupted operation of data centres – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – is no longer optional, but essential. To achieve this, robust backup systems, advanced infrastructure, and precision cooling are fundamental.
I Dean Oliver
"Legacy systems
remain a vital part of many data centre operations and, when properly
maintained, can continue to deliver reliable, effi cient
performance."
n today’s digitally driven economy, data is the backbone of intelligent business decisions. From individuals and startups to multinational corporations and fi nancial institutions, the protection of personal and commercial information is more vital than ever. The internet sparked a technological revolution that has continued to accelerate - ushering in innovations like cryptocurrencies and, more recently, the powerful rise of Artifi cial Intelligence (AI). While these developments are groundbreaking, they also highlight the need for caution and infrastructure readiness.
For most users, the importance of data centres only becomes clear when systems fail. A 30-minute outage can bring parts of the economy to a halt. If banks can’t process transactions, the consequences are immediate and widespread. Data breaches can have a signifi cant impact on businesses, both operationally and fi nancially. This year alone, several
high-profi le companies have been targeted. Marks & Spencer, for example, reportedly suff ered losses of around £300 million over a six-week period following a cyber-attack. These and other companies aff ected by such problems underline just how dependent our society is on digital infrastructure. Cyberattacks, like denial-of-service (DoS) assaults, are a real and growing threat. But even without malicious intent, data centres must
operate fl awlessly, with zero downtime. Central to this is thermal management, including cooling systems that maintain optimal conditions to prevent system failure.
Why cooling is key Data centres generate signifi cant heat due to dense arrays of servers and network hardware. If temperatures are not precisely controlled, systems risk shutdown, data corruption, or permanent loss—an unacceptable risk for any organisation. Cooling solutions are mission-critical. Given the security and performance demands on data centres, there’s no room for error. Cutting corners to save on cost can have catastrophic consequences. That’s why careful planning at the design stage is essential. This should factor in redundancy for all key components: chillers, pumps, pressurisation units, and more. Communication links between these systems must also be integrated to ensure coordinated operation. The equation is simple: the more computing power you
deploy, the greater the cooling demand. Cloud infrastructure consumes enormous amounts of energy and space, requiring tens of megawatts of power and covering thousands of square metres.
If the cooling system fails – whether from chiller malfunction or control breakdown – data loss on a massive scale becomes a very real possibility. That’s why backup systems must be immediately
responsive, guaranteeing continued operation under any condition.
Keeping systems operating Today, there are control systems available that off er detailed insights into system performance, which capture operational data from pumps, valves, pressurisation units and vacuum degassers. This enables early detection of potential issues and
18 November 2025 •
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