IN A WORLD OF SHORTCUTS, WE DON'T™
Data Center Hot Aisle Containment Curtains
Steel Guard’s data center hot aisle containment curtains provide an economical and highly effective solution for maintaining optimal temperatures in your server rooms. Designed to guide hot aisle exhaust airflow back to the CRAC (Computer Room Air Conditioner) return, our containment curtains are perfect for ensuring high performance for all your critical components.
Hot aisle containment is one of the most effective strategies for new enterprise data centers — isolating server exhaust air before it can mix with cold supply air and dramatically reducing the workload on your air conditioning systems. Explore our full range of data center containment curtains including cold aisle solutions.
Why Choose Data Center Hot Aisle Containment Curtains?
Features and Benefits
- Cost-effective temperature control — the most affordable hot aisle containment solution for server rooms of any size
- Customizable for your needs — from airtight seals for maximum efficiency to flexible moveable curtains at access points, configured to your data center’s exact specifications
- Durable materials built to last — manufactured with high-quality PVC strips, 18 oz coated vinyl, or 40 mil clear vinyl, RF-sealed for maximum durability
- Easy installation and retrofitting — installs by maintenance staff or retrofits with fuse-link ceiling mounts that release at 135°F for fire compliance
- Enhanced server performance — maintains ideal server operating temperatures between 70°F and 75°F for optimal efficiency
Options Designed to Fit Your Space
- Stationary clear curtains or strip doors — maintain a steady containment barrier across the hot aisle
- Retractable curtains — adaptable access when needed without compromising containment
- Custom air containment solutions — Steel Guard’s industrial-strength PVC materials paired with retractable tracks or sturdy aluminum mounts
Additional Information:
Intelligent Safety Features
Steel Guard fuse-link ceiling mounts provide an added safety measure — curtains drop to the floor when temperatures exceed 135°F, offering proactive fire safety that integrates seamlessly with existing fire suppression systems. This activation temperature is below the threshold of most fire suppression systems, ensuring curtains clear the area before suppression activates.
Materials for Superior Performance
Choose from a variety of robust materials to match your containment requirements:
- Clear PVC — maximum visibility into the hot aisle for monitoring and maintenance access
- Opaque vinyl — privacy and thermal containment for secure server environments
- Insulated Energy Shield — maximum temperature containment for high-density server rooms
- 18 oz coated vinyl — durable, RF-sealed construction for long-term performance
- 40 mil clear vinyl — heavy-duty clarity for high-visibility containment applications
Are Hot Aisle Containment Curtains Right for Your Facility?
Data center hot aisle containment curtains are critical for server rooms looking to optimize cooling efficiency and prevent overheating. Whether you’re retrofitting an older space or planning new construction, Steel Guard’s containment curtains ensure cost savings, increased cooling efficiency, and better protection for your servers.
Not sure if hot aisle containment is the right approach? Take a look at our data center cold aisle containment curtains to compare approaches for your server room.
Ready to optimize your server room? Call us at 708-589-4588 or request a free quote online — our team will configure the right hot aisle containment solution for your data center.
20/40/80 MIL CLEAR PVC
20/40/80 Mil PVC , Most Common Material Allows Clear View into Equipment Room. Flame resistant & double polished. Used in Strip Doors or Clear Curtains. Meets CFM, & NFPA-701 standards. Available in Anti-Static Versions.
16 oz STEEL SCRIM / 18 OZ OPAQUE VINYLS
16 oz STEEL-SCRIM Vinyl – Our proprietary tri-axial 3-Way scrim design. Over 406lbs tensile strength sq/in. Meets CFM, NFPA-701,ASTM-E-84 Class 1, for flame resistance. Allows Privacy in Server Room Areas. Alternative materials are 14 oz and 18 oz opaque FR vinyls. < See Opaque Vinyl Materials Here >
ENERGY SHIELD INSULATED MATERIAL
Energy Shield Type I Fold-A-Way – 2 layers of 18 oz coated vinyl sandwiched around 1 layer of 3M Thinsulate Ultra Insulation. Used when the highest leve of temperture containment is needed with a tight seal. R Value = 3.0 and a temperature separtion of 17 degrees F (8 degrees C) – Folds away on our Roller Track System. < See Insulated Materials Here >
ALUMINUM UNIVERSAL MOUNT - STATIONARY
Universal Strip or Clear Curtain Mount made from Aluminum. Mounts with the Fusible Link to Drop Ceilings, or Data Center Aisles.
PlASTIC POLYMER UNIVERSAL MOUNT - STATIONARY
Universal Strip or Clear Curtain Mount made from an Extremely Strong Plastic Polymeer. Mounts with the Fusible Link to Drop Ceilings, or Data Center Aisles.
ROLLER TRACK SYSTEM
Heavy-Duty 16 gage roller track system which modularly connects track lenghts to your desired shape and length. Used for Easy Access when an Air Tight Seal is Not Necessary. (Dimension O.D. – H-1.25″ x W-1.44″) Available in Suspended Mounts – Threaded Rod or Beam to Chain, Ceiling, Floor Mount, and Beam Flange Mount. See Hardware Options Here
Hot aisle containment curtains isolate exhaust air expelled from the rear of server racks and direct it back to CRAC return units before it can mix with cold supply air. This prevents hot and cold air mixing, dramatically improving cooling efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and maintaining consistent server operating temperatures.
Steel Guard hot aisle containment curtains install using direct ceiling mounts, drop-down lanyard mounts, or intelligent fuse-link ceiling mounts. Standard installations are completed by your maintenance staff without structural modifications. Retrofit installations use fuse-link mounts that release at 135°F, ensuring fire safety compliance without modifying existing suppression systems.
With proper hot aisle containment, server rooms should maintain cold supply air temperatures between 70°F and 75°F at server air inlets. Hot aisle exhaust temperatures typically run significantly higher — containment curtains prevent this hot air from recirculating into the cold supply zone and raising overall room temperatures.
Hot aisle containment is generally preferred for new construction or major renovations due to its modern approach to airflow management and ease of integration during initial build-out. Cold aisle containment is typically easier to retrofit into existing facilities without modifying fire suppression systems. Both strategies significantly reduce energy costs and improve server performance.
- Yes — every Steel Guard hot aisle containment system is custom designed to fit your server room’s specific aisle dimensions and rack configuration. From airtight seals for maximum efficiency to moveable vinyl curtains at access points, we configure each system to your exact requirements. Contact us for a free consultation and quote.
