Sector · Data centers and server rooms

Cool air that cannot be cut off: how duct inspection is planned in a server room

Here air conditioning is not comfort: it is part of the operation, and it does not allow long outages.

By Limpieza de Ductos PanamáReviewed October 21, 20263 min readShare

Short answer

Duct cleaning in a server room or data center is the camera inspection of the ducts and cooling units, agreed with the technical team, which decides which units are worked on and in what window. Work goes one unit at a time and the inspection is done with the rest of the system operating, unless told otherwise.

What sets data centers and server rooms apart

No long outagesOne unit at a time is worked on while the rest keeps running. The technical team validates the plan.

Redundancy is defined by the clientIf there are backup units, they are used as support during the work. If there are none, another window is planned.

Measure before decidingThe condition of the ducts is documented with a camera and, if the team asks, airflow and temperatures are recorded.

Facts that help decide in data centers and server rooms

In Panama: The Ministry of Commerce and Industries reported in July 2023 that the Panama Digital Gateway data center, in the Corozal free zone, would offer 3.5 MW of capacity in 650 racks and 5 modules, tied to the Curie submarine cable. It is the announced figure for one facility and not a census of the sector. (MICI, Panama strengthens as a digital hub of the Americas (2023))
Technical fact: The ASHRAE TC 9.9 reference card (2021 edition) gives the recommended range for class A1 to A4 equipment as 18 to 27 °C, with a dew point between -9 and 15 °C and relative humidity up to 70% or 50%. A note says 70% is acceptable only if silver and copper coupon corrosion tests give under 200 and 300 Å per month. It is an equipment design range and not a service promise. (ASHRAE, Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments, reference card)

Types of place within data centers and server rooms

Type of place	What changes in the work plan
Server rooms	It is agreed which units can be switched off and when
Data centers	An intervention plan agreed with the technical team, unit by unit
Clean rooms	Coordinated with the person in charge of the area, following their protocol

How the work is organized in data centers and server rooms

Review the airflow layout. With the technical team it is identified how many units there are, which backs up which and which serves what.
Choose the window. It is agreed when each unit is worked on, so the critical area is never left without air.
Record and hand over. The report includes photos, measurements if requested, and the sections that could not be seen.

An example of what the report brings

An illustrative example of a technical room report: a table by unit with a photo of the coil and the filter, the condition of the condensate pan and a line saying whether the unit could be worked on in the agreed window. Measurements appear only if the technical team asked for them before starting.

What you are left with at the end

A plan by unit and window, validated by the technical team
Photographs of the inside of the ducts
Airflow and temperature measurements, if requested
The list of sections that could not be seen

Reference sources

ASHRAE: Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments (temperature reference card)
EPA: Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? (guide written for homes)
ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 180: inspección y mantenimiento de sistemas HVAC comerciales (industry reference)
Technical references of this site, with all 45 sources

On this site

All sectorsWhat changes in each type of place
Camera inspectionThe real condition before deciding
Service areasWhere work is done

Climatiza and Radar Panamá

Refrigeration and air conditioning equipment monitoring (in Spanish)Climatiza
Commercial, industrial and residential HVAC services (in Spanish)Climatiza
Air conditioning electricity use of a businessRadar Panamá
Air conditioning maintenance contract for businessesRadar Panamá

Frequently asked questions

Does the server room have to be switched off?

Normally not: with backup units the work is done one at a time and the technical team validates the plan. Without backup, another window is agreed or the review is limited.

What if there are no backup units?

A different window is planned with the technical team, or the review is limited to what can be seen without interrupting the air.

Are temperatures and airflow measured?

Only if the technical team asks for it, and it is agreed beforehand what is measured and with which reference points. It is not part of the camera inspection.

Can it be done in a certified data center?

The center’s own protocol and access rules are followed. No certification is assumed that the client does not state.

How often does it make sense to check the ducts in data centers and server rooms?

There is no fixed frequency. It is agreed with the technical team, based on the operation and the condition of the filters and units.

What does the report include for data centers and server rooms?

It brings photographs of the inside of the ducts. It includes measurements only if the technical team asked for them before starting.

Keep exploring

All sectorsThe 31 sectors and 119 types of place.Open →Data centers and server roomsParameters, maintenance and what to expect.Open →Banks and finance companiesA branch has a public hall and back offices with different hours and access rules.Open →Industry and logistics parksIn a plant, air conditioning serves offices, canteens and process areas under different rules.Open →

Related toolDuct inspection plannerEstimate the level of attention your system needs based on use and warning signs.Open planner →

Request an inspection

Do you want to know what your place needs?

Tell us what type of place it is and which area it is in. A camera inspection shows the inside of the ducts before anything is decided.