Vertiv SmartAisle: aisle containment for an existing row
SmartAisle is not a cabinet, it is a containment system that closes the aisle around a row of racks already in place, stopping hot and cold air from mixing. Two standard aisle widths, 1200 and 1800 mm, and two rack heights, 2000 and 2200 mm, cover most homogeneous data hall layouts.
Technical specification
| Model | U height | Width × Depth | Static load | Door type / perforation | Colour | Side panel | Cable entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SmartAisle Containment 1200 | 2000 or 2200 mm rack height | 1200 mm aisle width | – | Sliding, double or front-panel door | RAL 7035 (light grey) or RAL 7021 (dark grey) | Quick-release side panels | – |
| SmartAisle Containment 1800 | 2000 or 2200 mm rack height | 1800 mm aisle width | – | Sliding, double or front-panel door | RAL 7035 (light grey) or RAL 7021 (dark grey) | Quick-release side panels | – |
Source of the values: Vertiv SmartAisle Containment brochure. SmartAisle is an aisle containment system, not a cooling appliance; it works with the cooling already present in the room, closing the aisle around an existing row of racks. Dimensions are given as aisle width and rack height rather than the usual cabinet width and depth, because the system is sized to the row rather than to one cabinet. An en dash means the manufacturer does not publish that value; we do not fill it in with an estimate. Confirm every figure against the current manufacturer document before it is written into a contract.
The references we quote in this family are SmartAisle Containment 1200 and SmartAisle Containment 1800. Send us the U height, the width and depth your rack row allows, and we will confirm availability and lead time.
Which one should you choose?
We supply the enclosure, not the cooling behind it
SmartAisle closes an aisle so the cooling capacity already installed in the room works more efficiently; it does not add cooling capacity itself. If the room does not have enough cooling today, containment alone will not fix that, and the conversation needs to include the cooling plant.
Sliding versus double doors is a traffic decision
Sliding doors take less floor space at the aisle ends, useful in a tight room. Double doors give a wider, faster path for moving equipment in and out, useful on an aisle with frequent installs and removals. Pick based on how the aisle is actually used, not on which looks better in a rendering.
Colour is a two-option choice, not a custom order
RAL 7035 light grey and RAL 7021 dark grey are the two standard finishes. Matching the containment to the existing rack colour in the room, usually already RAL 7021 for Vertiv racks, is a straightforward specification rather than a custom paint request.
Sizing is set by the existing row, not by a catalogue choice
Because SmartAisle closes an aisle that already exists, the aisle width and rack height are dictated by what is already installed, not freely chosen from the two standard options. Confirm the existing row’s exact dimensions before ordering rather than assuming a standard size fits.
Roof panels are modular, which matters for a partial retrofit
Because the roof and duct sections are modular, SmartAisle can be fitted over an existing row in stages rather than requiring the whole aisle to be shut down and closed in a single installation window. That matters when the room cannot be fully vacated for the retrofit.
Where it fits, and where it does not
Fits a data hall with an existing homogeneous row of racks that wants to improve cooling efficiency without adding cooling capacity. Does not fit a mixed-height or mixed-width row, where a free-standing configurable system is a better match, and does not fit a site that actually needs more cooling capacity rather than better containment.
What we need in order to quote it
- Exact aisle width and rack height of the existing row
- Sliding or double door preference
- Colour to match the existing racks
- Whether the room’s cooling capacity is already sufficient
Request a Quote
Tell us the usable capacity, the protocol and the delivery country. A priced quote comes back within 48 hours, usually with a second option so the trade-off is visible.
