Installing air conditioning units for server rooms across the UK

When looking for a cooling system for your server room, you need to know what kind of system to look for. Whether you’re in an office or a dedicated building for data storage, there are a number of different options that you can use.

Our goal is to make sure that your server room never gets too hot and is always at the optimal temperature through the use of high-quality air conditioning units. These include systems like ducted air conditioning, wall-mounted and even cassette or ceiling mounted air conditioning.

The Lee Jackson team will advise and help you choose the most effective unit type whilst also considering things such as energy efficiency, features and additions and maintenance plans for the future.

Server room cooling systems

Server room cooling is all about getting the temperature right. If it’s too hot all of your equipment will overheat and it’s likely to shut down. However, if the room is too cold you could be promoting moisture build-up in the air which is dangerous in a room full of electrics.

Keeping your server rooms at an optimum operating temperature is the best way to keep your servers running smoothly and for a long time.

All you have to do is give us a call on 0800 949 9070 and we’ll do all of the hard work for you!

Contact us today

Server Room Air Conditioning Repairs and Maintenance plans

Air conditioning maintenance and repairs for server rooms and IT businesses across the UK.

Lee Jackson Air Conditioning offer maintenance and repair services to all air conditioning systems, whether you own a wall-mounted system or a ducted unit. When purchasing from Lee Jackson, you’ll have our advice and support throughout and can rely on us for any repairs or replacements.

Find out more about our maintenance plans here or enquire about a repair through our repairs page.

Air Conditioning For Server Room FAQs

As leading server room air conditioning installers, we’re here to answer any questions you may have about the installation process.

If you don’t see your question and want to ask us directly, or if you’d like to arrange your free quote, please call us today on 0800 949 9070.

Do Server Rooms Need Air Conditioning?

Yes, server rooms do need air conditioning. Servers and networking equipment generate significant heat as a byproduct of continuous operation. Without adequate cooling, that heat accumulates rapidly.

Beyond preventing outright overheating, consistent cooling extends equipment lifespan. Components operating at elevated temperatures degrade faster, increasing the likelihood of premature failure and unplanned downtime. For businesses where IT infrastructure is business-critical, the cost of a cooling system is minor relative to the cost of equipment failure or service interruption.

The only scenarios where dedicated air conditioning may not be strictly necessary are very small deployments, i.e. a single server in a well-ventilated room with low ambient temperatures. But even then, relying on ambient conditions introduces risk that most IT managers and facilities teams would not accept.

UK summers, while moderate by global standards, can push office temperatures high enough to cause problems for equipment that has no dedicated cooling system.

What Type Of Air Conditioning Is Best For A Server Room In The UK?

Precision air conditioning (PAC) units are widely regarded as the most suitable solution for UK server rooms. Unlike standard comfort cooling systems, precision units are designed to maintain tight temperature and humidity tolerances around the clock. They typically deliver a higher sensible heat ratio, meaning they focus on temperature control rather than dehumidification, which is critical for protecting sensitive IT equipment.

What Temperature Should A Server Room Be Kept At In The UK?

ASHRAE guidelines, which are also widely referenced by UK facilities managers and IT professionals, recommend a supply air temperature of between 18°C and 27°C for most IT equipment. In practice, most UK server rooms are maintained at around 20°C to 22°C.

It is worth noting that the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) also publishes guidance relevant to UK data centre environments and energy efficiency considerations, It increasingly encourages operators to allow higher inlet temperatures where equipment tolerances permit.

Do Server Rooms Need Dedicated Air Conditioning, Or Can They Use The Building’s Existing HVAC System?

At Lee Jackson Air Conditioning, we would strongly recommend that your server room has a purpose-built cooling system.

That’s because general building HVAC is designed for human comfort and typically operates only during occupied hours, whereas servers generate heat continuously. A shared system is unlikely to deliver the precision control, redundancy or 24/7 operation that server rooms require.

What Is In-Row Cooling And When Is It Used In UK Server Rooms?

In-row cooling places cooling units directly within the server rack rows, positioning the cold air supply as close as possible to the heat source. This approach is particularly effective in high density environments where traditional room based cooling struggles to manage concentrated heat loads. In recent years, in-row cooling has become increasingly popular in UK colocation facilities and enterprise data centres, especially where rack densities have risen with the adoption of blade servers and high performance computing.

How Do I Calculate The Cooling Capacity Needed For My Server Room?

At Lee Jackson Air Conditioning, we offer server room air conditioning site surveys to determine the specific cooling needs of the space. As specialist cooling suppliers, we carry out a formal heat load calculation before your server room AC unit is selected.

Cooling capacity for a server room is calculated primarily by determining the total heat load generated by the IT equipment, measured in kilowatts (kW). A common starting point is to assume that all electrical power consumed by equipment is converted to heat. Additional factors include heat gain through walls, windows and from lighting, as well as the location of the room within the building.

Server Room Air Conditioning Units Vs Standard AC Units: What’s The Difference?

On the face of it, both server room air conditioning and standard air conditioning units will cool the room.

However, the cooling needs of a server room aren’t the same as those of a typical room, owing to the amount of heat produced by electrical equipment.

Server room air conditioning units use precision cooling units that are engineered for continuous 24/7 operation, making them the only appropriate specification for any server room where uptime and equipment protection matter. Additionally, they also maintain tight temperature and humidity tolerances and are built with a high sensible heat ratio. All of this technology allows server room AC to focus on removing dry heat from electronics rather than moisture from the air.

Standard comfort cooling units, by contrast, are designed for intermittent use, dehumidify aggressively as a side effect of cooling and deliver temperature control suited to human comfort rather than equipment protection.

Can Server Room Air Conditioning Be Used In A Listed Building Or Office Conversion In The UK?

Yes, it is usually possible to install air conditioning in a server room that is within a listed building. However, conditions will apply for listed buildings as well as buildings located in conservation areas.

Routing refrigerant pipework and power supplies through historic fabric requires careful planning to avoid damage and comply with Building Regulations, particularly Part L relating to energy efficiency.

Due to the complexity of this issue, we recommend consulting with our installation experts at the earliest opportunity to determine if your installation can go ahead.

Where Does Lee Jackson Air Conditioning Install Server Room Cooling Systems?

Our team installs air conditioning within any commercial building which contains a server room.

Often, this includes premises such as banks, building societies, distribution centres, further education colleges, hotels, insurance companies, larger secondary schools, local councils, managed service providers, offices, production companies, retail stores, solicitors, telecoms operators, universities and warehouses.

In terms of where we install, our server room air conditioning team covers Derbyshire. This includes Alfreton, Ashbourne, Belper, Bolsover, Brassington, Buxton, Chesterfield, Clay Cross, Clowne, Derby, Dronfield, Glossop, Heanor, Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Matlock, Melbourne, Ripley, Sandiacre, Shirebrook, Somercotes, South Normanton, Staveley, Swadlincote and Wirksworth.

Elsewhere, we also cover Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. Some of our key installation locations in these counties include Arnold, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Barrow upon Soar, Beeston, Bingham, Blaby, Blidworth, Bulwell, Carlton, Coalville, Earl Shilton, Eastwood, Fleckney, Gedling, Hinckley, Hucknall, Ibstock, Keyworth, Kimberley, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Langley Mill, Leicester, Long Eaton, Loughborough, Lutterworth, Mansfield, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Narborough, Netherfield, Newark-on-Trent, Nottingham, Oadby, Retford, Ruddington, West Bridgford and Worksop.

If you have a server room based in or near these areas of the East Midlands, please contact us for a free quote.

Protect your business and it’s data with server room cooling

Server Room Air Conditioning