Industry‑Leading Air tightness Testing for COLO Data Centres & HAC Corridors
APT provides specialist air tightness testing for data centres, including COLO suites, data halls, and Hot Aisle Containment (HAC) corridors, helping operators achieve maximum cooling efficiency, stable rack inlet temperatures, and full compliance with modern data‑centre airflow standards. We are a UKAS accredited air test laboratory so you can be sure our testing and reportage is of the highest standard at all times.
Our expert testing identifies leakage paths, verifies containment performance, and ensures your facility delivers the airflow separation required for resilient, energy‑efficient IT operations.
Why Air Leakage Testing Matters in Modern Data Centres
Effective airflow containment is essential for:
- Lower cooling energy consumption
- Stable rack inlet temperatures
- Reduced bypass airflow
- Improved CRAP/CRAC efficiency
Poorly sealed COLO pods or HAC corridors can cause thermal instability, hot‑spot formation, and increased cooling costs. APT’s testing ensures your containment performs exactly as designed.
What we Air Test in Data Centres
- COLO containment zones
- HAC corridors
- Pod‑based hot aisle systems
- Return‑air plenums
Our testing covers both performance leakage and construction air-tightness, giving operators a complete understanding of how well their containment is functioning.
Two Key Metrics We Report
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3% Leakage Rule – Performance Testing
We verify that HAC or COLO leakage is less than 3% of the design IT airflow, ensuring the containment performs correctly under real operating conditions.
This is the industry‑recognised benchmark for airflow separation in data centres.
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ATTMA Air-tightness – Construction Quality
We measure leakage per square metre to assess the physical build quality of the containment system. This identifies issues such as:
- Poorly sealed doors
- Gaps around panels
- Cable penetration failures
APT uses both metrics to ensure your containment is well‑built and performing correctly.
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High‑Pressure Integrity Testing for COLO & HAC Enclosures
In addition to operational air leakage testing, APT also performs high‑pressure integrity testing to verify the structural robustness of COLO pods and HAC corridors. This elevated‑pressure test (typically 75 Pa) is designed to expose weaknesses that only appear under stress conditions, such as:
- Panel deflection
- Door bowing
- Seal failure
- Roof‑panel movement
- Plenum interaction issues
High‑pressure testing provides a deeper understanding of the mechanical stability of the enclosure, ensuring it can withstand abnormal airflow events, fan ramp‑ups.
Detailed Blower Door Smoke Air Leakage Surveys
APT also carries out specialist blower door smoke leakage surveys for COLOs and HAC corridors. This diagnostic testing combines high powered blower doors with controlled smoke release to visually identify exact leakage paths within the containment system.
Our smoke surveys reveal issues that standard airflow testing alone cannot show, including:
- Leakage around containment doors and seals
- Panel and roof‑section gaps
- Cable‑tray and service penetrations
- Underside leakage at floor interfaces
- Plenum bypass routes
- Hidden construction defects behind IT racks
Using positive pressure, we trace smoke movement through the enclosure to pinpoint weaknesses with photographic evidence. This allows contractors to carry out targeted remedial sealing, improving both air-tightness quality and cooling performance.
APT’s blower door smoke surveys are widely used during commissioning, pre‑go‑live checks, and post‑remedial validation to ensure the containment is fully sealed, structurally robust, and performing at its designed efficiency.
Our Air Tightness Testing Process
- Full ATTMA flow‑curve analysis
- Leakage measurement at 7.5 Pa (operational pressure)
- Optional stress testing at higher pressures
- Smoke‑tracing diagnostics
- Identification of leakage paths
- Clear pass/fail criteria
- Practical remediation recommendations
This gives you a complete, actionable understanding of your containment performance.
Benefits of Air Testing COLOs & HAC Corridors
- Reduced cooling energy consumption
- Lower bypass airflow
- Improved CRAP/CRAC efficiency
- More stable rack inlet temperatures
- Better resilience under redundancy conditions
- Enhanced long‑term operational stability
- Optimised airflow management for high‑density IT loads
APT’s airt tightness testing helps data‑centre operators reduce costs, improve reliability, and maintain compliance with modern airflow standards.
Why Choose APT for Data Centre Air Testing?
APT specialises in data‑centre‑specific air-tightness testing, combining building‑compliance expertise with deep knowledge of IT cooling behaviour. We deliver:
- Clear, actionable reports
- Accurate leakage measurements
- Professional diagnostics
- Contractor‑friendly recommendations
- UK‑wide coverage including Poole, Dorset, London, Manchester & major data‑centre hubs
Our testing is trusted by data center clients, COLO operators, M&E consultants, commissioning teams, and mission‑critical facility managers.
Get a Quote for COLO & HAC Air Testing
APT provides fast, reliable and highly accurate air tightness testing for COLOs and HAC corridors within Data Centres across the UK.
For more information on our air tightness testing for data centres, please contact us info@airpressuretesting.net or call our head of Data centre Testing on 07775623464.