London-based Future Facilities released Version 5 of its data center computational fluid dynamics software, 6SigmaDC. Large data centers and facility design consultants (including Emerson/Liebert’s data center consulting arm) use the tool to model data center cooling.

New features in version five include:

-Modeling internally cooled cabinets so they can be registered for inventory purposes and accounted for in the power system as well as for power scaling needs.
-Modeling equipment weight to assess whether any given layout will breach floor loading limitations.
-Cable penetrations can now be attached to the raised floor to account for the situation where they are installed before racks and cabinets.
-The infrastructure outside the facility can now be included in graphical views and animation can be generated to demonstrate how airflows develop.

While data center pros rave about the tool (6SigmaDC won silver in our 2007 Products of the Year) it comes at a steep price, up to three times the cost of data center CFD software from TileFlow, according to data center design consultant Pete Sacco.