How Maysteel Solved Hot Aisle Containment Challenges for a Data Center GC

For a general contractor specializing in large-scale data center construction, sourcing hot aisle containment (HAC) systems had become an ongoing frustration. 

The contractor needed a manufacturing partner capable of delivering engineered HAC systems to specification while providing dependable pricing and coordinated installation support.

Here’s how Maysteel worked with the general contractor to address the sourcing and execution challenges, establishing a more reliable approach to critical HAC projects.

Why Is Hot Aisle Containment Important in Data Centers?

Hot aisle containment (HAC) systems keep heated server exhaust air separate from cooler supply air, helping data centers maintain consistent temperatures and use cooling resources more efficiently. 

As AI and hyperscale workloads increase the amount of heat generated by servers, data centers face greater demands on their cooling infrastructure. The growing adoption of liquid cooling and its integration with traditional air-cooled environments also influences how facilities are designed and built.

For general contractors, HAC systems present additional considerations beyond thermal performance. Each HAC system must be engineered to fit the facility’s requirements, with manufacturing and installation aligned to the overall construction schedule.

Manufacturing and installation coordination becomes especially important when contractors are managing multiple data center projects simultaneously.

Learn more about how to select aisle containment systems in our blog post, “5 Key Considerations for Choosing Aisle Containment Systems.”

The Challenge: Unreliable HAC Suppliers Put Data Center Construction Schedules at Risk

The general contractor had encountered several problems with existing hot aisle containment suppliers:

  • Inconsistent bid pricing: Variations in supplier pricing complicated project estimates and made construction costs more difficult to predict.
  • Unreliable installation: Installation problems threatened construction schedules and made project milestones more difficult to meet.
  • Communication gaps: Inadequate coordination between suppliers and project teams made potential delays harder to anticipate and project requirements more difficult to manage.

The contractor needed a supplier capable of providing consistent bid information while assuming greater responsibility for coordinating HAC manufacturing and installation.

Maysteel brought together engineering expertise and dedicated program management to address the contractor’s requirements.

The Solution: Custom Hot Aisle Containment Systems and Coordinated Project Management

Maysteel assembled a dedicated program team to develop custom HAC systems to the contractor’s technical requirements and construction schedules. Working directly with the GC and installation team, Maysteel coordinated engineering and manufacturing activities with project planning to improve execution from the initial bid through final installation.

Maysteel’s custom aisle containment solutions are engineered to support data center thermal management requirements. The company’s engineering capabilities allow HAC systems to be developed around project specifications while accounting for integration with surrounding infrastructure.

For the general contractor, Maysteel’s approach addressed three important areas of project execution.

Engineering Custom HAC Systems for Data Center Requirements

Maysteel’s in-house engineers worked with the project team to develop HAC systems that met custom specifications and site requirements.

The engineering team applied its thermal management and design expertise to support containment performance while accounting for integration with surrounding data center infrastructure.

Maysteel’s solutions also accommodate traditional air-cooled environments and emerging liquid cooling deployments. Floor-mounted racking solutions provide structural support for high-density equipment installations.

Improving Bid Consistency and Project Planning

To address the contractor’s concerns about unpredictable pricing, Maysteel provided comprehensive bid submittals with detailed information to support more consistent project estimates. 

Maysteel also assigned dedicated program management to keep manufacturing aligned with construction schedules. Regular project pipeline reviews provided Maysteel and the general contractor with greater visibility into upcoming requirements. With the additional information,  teams could coordinate resources before production and installation.

Maysteel also coordinated supply-chain activities with engineering, manufacturing, and project schedules to support dependable execution.

Coordinating HAC Manufacturing and Installation

Installation reliability and communication were equally important to the contractor’s decision to work with Maysteel.

Maysteel collaborated with the GC and installation team throughout the project, maintaining regular communication from pre-construction planning through final deployment.

Close coordination between engineering, manufacturing, and installation teams helped address the communication gaps the contractor had experienced with previous suppliers. Improved coordination supported smoother integration of HAC systems into the broader construction schedule.

Why is data center thermal performance important? Learn more in our blog post, “Data Center Cooling & Why it’s Important.”

The Results: On-Time HAC Delivery and More Predictable Project Execution

Maysteel’s engineering and project management approach helped the general contractor achieve more predictable execution across its hot aisle containment projects.

The partnership produced several important results:

  • Reliable thermal performance: Maysteel’s engineered HAC systems supported thermal management requirements in demanding data center environments.
  • On-time, on-budget execution: Coordination between engineering and manufacturing helped keep construction projects on schedule and within budget.
  • Consistent bid information: Detailed bid submittals helped the contractor better anticipate costs and develop more accurate project budgets.
  • Improved communication: Regular coordination between Maysteel and project teams reduced communication gaps throughout construction and installation.
  • Support for multiple projects: Maysteel demonstrated the manufacturing capacity and program management capabilities needed to support simultaneous data center builds.

The contractor now recognizes Maysteel as a dependable partner capable of delivering consistent quality while responding to the requirements of complex construction programs.

Download the complete case study to learn more about this project. 

Partner With Maysteel for Custom Data Center Aisle Containment

The pace of data center construction leaves little room for supplier delays, making manufacturing experience and reliable delivery increasingly important to general contractors.

Maysteel’s engineering team works directly with contractors to develop hot aisle containment systems designed to meet project specifications. Dedicated program managers coordinate manufacturing and installation requirements to help keep construction schedules on track.

Whether you’re planning a single data center, managing simultaneous builds, or in need of data center cooling solutions, Maysteel can help you develop a coordinated approach to hot aisle containment.

Explore Maysteel’s aisle containment solutions or contact our team to discuss your next data center project.