Vertiv Broadens Energy-Efficient Perimeter Cooling Options for Small, Medium and Edge Data Centres

Last Updated 7 months ago by Kenya Engineer

Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure solutions, has expanded its Vertiv™ CoolPhase Perimeter PAM portfolio with new air-cooled configurations targeting small, medium and edge data centre environments across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

The expanded range responds to growing demand for cooling systems that balance energy efficiency, regulatory compliance and operational resilience, particularly as data centres decentralise closer to users and industrial sites. According to Vertiv, the latest additions deliver measurable improvements in power usage effectiveness (PUE) and total cost of ownership (TCO), while extending equipment lifespan in space-constrained facilities.

Pumped refrigerant economisation for higher efficiency

A key enhancement to the CoolPhase Perimeter PAM platform is the integration of the Vertiv™ EconoPhase Pumped Refrigerant Economizer (PRE) within the Vertiv™ CoolPhase Condenser system. Instead of relying solely on traditional compressor-driven cooling, the PRE uses a pumped refrigerant circuit that operates at a fraction of the electrical load required by compressors.

This approach expands free-cooling operating hours, particularly in moderate and cool climates common across parts of EMEA, while also reducing mechanical stress on compressors. The result is lower energy consumption, improved system reliability and a reduced physical footprint compared to conventional economiser designs.

Low-GWP refrigerant aligned with EU F-Gas rules

The CoolPhase Perimeter PAM range uses R-513A refrigerant, which Vertiv notes has approximately 70% lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) than R-410A. Importantly for operators and regulators, R-513A is non-flammable and presents low toxicity risk, supporting safer deployment in mixed-use buildings and edge locations.

This refrigerant choice ensures compliance with the EU F-Gas Regulation 2024/573, making the solution relevant not only for European operators, but also for multinational organisations standardising cooling technologies across regions while working toward carbon-reduction targets.

Designed as a single, optimised system

From a design perspective, the CoolPhase Perimeter PAM platform adopts a system-level approach rather than treating cooling components as standalone units. Features such as variable-speed compressors, staged coils, and patented filtration technology are coordinated through Vertiv™ Liebert® iCOM™ controls, allowing real-time optimisation of performance and efficiency.

This integrated control architecture is particularly important for edge and modular data centres, where cooling systems must adapt quickly to fluctuating IT loads while maintaining uptime.

Supporting lifecycle reliability

The expanded CoolPhase Perimeter PAM range forms part of Vertiv’s broader thermal management chain, supported by the company’s global services organisation. This includes assistance from design and commissioning through to ongoing optimisation and proactive maintenance, an increasingly important factor as data centre operators seek predictable performance over longer asset lifecycles.

As data centre growth in EMEA shifts toward distributed, smaller-footprint facilities, Vertiv’s latest perimeter cooling expansion highlights how energy efficiency, environmental compliance and operational resilience are becoming inseparable requirements in modern digital infrastructure design.