Cases & enclosures
for a data centre that needs miles of cabling and innumerable junctions, relying on concrete is a non-starter. Instead, to give data centre managers the flexibility to scale operations with additional racks, hardware, and essential power connections, surface-mounted enclosures give the freedom to add junctions as required.
E90 CERTIFICATION
To protect the electrical supply, it is essential that surface-mounted enclosures can provide a barrier to extremes of heat and flame. In the event of a fire, the control systems governing safe shutdown of IT hardware might need to run for up to an hour, while fire suppression systems and emergency lighting might need to run for up to 90 minutes. When selecting a fire-protection enclosure for a data centre, units should be certified between E30, E60, and E90, guaranteeing functional integrity of the enclosures for at least 30, 60, or 90 minutes from the onset of fire. The E90 certification might be needed to protect the supply to functions such as water booster systems to supply extinguishers, smoke and heat extraction systems, as well as evacuation-able fire brigade elevators. To achieve this level of fire protection, thermoplastic polycarbonate is the choice for its high heat tolerance, and as polycarbonate is non-conductive during a fire, it also removes the risk of short circuit. Within the enclosure, terminal block clamps will typically be made from high temperature-resistant ceramic, securing connections in place while also removing the short-circuit risk. Enclosures can also include integrated fuses that enable nonreactive cable branching, meaning that in the event of a fault, the functional integrity in the main section is unaffected.
INGRESS AND IMPACT RESISTANCE In the event of fire, it is not just heat and flame that the enclosure must protect against. Sprinkler systems and hoses present a water ingress risk, and during an emergency situation, the prospect of impact is high. As a result, fire protection enclosures should be rated to IP66, preventing ingress from
strong water jets, with an IK08 rating to give high resistance to physical impact.
As well as the need to ensure the highest level of protection, rapid enclosure installation reduces time and cost, particularly when multiple units are required within a data centre environment. In combination, a flexible installation capability with sufficient adjustment options lowers the demand for prior planning of cable architecture and means a faster job on-site.
For example, Spelsberg’s WKE fire protection enclosures can be mounted on a fire-resistant wall or ceiling, installed with two pre-fitted lugs that can be rotated around 90° for positioning adjustment. Inside the enclosure, the terminal block can also be adjusted through a choice of 0°, 45°, or 90° positions, secured by a central screw and sliding bracket. The enclosures are pre-assembled so only wiring is required, meanwhile the enclosure cover can be kept safe during wiring with the optional cover-retaining strap.
FAST, SIMPLE INSTALLATION To optimise cable routing between enclosures and the wider electrical circuits, knock-out membranes enable fast and simple cable installation, with an integrated flange system maintaining the IP rating. Spelsberg’s in-house CNC service can also customise
enclosures, providing cutting, milling, and drilling according to bespoke designs.
Growth in the UK’s data centre market shows no signs of slowing. As our infrastructure increasingly relies on digitalisation, cloud computing and the web, and soon, AI technology, maintaining data centre operations 24/7 is critical. To protect from fire, polycarbonate-based, surface-mounted enclosures not only provide the required level of safety, but their installation flexibility makes it faster and easier to achieve the necessary level of protection.
Spelsberg
www.spelsberg.co.uk
Instrumentation Monthly April 2026
33
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