Vertiv: Expanding Perimeter Cooling for EMEA Data Centres

Vertiv has expanded its CoolPhase Perimeter PAM air-cooled perimeter cooling range across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), strengthening its offering for small, medium and edge data centre environments where energy efficiency and regulatory compliance are increasingly critical.

The latest models introduce new cooling capacities alongside the Vertiv CoolPhase Condenser, extending design flexibility for operators managing space-constrained facilities and variable IT loads. The systems are positioned to support next-generation data centres seeking to improve power usage effectiveness and reduce total cost of ownership while maintaining operational resilience.

Designed to meet evolving environmental standards, the CoolPhase Perimeter PAM range uses R-513A refrigerant, which has a global warming potential around 70% lower than R-410A. The refrigerant is non-flammable and low toxicity, supporting compliance with the EU F-Gas Regulation 2024/573 without requiring compromises in cooling performance or safety.

Pumped refrigerant economisation

At the core of the updated range is the Vertiv EconoPhase Pumped Refrigerant Economizer, now fully integrated into the CoolPhase Condenser system. The technology enhances free-cooling operation by circulating refrigerant through a pumped loop rather than relying solely on compressors.

This approach allows the system to operate at a fraction of the power consumption of traditional compressor-driven cooling during favourable ambient conditions. Vertiv says this can deliver measurable reductions in energy use while also lowering mechanical stress on compressors, helping to extend system lifespan.

The economiser architecture also enables a more compact footprint, which is particularly relevant for edge and enterprise facilities where plant room space is limited and retrofit options are constrained.

“With this latest addition to the Vertiv CoolPhase Perimeter PAM range, we're making our direct expansion offering more flexible while addressing two critical challenges faced by data centre operators today: environmental compliance and operational efficiency,” says Sam Bainborough, VP of Thermal Management, EMEA at Vertiv. 

“The new air-cooled models boost free-cooling capabilities to lower PUE, demonstrating our commitment to providing energy-efficient and environmentally responsible solutions that don't compromise on performance.”

Designed for modular data centre growth

The CoolPhase Perimeter PAM systems are designed to support modular deployment strategies commonly used in edge and regional data centres. Features include variable speed compressors, staged coils and patented filtration technology intended to improve airflow quality and heat exchange efficiency.

System control is managed through Vertiv Liebert iCOM, enabling coordination between indoor units and the CoolPhase Condenser. This integrated control layer allows operators to optimise cooling performance dynamically in response to load changes, ambient temperature and redundancy requirements.

Vertiv positions the solution as part of a holistic thermal design strategy rather than a standalone cooling unit, aiming to simplify system tuning and improve predictability across mixed IT environments.

Supporting operational resilience

Beyond efficiency and compliance, Vertiv emphasises operational resilience as a key driver behind the expanded range. 

The use of pumped refrigerant economisation reduces reliance on compressors during extended free-cooling periods, which can help lower failure risk and maintenance demands.

The CoolPhase Perimeter PAM range forms part of Vertiv’s broader thermal portfolio and is supported by the company’s global service organisation. Services span design support, commissioning and lifecycle optimisation, with a focus on maintaining continuous availability in facilities that may lack on-site engineering teams.

As edge and mid-size data centres take on more latency-sensitive and business-critical workloads, cooling systems that balance efficiency, safety and serviceability are becoming central to facility design decisions. 

Vertiv’s latest expansion reflects those requirements, with an emphasis on scalable performance within tightening environmental and operational constraints.