{"id":14789,"date":"2025-08-01T18:43:38","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T18:43:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/?post_type=articles&p=14789"},"modified":"2025-08-22T19:07:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T19:07:19","slug":"booming-business-data-center-insulation-in-high-demand","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/articles\/booming-business-data-center-insulation-in-high-demand\/","title":{"rendered":"Booming Business: Data Center Insulation in High Demand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The \u201ccloud\u201d is a term we\u2019re all familiar with and a \u201cplace\u201d most people don\u2019t put too much thought into. But the cloud is actually a network of servers located in real places\u2014data centers\u2014across the country and the globe, accessed via the internet.

These data centers, which house artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud storage servers, are huge buildings full of heat-producing electronics. They require an enormous amount of chilled water piping and HVAC ductwork, which means large amounts of pipe and duct insulation are also needed.

Insulation plays a crucial role in data centers by enhancing cooling efficiency and improving energy efficiency. As the need for data centers continues to increase, the insulation industry is quickly learning about their needs and working to address them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Massive Amounts of Insulation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe common trend is that chilled water piping is operating at 60o to 80oF, so the indoor chilled water piping tends to not require as much insulation,\u201d said Matt Kipphut, Project Manager and Estimator for NIA member company Performance Contracting, Inc. \u201cThere is a large amount of piping outdoors, with all the chillers on the roof and connections to the chillers. Depending on the size of the data center, we\u2019re talking about tens of thousands of linear feet of pipe outside.\u201d

And much of the piping is not small. Matt Caldwell, President of Caldwell Insulation, an NIA member company in Georgia, said he\u2019s seeing an \u201cextraordinary amount of 30-inch pipe used around the country.\u201d

All that piping (at least outdoors) has to be insulated, which requires a significant amount of product. Kipphut said 2\u201d-thick insulation is common, and the volume needed potentially leads to other difficulties.

\u201cOur biggest challenges are material delivery and storage, and product availability,\u201d said Kipphut. \u201cOur laydown yards are small, and we can\u2019t put multiple storage containers on site, which prevents us from ordering in large quantities. We rely on distributors to help as they can, but sometimes it can really be a rock and a hard place with the schedules.\u201d

Greg Newman, Vice President of Design Build, Mechanical Insulation, at Insulation Midwest in Minnesota, echoed those sentiments about material ordering and storage.

\u201cWe have to preorder ahead of time, but then we only have limited spots and can\u2019t store anything inside the buildings,\u201d Newman said. \u201cThe construction is also so busy that it\u2019s unreal; and you\u2019ve got to work inside a particular schedule, so it\u2019s difficult.\u201d

For example, the fiber glass insulation industry is experiencing strong demand as more data centers are constructed.

The other piece of the insulation puzzle in data centers is ductwork. Newman said the majority of ducts in data centers range from 40 to 80 inches in diameter, with some even larger. As a result, fiber glass wrap products for insulating air handlers and ducts are also in high demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timing, Location, and Other Considerations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Power is another major consideration for data center construction. The buildings require an enormous amount of electrical power, so its availability sometimes influences the location of new projects.

\u201cThese data centers are built on grids, and some of them use so much power that they can\u2019t be on the same grid,\u201d Newman said. \u201cIn the Midwest, we have redundant data centers\u2014two of the same on two different grids\u2014for backup purposes.\u201d

The time frame for building data centers varies, though Kipphut said many that he\u2019s worked on take 18 to 24 months.

\u201cUsually, one big building is separated into thirds, in different phases,\u201d Kipphut said. \u201cWe might need 6,000 feet of pipe insulation for the first phase, and then a few months later another 6,000 to 7,000. As a contractor, I try to store a reasonable amount of insulation, usually 2-inch thick, to keep it available. With all of these data center builds going on, there\u2019s so much need.\u201d

Kipphut said he\u2019s seen several data center campuses where multiple buildings are grouped together, and that presents other challenges.

