Key design challenges in data centers
Designing a data center enclosure means solving several interrelated challenges at once. Fire safety, temperature control, acoustics, and detailing all intersect, and weaknesses in one area can undermine performance in another.
Passive fire protection
Data centers contain numerous ignition sources, from electrical faults and overheating equipment to lithium-ion battery systems. While detection and suppression systems are essential, they are not enough on their own. Passive fire protection is what prevents a localized incident from becoming a catastrophic event.
Noncombustible stone wool insulation supports compartmentation as an integral component of fire-resistant assemblies. Under the International Building Code, data centers are commonly classified as Group F-1, with S-1 occupancies used in some cases, with required hourly ratings for walls, floors, and roofs. Those ratings must be translated into complete, tested assemblies early in the design process.
Standards such as NFPA 75 and NFPA 76 may also apply and, where adopted in local building or fire codes, provides additional requirements that supplement baseline code provisions. Early coordination with authorities having jurisdiction and insurers like FM Global is strongly recommended to avoid redesign later.
Thermal stability and moisture control
Thermal management is at the heart of data center performance. Continuous insulation helps reduce thermal bridging, stabilize interior temperatures, and lower cooling loads. These functions become increasingly important as facilities grow in size and density, including in urban areas where pressure on the electrical grid is already high.
In tilt-up concrete construction, interior continuous insulation such as Smartrock® improves effective R-value while integrating vapor control and airtightness. This approach helps reduce condensation risk and supports long-term hygrothermal performance, even under constant operating conditions.
Acoustic performance
Anyone who has stepped into a data hall knows the soundscape can be intense. Equipment noise often exceeds occupational thresholds, making acoustic control a functional and human-factor concern.
Interior partitions must combine mass, cavity insulation, damping, and airtight detailing to limit sound transmission. Stone wool batts like ROCKWOOL AFB® decrease airborne sound transmission in steel stud assemblies, helping reduce noise transfer between data halls, control rooms, and adjacent spaces.
Penetrations and firestopping
Penetrations are among the most vulnerable points in any enclosure. Cables, conduits, pipes, ducts, and modular systems all create pathways that can compromise fire-resistance ratings if not properly protected.
Wherever penetrations occur, listed through penetration firestop systems tested to ASTM E814 / UL 1479 (U.S.) or CAN/ULC S115 are to be applied. Where specified, stone wool forming materials such as ROXUL Safe® are an integral part of these systems, serving as the forming material for the firestop sealant and helping the assembly maintaining its required fire-resistance rating. Field improvisation is not permitted and can void performance entirely.
Roof exposure and performance
Roofs in data centers do far more than keep the weather out. They frequently carry substantial rooftop equipment and must perform under fire exposure, wind uplift, hail impact, and significant mechanical loads.
Complete roof assemblies—including insulation, cover boards, and membranes—must be selected based on the facility’s risk profile. Stone wool roof boards such as Toprock® DD contribute to passive fire resistance, consistent thermal performance, and impact resilience. These products are incorporated into many FM Approved Class 1 and Very Severe Hail assemblies.
