In Glomfjord, just above the Arctic Circle, a data centre project shows how airflow, weather protection and façade design can become mission-critical.
Extreme weather conditions
The facility is located around 400 metres from the Norwegian coast, where strong winds, driving rain and long-term exposure to coastal conditions had to be considered.
At the same time, large volumes of air were needed to support the cooling strategy.
Around 580 m² of RSH-5700 rain defence louvres from Construction Specialties were installed across the façade. The solution had to withstand wind loads of approximately 1.4 kN/m² while maintaining airflow and preventing water ingress.
“Louvres are far more than architectural features. In many modern facilities, they are critical elements of the cooling infrastructure,” explains Construction Specialties.
If airflow is restricted, cooling systems must work harder. If weather protection is insufficient, rainwater can threaten equipment and reliability.
The challenge is therefore to balance airflow capacity, pressure drop, weather defence and durability without compromising uptime.
AI is raising the bar
These requirements are becoming even more important as AI increases rack densities and cooling demand.
“As power densities rise, every component in the air path must work harder and more efficiently.”
This development also affects the building envelope. Higher airflow demands put greater pressure on ventilation openings, while structural strength, weather protection and energy efficiency still have to be maintained.
At the same time, acoustics are becoming a bigger consideration as more data centres are developed closer to urban areas, business parks and local communities.
Ventilation openings can become a pathway for noise from cooling equipment, making acoustic attenuation another part of the design challenge.
One of the key lessons from Glomfjord is the importance of early involvement.
Airflow, intake locations, façade area, structural loads, acoustics and weather protection should be considered together before the design is fixed.
“The earlier these specialists are involved, the better.”
Glomfjord demonstrates a broader Nordic challenge
Cooler climates and renewable energy offer clear advantages, but coastal and northern locations also expose facilities to demanding weather conditions.
As AI increases the performance required from every part of the facility, mission-critical performance starts long before the server rack.
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