Upsite Technologies, Inc. is welcoming the results of a recent ASHRAE-published report on brush grommet effectiveness in sealing cable openings in raised-floor data centers. The 3rd party, independent testing concluded that the performance of Upsite’s KoldLok Brush Grommets seal best and save data center operators the most energy, enabling significant cost savings.

The full report, titled “Plenum-Leakage Bypass Airflow in Raised-Floor Data Centers” documents scientific test findings for five leading brush grommet brands. KoldLok’s Integral grommet was found to offer data center operators significant annual operational expense savings, approximately 50 percent greater than the next-closest tested competitors’ brush grommets1. Conservative projections based on the report’s findings show that data center operators can enjoy 10 year savings of approximately $960,000 if KoldLok grommets are installed in a 1MW data center.

Due to the high energy cost associated with air leakage in raised-floor data centers, engineers are taking a hard look at practical solutions to reduce bypass airflow and recover stranded cooling capacity. The long-term savings highlighted in the ASHRAE®-published report provide clear evidence to choose the grommet that yields the greatest energy savings while providing the lowest levels of leakage. Based upon the research findings and calculations summarized in the report, the KoldLok Integral brush grommet has been identified as the best-sealing and most cost-effective option.

“The reduction of bypass airflow is still an important issue with data center operators,” said Peter Crook, President of Upsite Technologies. “It is gratifying to see the energy and operational savings of the original Upsite KoldLok grommet highlighted in the report.”