Eco-friendly polycarbonate sheets aid Data Centre construction

Brett Martin has announced a new range of polycarbonate sheets that enable data centres to achieve significant carbon savings.

The company claims that its newly developed low carbon bio-circular polycarbonate panels can result in a carbon saving of up to 97% for data centres, particularly in hot aisle or cold aisle containment systems. These polycarbonate sheets are a critical component in maintaining efficient cooling and reliable conditions for servers within data centres.

Brett Martin has positioned these new panels as a sustainable alternative to conventional options by utilising low carbon bio-circular materials. These materials are incorporated into the manufacturing of polycarbonate panels from renewable sources, following a production process that uses sustainable energy. The panels are being supplied to providers of aisle containment solutions for data centres.

Robin Black, Head of Strategic Development at Brett Martin, emphasised the importance of reducing embodied carbon within the data centre industry, highlighting the potential for significant carbon savings with these new panels. "While the use of sustainable energy in data centres is reducing the impact of operational carbon, the data centre industry is now preparing to meet the challenges of reducing embodied carbon in the building's design, with many developers striving for net zero. Scope 3 emissions have become the most significant part of a data centre's impact," he stated.

He further noted, "Brett Martin's low embodied carbon polycarbonate sheets provide a very significant carbon saving when compared to standard options. By adopting these new low carbon Marlon panels in data aisle containment, developers can reduce scope 3 emissions with the confidence provided by our LCA data and certified performance."

The company acknowledges the substantial contributions to carbon savings that these materials can provide, with estimated reductions of between 200 to 500 tonnes of embodied carbon in a standard new build data centre, dependent on the design. Marlon BioPlus, one of the products offered, is said to present the lowest carbon sheet option in the company's range.

Additionally, Brett Martin's approach is backed by certification from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC Plus), ensuring that the substitution of low carbon materials is managed sustainably across the supply chain. This certification provides an additional layer of assurance to customers looking to make informed decisions on sustainable building practices. "On a large development, our Marlon BioPlus option can reduce embodied carbon by hundreds of tonnes of Co2 eq, depending on the aisle containment design and in every case the savings will make a contribution towards attainment of Net Zero," Black added. "Brett Martin uses third party reviewed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data, calculated according to leading international standards, to calculate the carbon saving," he continued.

Black also commented on the shifting regulatory landscape, "Building regulation is travelling towards a firm focus on climate action, with the next LEED update expected to be heavily weighted towards decarbonisation. Making informed decisions about the carbon footprint of both the building fabric and fitout is therefore essential in the drive to reduce environmental impact."

Brett Martin has a long history in the industry, with over 65 years in polymer-based sheet manufacturing. The company is leveraging its experience and extensive production capabilities to support the significant reductions in carbon emissions that its new products can offer. Additionally, the company has made investments in sustainable energy at its facilities, including wind turbines and solar farms, to support its environmentally conscious production methods.