\u201cIn Arizona, for example, they want to build seven of these, and we\u2019re working on building number two, all pretty close together,\u201d Kipphut said. \u201cPower\u2014and water, in Arizona\u2014are going to be big problems.\u201d

Proper insulation on chilled water piping is crucial in addressing the power issue. It is essential for maintaining energy efficiency, especially in environments like data centers, where temperature control is critical. Inadequate insulation can lead to temperature fluctuations, increasing power consumption and operational costs.

Some key tips for effectively insulating chilled water systems include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Specify the right amount of insulation<\/strong>
    To prevent condensation and maintain consistent water temperatures, it is crucial to use the correct insulation thickness. The insulation must keep its surface temperature above the dew point to avoid moisture accumulation. This is especially important in environments with high relative humidity, where the risk of condensation is greater due to increased vapor drive.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Use an appropriate vapor retarder<\/strong>
    A vapor retarder is a protective covering applied over insulation to prevent moisture ingress. Common vapor retarder materials for fiber glass insulation include all-service jacketing (ASJ), poly-coated ASJ, and polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) films. A properly sealed PVC jacket (at all circumferential and longitudinal seams) also can perform as a vapor retarder. To ensure effectiveness of a vapor retarder:
    \u2022 Seal all seams with matching vapor retarder tape;
    \u2022 Avoid punctures or tears in the jacketing; and
    \u2022 Use mastics to seal seams (overlaps) and penetrations, and repair any damage.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Consider the installation environment<\/strong>
    In high-traffic chilled water system areas, protective jacketing such as metal or PVC should be used to prevent physical damage to insulation and the vapor retarder. Jacketing comes in various colors for aesthetic or coding purposes, and some white PVC jackets also offer UV resistance.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Choose the right insulation materials<\/strong>
    Pipe insulation is a cost-effective and widely used solution for chilled water systems. Some materials are available in pre-formed, pre-slit formats and with factory-installed vapor retarders. These systems are compatible with additional jacketing for outdoor or exposed environments, enhancing durability and moisture resistance. Options for chilled water systems include fiber glass; cellular glass; elastomeric; and rigid foams including polyisocyanurate (PIR), extruded polystyrene (XPS), and phenolic.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The Insulation Materials Specification Chart, NIA-TIC-101-4\/24, created originally for NIA\u2019s training programs, provides end users with physical and material properties of various insulation materials, as specified in ASTM Materials Specifications. This chart, created by NIA\u2019s Technical Information Committee, was born out of a need for an unbiased, easy-to-use selection guide focused on the physical and material properties of different types of insulations. Visit https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/4zeb96yz to access the chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ongoing Demand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    As AI continues to grow, construction of data centers is not likely to slow down soon. If current trends continue, it could be that constraints such as electricity, space, and even mechanical insulation will affect data center growth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Growth in the use of artificial intelligence is
    \nincreasing demand for data centers, whose enormous need for mechanical insulation to operate efficiently represents opportunities (and challenges) for our industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":[632],"featured_media":0,"template":"","categories":[301,720,723],"class_list":["post-14789","articles","type-articles","status-publish","hentry","category-design","category-data-center","category-august-2025","author-kristen-white"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBooming Business: Data Center Insulation in High Demand - Insulation Outlook Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/articles\/booming-business-data-center-insulation-in-high-demand\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Booming Business: Data Center Insulation in High Demand\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Growth in the use of artificial intelligence is increasing demand for data centers, whose enormous need for mechanical insulation to operate efficiently represents opportunities (and challenges) for our industry.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/articles\/booming-business-data-center-insulation-in-high-demand\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Insulation Outlook Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-22T19:07:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/08\/IO250802_01.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1788\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1141\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/articles\/booming-business-data-center-insulation-in-high-demand\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/articles\/booming-business-data-center-insulation-in-high-demand\/\",\"name\":\"Booming Business: Data Center Insulation in High Demand - 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