Data centers have quickly become the backbone of modern society. As AI workloads surge regulators are intensifying their focus on energy efficiency, water consumption, and thermal risk. Because cooling is central to both operational uptime and environmental footprint, it has become a primary industry standard.
At ALSCO, we’re here to help solve these complex fluid management challenges. For more than four decades, ALSCO Industrial has supported companies across a wide range of industries by supplying the thermoplastic piping components that keep their systems operating efficiently and safely.
What is Liquid Cooling?
Let’s start off by learning how this infrastructure functions.
Liquid cooling is a method used to dissipate heat from high-performance components by using a fluid. For data centers, this is an important solution for managing the massive heat loads generated by AI, high-performance computing, and dense server configurations. Liquids have a much higher thermal conductivity than air and they can absorb and move heat away from processors almost instantly.
Cooling Regulations For Data Centers –– Important Regulations To Consider
As cooling systems evolve, compliance has become just as important as performance. Data centers need to operate within defined safety and efficiency standards.
-
Thermal Guidelines (ASHRAE TC 9.9): Defines acceptable temperature and humidity ranges for IT equipment
-
Energy Efficiency Standards (ASHRAE 90.4): Measures cooling system efficiency relative to IT load
-
State Regulations: States like California, Virginia, and Arizona continue tightening reporting and efficiency requirements for large-scale data centers
-
EPA SNAP Rules: Updated federal requirements now place stricter controls on refrigerants and leak monitoring, even for smaller systems.
For more information on maintaining reliable thermal environments, check out ASHRAE Data Center Resources for guidance on cooling, energy, humidity, and smart grid solutions.
Why Plastic is Replacing Metal in Cooling
In data center environments, material choice matters. Corrosion, conductivity, and system contamination are all risks to account when designing cooling loops. That’s why more facilities are shifting away from traditional metal piping and more toward plastics. Advanced plastic piping offers several key advantages over traditional copper or steel:
-
No rust, scaling, or corrosion over time
-
Reduced risk around sensitive electronic equipment
-
Easier installation in tight rack and server layouts
-
Consistent performance in closed-loop cooling systems
Looking for materials for your cooling system? Discover our Pipe and Tubing solutions built for data center environments that require corrosion resistance, system stability, and dependable long-term performance.
Why Choose Alsco?
When you choose ALSCO for your cooling system components, your urgency becomes ours. Your system challenges become ours to solve.
Many of our team members have been with us for over 30 years, bringing decades of practical knowledge to every conversation. That depth of expertise allows us to provide informed guidance, technical clarity, and dependable product recommendations.
Have questions about which cooling components are best for your system? Please fill out the Contact Us form, and a sales and support team member will follow up with you as soon as possible. If you need immediate assistance, we are happy to take your call.