Understanding Data Centre Contamination Risks in the Era of Liquid-Cooled AI Infrastructure

As the demand for artificial intelligence accelerates, NVIDIA’s Blackwell Ultra (B300) GPUs represent a major leap forward in high-performance computing. Designed for AI workloads that require massive parallel processing, these GPUs deliver unprecedented compute density and efficiency.

However, this new generation of AI infrastructure introduces new challenges — particularly in terms of environmental cleanliness and contamination control. With the Blackwell Ultra platform transitioning to liquid cooling, data centre operators must now manage both airborne and fluid-borne contamination risks to maintain system reliability and performance.

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The Rise of Liquid Cooling in AI Data Centres

The shift toward liquid cooling marks a significant step in the evolution of AI infrastructure. Traditional air-cooled systems are reaching their thermal limits as GPU power consumption continues to rise.

Liquid cooling offers:

• Superior heat transfer efficiency
• Reduced fan energy use and lower PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness)
• Support for higher GPU densities

But while liquid cooling improves thermal management, it also introduces new contamination vulnerabilities — both inside and outside the cooling system.

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How Contamination Affects Blackwell Ultra GPUs

The NVIDIA B300 GPUs operate at extremely high power densities — often over 1,000W per GPU — and rely on precise, stable thermal regulation. Any contamination in the surrounding environment can compromise that balance.

Airborne Contaminants

Even microscopic particles can have a major impact:

• Dust and fibres can obstruct airflow to GPU housings or liquid manifolds.
• Residues may deposit on connectors or circuit boards, increasing failure risks.
• Airborne debris near liquid coupling points can enter cooling systems during maintenance.

Fluid-Borne Contaminants

In liquid-cooled systems, cleanliness of the coolant loop is critical. Issues can arise from:

• Particulate buildup in cold plates or heat exchangers
• Biofilm and microbial growth in improperly treated coolant
• Chemical contamination or corrosion caused by residual cleaning agents or incompatible fluids

The result can be flow restriction, reduced thermal performance, or component degradation — each of which directly impacts uptime and reliability.

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Why ISO 14644-1 Class 8 Cleanliness Still Applies

Even as the cooling method evolves, the data hall environment remains fundamental to system integrity. NVIDIA and other AI hardware manufacturers continue to recommend ISO 14644-1 Class 8 cleanliness standards for facilities housing advanced GPU platforms like Blackwell Ultra.

What ISO 14644-1 Class 8 Means

This international cleanroom standard limits the concentration of airborne particles to ensure a controlled, contamination-free environment.

For example, ISO Class 8 allows no more than:

• 3,520,000 particles ≥ 0.5 µm per cubic metre
• 29,300 particles ≥ 5 µm per cubic metre

Maintaining these levels reduces the risk of particulate migration into GPU housings, cooling loops, and connection points — essential for long-term reliability.

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Maintaining Environmental Integrity

Data centre operators supporting AI and GPU workloads should implement comprehensive contamination control strategies to safeguard performance.

Key Recommendations:

• Regular ISO 14644-1 compliant cleaning programmes
  – Using HEPA-filtered equipment and non-abrasive cleaning materials.
• Airborne particle monitoring and environmental validation
  – Routine testing to verify ISO compliance and identify risk trends.
• Pre- and post-maintenance cleaning
  – Especially around liquid manifolds, quick-disconnect couplings, and GPU nodes.
•  Fluid system hygiene
  – Ensure coolant filtration, treatment, and maintenance follow OEM specifications.

These steps form part of a proactive approach that protects high-value assets and minimises contamination-related downtime.

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IT Cleaning Ltd: Supporting the Next Generation of AI Infrastructure

At IT Cleaning Ltd, we help data centre operators meet the environmental standards required for today’s AI and high-performance computing (HPC) environments.

Our team provides:

• ISO 14644-1 Class 8 compliant cleaning services
• Environmental validation and reporting
• Specialist contamination control for liquid- and air-cooled systems

As NVIDIA’s Blackwell Ultra (B300) GPUs and future AI architectures set new performance benchmarks, maintaining cleanroom-grade environmental conditions will be essential to achieving reliability, efficiency, and compliance.

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Partner With IT Cleaning Ltd

Ensure your AI infrastructure is Blackwell-ready.
Contact our team to discuss how we can help you achieve ISO 14644-1 Class 8 cleanliness and maintain optimal performance for your liquid-cooled GPU systems.

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