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Data center cooling
Liquid Cooling & Chilled Water Safety
AI racks are moving cooling from the air to the pipe. Chilled water, CDUs and direct-to-chip loops bring pressure, leaks and chemicals right next to the most expensive gear in the building. AAAT3 plans and oversees liquid cooling installs, tests and startups so a leak never takes down a hall.
- CDU & manifold installs
- Pressure & leak testing
- Coolant & glycol handling
- Mechanical LOTO
- Leak detection
By the numbers
Why liquid cooling needs its own controls
Data center operators already using direct liquid cooling
Uptime Institute Cooling Survey, 2025Operators who named cooling failures as the main cause of their impactful outages
Uptime Institute Outage Analysis, 2025Operators whose last major outage cost more than $100,000
Uptime Institute Outage Analysis, 2026What’s included
Liquid cooling work, controlled from fill to startup
Water and electricity do not mix. We plan every step where they meet.
Install and pressure testing
Every joint is a possible leak until it is tested.
- Written pressure and leak test plans
- Test limits, hold times and witness
- Pneumatic test exclusion zones
- Flush and fill procedures
Coolants and chemicals
Glycol, inhibitors and biocides need the same respect as any chemical.
- Safety data sheets and labeling
- Chemical storage and spill kits
- PPE for mixing and filling
- Disposal of flush water and coolant
Working near live IT
Liquid cooling often goes in beside racks that are already running.
- Drip trays and leak detection
- Mechanical LOTO for pumps and valves
- MOPs for tie-ins to live loops
- Isolation and drain-down plans
Project management and consulting
Project management and consulting for liquid cooling
AAAT3 can manage the liquid cooling package, review the design for risk or oversee your mechanical sub in the field.
Liquid cooling install management
We coordinate mechanical, controls and IT teams for CDU, manifold and rack loop installs.
Best for: Projects adding AI or high density hallsDesign and risk review
We review layouts, isolation points and leak detection before install starts.
Best for: Owners and GCs new to liquid coolingTest and startup oversight
We witness pressure tests, flushing and startup with safety plans in place.
Best for: Projects heading into CxLive loop tie-in planning
MOPs, shutdown windows and rollback plans for tie-ins to running systems.
Best for: Retrofits inside operating data centersChemical handling program
Coolant and water treatment chemical rules, training and spill response.
Best for: Sites with glycol or treated water systemsMechanical QC (USACE CQM)
Test records, inspections and as-builts to federal QC standards.
Best for: Federal and military data centersHow it works
From design to a running loop
Review
Design, isolation points and leak detection.
Plan
Test, fill and LOTO plans written.
Install
Daily audits of pipe and CDU work.
Test
Pressure and leak tests witnessed.
Fill
Flush, fill and chemical treatment.
Startup
Startup safety and Cx handoff.
Rule of thumb: never fill or test a loop over live IT gear without leak detection working, drip protection in place and a person ready at the isolation valve.
Ways to work with us
Pick the level of support you need
Start small with a review, put a qualified person on site, or hand us the whole program. Every option is priced to your scope.
Quick start
Liquid cooling risk review
A review of your design, test plans and live hall rules.
- Design and plan review
- Leak risk list
- Fixes before install
- Report in days
Most popular
On-site cooling oversight
A qualified AAAT3 lead during install, test and fill.
- Test witness
- LOTO and MOP control
- Daily audits
- Shift reports
Full program
Liquid cooling package management
We manage the liquid cooling package from design review to startup.
- Trade coordination
- Test and startup plans
- Chemical program
- Owner reporting
What you get
Deliverables
Leak risk review
Where leaks can happen and how each is controlled.
Test plans
Pressure and leak test steps, limits and hold times.
Fill and flush plan
Steps, chemicals and disposal.
LOTO procedures
Pumps, valves and CDUs locked out the right way.
Test records
Witnessed results ready for turnover.
Weekly report
Progress, risks and fixes in plain language.
Standards
Codes and standards we work to
Cooling
3- ASHRAE TC 9.9
Liquid cooling and thermal guidelines for data centersIndustry
- ASME B31.9
Building services pipingIndustry
- NFPA 75
Protection of IT equipmentIndustry
Safety
3- 29 CFR 1910.147
Control of hazardous energyFederal
- 29 CFR 1926.59
Hazard communicationFederal
- EM 385-1-1
USACE safety and health requirementsFederal
Related data center services
Every phase of the build, one partner
Where we do this work
Adding liquid cooled racks? Get the leak and test risks reviewed before the first loop is filled.
Get a Liquid Cooling QuoteFAQ
Common questions
What are the main risks of liquid cooling?
Leaks near energized IT gear, stored energy during pressure tests, coolant and treatment chemicals, and new lockout points on pumps and valves.
What is a CDU?
A coolant distribution unit moves heat from the rack loop to the facility water loop. It has pumps, valves and controls that need lockout and testing like any mechanical system.
Can AAAT3 manage our liquid cooling install?
Yes. We coordinate the mechanical, controls and IT teams and oversee install, testing, fill and startup.
Can you work in a live data hall?
Yes. We write MOPs and isolation plans for tie-ins next to running racks and enforce them on the floor.
Do you witness pressure tests?
Yes. We witness tests against the written plan and keep signed records for turnover.
Get a quote for Liquid Cooling & Chilled Water Safety
Tell us about your project, location and start date. We reply with a plan and pricing.
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