Summary
Dissolvable Air Barrier (DAB) Panels represent a major advancement in data center containment strategy, enabling full airflow separation without compromising fire safety. Traditional containment systems often require costly sprinkler modifications or force operators into partial containment, reducing efficiency. DAB Panels solve this challenge by delivering high-performance airflow management during normal operation and dissolving instantly when exposed to sprinkler water. The result is improved energy efficiency, safer fire response, faster ROI, and a more sustainable approach to modern data center design.
As data center and mission-critical environments become more focused on optimal performance and efficiency-led, containmesnt methods are evolving into a strategic necessity. Operators are under increasing pressure to reduce energy consumption and meet increasingly strict fire safety requirements, but the focus for this is to not have additional costs or operational complexity.
Containment delivers superior airflow management and energy efficiency, but traditional overhead systems can hinder existing sprinkler systems or create hazards during fire events. In many cases, achieving full containment requires costly sprinkler head relocation and when that is not possible, operators are often forced to accept partial containment, sacrificing energy efficiency and extending return on investment timelines.
This is where Dissolvable Air Barrier (DAB) Panels come into play, engineered to eliminate this compromise.
DAB Panels – Optimal Performance During Processes
Dissolvable Air Barrier Panels serve as the complete airflow containment system during standard operations. Offering efficient separation for both cold aisle and hot aisle containment, maintaining the reliability of supply and return air pathways, and withstanding high static air pressure. The panels are durable and easy to install, adaptable if needed to be altered on-site to handle different cabinet heights and cable trays. DAB Panels support optimal thermal management and help facilities to maintain higher supply temperatures and lower fan speeds.
In containment solutions, one key element that operators must consider is the impact of a fire incident. When exposed to sprinkler water, the DAB Panels dissolve within seconds, reducing the chance of panel-related hazards. By enabling full containment in environments where it might otherwise be restricted, DAB Panels directly improve energy efficiency and project economics. With partial containment frequently forcing facilities to lower supply temperatures and increase airflow for optimal equipment cooling, DAB Panels complete containment solution removes obstacles to complete implementation, enabling operators to enhance cooling efficiency without altering sprinkler systems.
Solving the containment and fire safety challenge
Fire performance is vital to the design of DAB Panels. These panels have achieved a Class A fire rating, the highest rating available, signifying minimal flame spread, low smoke development, and reduced heat output. The panels were tested under ASTM E84, often referred to as the Tunnel Test, which measures flame spread and smoke generation to determine suitability for interior building materials. Class A materials are frequently utilized in high-occupancy structures, for example, hospitals and schools, reflecting the highest level of fire resistance.
For cold aisle containment deployments, DAB Panels include an Air Flow Flap (AFF) that improves fire response, integrated into the panel system to open passively during elevated temperatures. The AFF is installed every six to eight feet, allowing for only a small number to be required in a standard aisle, further reducing the need for repositioning the sprinklers.
Environmentally responsible materials
The DAB Panels are made from EPA-certified, plant-based cellulose materials and contain no petroleum-based components, key to Subzero’s mission in environmental responsibility. When these panels dissolve during a fire, the materials are safe for the environment and compatible with water treatment systems, which aligns with the broader ESG initiatives across the data center industry. Despite being designed from plant-based resources, DAB Panels don’t pose shedding hazards often linked to paper materials within data center environments.
A new standard for modern containment solutions
This new acquisition of the Dissolvable Air Barrier (DAB) Panels is set to transform the potential for containment in todays and future data centers. Amongst the benefits of the solution, DAB Panels deliver full airflow separation during normal operation, dissolve rapidly when exposed to sprinkler water, achieve the highest fire rating classification, eliminate the need for costly sprinkler relocation, support faster ROI through improved energy efficiency, and align with sustainability goals. DAB Panels provide a more holistic approach to data center design by combining safety, performance, and environmental accountability into one containment solution.