We continue our article series on the evolution of data center airflow management. This week, we’ll explore the operational consequences — what happens when the air servers breathe is not as clean, stable, or controlled as it needs to be? Download the entire report. By the early 2000s, data center airflow was a solved equation, or so it seemed. Raised floors, CRAC units, and perforated tiles delivered predictable results for predictable workloads.