FAQs - Airflow Monitoring
Information on how to monitor the airflow from air conditioning systems used in critical IT spaces and what this could indicate.
Airflow sensors are placed near to the outflow of an air conditioning unit. The sensors have either normally closed or normally open relays. When an air conditioning unit fails to supply an output airflow, the sensors trigger a contact signal that can be picked up by a connected monitoring system and automatic notifications are sent via email, SMS text or SNMP allowing a corrective action to be taken.
Air conditioning systems are installed to maintain a level of cooling and ambient temperature. The ideal ambient temperature for a comms room or server room is 19-21deg Centigrade for optimal energy efficiency or the wider range of 18 to 27degC. When an air conditioning unit fails, room temperature rises due to the hot exaust air from the server racks. The temperature within a server rack will rise far quicker and lead to a concentration of heat that could lead to server failure or present a fire hazard within the cabinet. The airflow sensors connect to the room monitoring unit which generates an alert notification if the air conditioner stops.
Differential pressure sensors provide a way to monitor pressure differentials and provide an indication of how effective airflow and cooling are in a specific area. The sensors measure the air pressure forcing the airflow, specifically the pressure difference between one area and another. Differential pressure sensors can be used in positive air pressure environments (for cooling efficiency) and negative pressures environments where the goal is to contain contaminants.