One of the core issues affecting data centers is the ability to cost-effectively cool active equipment. Movement of cool air through the data center is achieved through strategic layout of air conditioning units and physical layer elements. In a conventional raised floor environment, cool air is distributed underneath the raised floor and the air enters the room through strategically placed perforated floor tiles in order to cool the active network equipment.

However, industry data indicates that up to 60% of available data center cooling capacity is wasted by airflow that bypasses the equipment it is intended to cool. Sources of "bypass air" include incorrect positioning of perforated tiles, poor placement of air conditioning units, and poorly sealed (or unsealed) cutout spaces in floor panels beneath racks and cabinets for underfloor cable routing. Whatever the source, this “bypass air” weakens the efficiency of the raised floor cooling system and has the potential to increase network downtime.