Investing in efficient and reliable HVAC systems for data center gray spaces isn't just a technical decision; it's a strategic one. Whether you’re an engineer specifying equipment, an architect designing the space, or a data center owner balancing cost and uptime, your HVAC choices have lasting consequences.
The challenge (and opportunity) lies in choosing a cooling solution that meets technical requirements without sacrificing reliability or efficiency. To help guide your decision, we’ve compiled a checklist of key factors to help you identify the right wall-mount HVAC system for your gray spaces.
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8 Key Factors for Choosing the Right Wall-Mount HVAC
1. Heat Load
Why it matters:
Properly sizing your cooling equipment is the foundation of any successful HVAC design. Gray spaces can generate substantial heat from Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems, batteries, PDUs, and other electronics. Additionally, pumps, mechanical equipment, and piping of hot fluids can radiate heat into the space. Equipment can overheat if your cooling capacity is too low, while having oversized HVAC solutions can lead to inefficient cycling and higher energy costs.
Bard’s recommendation:
Calculate the total heat load in either tons of cooling or BTUs required for the room at peak conditions. Bard exterior wall-mounts offer cooling capacities from 1 to 15 tons, allowing you to choose one or more units to appropriately match a space’s specific heat load.
2. Redundancy
Why it matters:
In mission-critical environments like data centers, redundancy is a necessity. Incorporating backup cooling capacity ensures that an issue with one unit won’t lead to the entire gray space overheating and bringing down your servers.
Bard’s recommendation:
Build in redundancy with multiple wall-mount units rather than relying on one primary air conditioner. Common practices include:
- N+1: Installing one more unit than whatever is needed to meet heat load requirements.
- (2N): Installing double the number of units to maintain twice the amount of required capacity.
Regardless of your redundancy requirements, Bard’s modular approach to installation allows you plenty of flexibility to cater your HVAC system around your space’s specific needs.
3. Available Wall Space
Why it matters:
All wall-mount HVAC units are not created equally. One of the biggest advantages of exterior wall-mount HVAC systems is that they don’t consume indoor floor space or require large mechanical rooms. This allows you to properly cool your gray spaces without sacrificing valuable interior space.
Bard’s recommendation:
Measure available exterior wall space and compare it against required clearance and unit dimensions. Bard offers various wall-mount configurations and sizes, and our modular approach allows you to select the right size units which can be placed in easy-to-access places on the outer walls of your gray space.
4. Controls and Monitoring Capabilities
Why it matters:
Modern data centers demand flexibility in how HVAC systems are monitored and managed, but each gray space may have different requirements. For example, one building may only require a basic thermostat while others can benefit from advanced digital controllers that integrate with your building management system (BMS). The right match can help you manage your cooling as easily and efficiently as possible.
Bard’s recommendation:
Match the controls to your specific needs. Define the level of control and insight you want and choose a wall-mount system equipped to provide it. Key details include:
- If the equipment will be remotely accessed.
- Whether alarms are required for critical events.
- What cybersecurity requirements are in place.
Bard’s wall-mount HVAC systems can be paired with everything from thermostats to sophisticated controllers. For example, the LC6000 controller from Bard allows you to manage up to 14 units in three separate zones with centralized monitoring.
5. Air Filtration and Air Quality
Why it matters:
Even if gray spaces aren’t normally occupied by people, air quality still matters. Whether it’s dirt and pollen from outside air or in-space contaminants, dust and particulate buildup can foul sensitive electrical components.
Bard’s recommendation:
When selecting a wall-mount HVAC unit, verify the filtration options it supports. Bard’s wall-mount systems are designed with commercial-grade filtration in mind. Our units can accommodate filters up to MERV 13, providing high-efficiency performance to keep your air clean and your equipment breathing easy.
6. Protective Coatings and Environmental Conditions
Why it matters:
Not all data center environments are the same. Different locations across the country can expose HVAC units to different conditions, such as salty air near the coasts or the harsh winters of northern cities.
Bard’s recommendation:
Part of building durable equipment includes matching each unit to its environment. Bard offers protective coatings on coils and cabinets that act as armor against rust, salt, and other environmental damage that can lead to premature equipment failure.
7. Ease of Installation
Why it matters:
Installation timelines and complexity can influence both construction budgets and schedules. A simpler, quicker HVAC installation process means fewer delays and fewer surprises. In turn, data centers can get their gray spaces up and running as soon as possible.
Bard’s recommendation:
Bard’s self-contained wall-mount units are built for simplicity and speed, with no complex ductwork, no interior real estate, and fast, exterior access for maintenance. These turnkey solutions make installation quick and easy, while limiting unnecessary intrusions into sensitive environments.
8. Serviceability and Maintenance Access
Why it matters:
Even the best HVAC system will require filter changes, inspections, and other routine maintenance. Large CRAC units might require technicians to work in the middle of your gray space, while rooftop units force maintenance teams to climb on the roof with safety harnesses. Factoring in serviceability in your HVAC selection process can help limit downtime and save your team from a lot of headaches down the road.
Bard’s recommendation:
Bard exterior wall-mounts are designed for ease of use without the need for specialized third-party service technicians. All routine service points (compressors, fans, electronics, filters) are reachable through panels on the outside of the unit. In addition, Bard equipment is backed by robust support, including our broad distribution network that provides local expertise, ongoing support, and quicker access to parts when they’re needed.
Bard: Your Partner for Gray Space Cooling Success
Data center gray spaces may be out of sight, but they should never be out of mind. By checking each factor on this list, data center architects, engineers, and owners can confidently select a wall-mount HVAC solution that fits their technical needs and operational priorities.
For decades, Bard Manufacturing has specialized in wall-mount HVAC systems that excel in demanding environments. We combine durability, precision climate control, and space efficiency needed for reliable gray space cooling. Reach out to Bard today to invest in a tailored HVAC system to create an ideal environment for equipment longevity.
Breathe easy. You’ve got Bard.
