Need to Know

• Coatings protect data center assets from corrosion, moisture, heat, electrostatic discharge and fire risk.
• Layer-by-layer coating systems can simplify specification across pretreatment, electrocoat, liquid and powder platforms.
• Thermal-resistive, insulative and infrared (IR)-reflective coatings can help reduce cooling loads and support sustainability goals.
• UL and IEEE standards help verify fire, electrical and material performance for data center environments.

Behind the scenes, coatings have become an unsung hero of the modern data center because even minor corrosion or degradation can reduce efficiency, increase maintenance requirements and lead to costly downtime. These issues can have ripple effects across entire digital ecosystems.

As data centers get bigger, more essential and situated in a wider range of environments, coatings are doing more than just protecting surfaces. They have a mission-critical role in extending equipment life, improving energy efficiency, managing heat and static, and supporting both safety and sustainability goals in a high-demand, rapidly evolving segment.

The Needs of a Fast-Paced Industry

Demand for data center infrastructure puts pressure on every phase of the build, highlighting the importance of manufacturing partners that keep projects moving with readily available and reliable solutions.

Nearly every element of the physical building, as well as the equipment and components within a data center, needs some form of protective coating.

Coatings companies that offer both protective solutions and the capabilities to apply them can significantly streamline procurement and simplify specification. These integrated services also help to minimize time to market for complex data center construction supply chains.

PPG is delivering true layer-by-layer compatibility across the entire coatings stack, offering a fully integrated portfolio that spans pretreatment, electrocoat, liquid and powder technologies. Each coatings layer is engineered to work seamlessly with the next, helping data center component manufacturers achieve consistent performance, improved efficiency and long-term durability across all major coatings platforms. This holistic approach ensures that every stage, from substrate preparation to final topcoat, functions as a unified system, reducing complexity while optimizing overall coating performance.

However, this level of integration does more than just accelerate the construction process. It also helps ensure that the facility is equipped to meet the demanding operational requirements necessary for today’s data centers.

Uptime: A Near-Perfect Score

More than just a server room, the modern data center is the backbone of our digital infrastructure, requiring significant power, generating intense heat and operating continuously. In fact, the ambitious uptime target for data centers is 99.9%, allowing for just a few hours of interrupted service each year. The expectation is even greater for business-critical applications that rely on real-time data and round-the-clock digital services like health care, finance and telecommunications, systems that are increasingly reliant on data center support.

Thermal Management, Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

As hardware becomes more densely packed with components and processing power, effective heat management emerges as a major operational challenge. Overheating can accelerate component degradation, but it also increases energy consumption and operational cooling costs. Advanced coatings help regulate thermal buildup to protect sensitive equipment and maintain stable temperatures. Specialized thermal-resistive, insulative and infrared (IR)-reflective coatings that redirect solar heat are particularly effective in protecting these exterior building components.

Beyond operational goals, data centers are facing increasing pressure from local communities and government entities. High energy demands, water stress, heating and cooling needs, and calls to adopt decarbonization strategies are intensifying these pressures. Low-cure, durable and energy-efficient coating systems are contributing to the overall sustainability and compliance needs of these facilities.

The Core Sustainability Metrics

Common sustainability benchmarks for data center performance include:

• Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE): measures overall energy efficiency of the facility.
• Energy Reuse Effectiveness (ERE): evaluates how effectively waste energy is recovered and reused.
• Carbon Usage Effectiveness (CUE): quantifies greenhouse gas emissions relative to energy consumption.
• Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE): tracks water efficiency in cooling and operations.
• Cooling Efficiency Ratio (CER): assesses the efficiency of cooling systems relative to energy use.

Failure to meet any of these requirements impacts operational costs and efficiency, regulatory and compliance risks, and reputational and environmental impacts.

While LEED certification remains uncommon among data centers, interest in it is rising, making these metrics increasingly relevant. This is especially true among hyperscale operators and sustainability-focused enterprises.

While fewer than 5% of U.S. data centers have achieved LEED status, new projects are increasingly incorporating LEED-aligned strategies without pursuing full certification. As local communities continue to push for more environmentally sound developments, and governments tighten efficiency and emissions regulations, owners and developers must target reductions in water, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Collectively, meeting these requirements is challenging, considering contemporary data centers have more systems relying on them, draw more power and operate under increasingly demanding thermal loads.

Certified to Perform

Advanced coatings do more than just protect equipment, components and physical structures. They help data center facilities comply with essential safety and performance standards.

Industry-leading certifications from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) provide independent verification that coatings can withstand the rigorous demands of data center applications.

UL Certifications

Coatings applied to walls, racks, cable trays and electrical enclosures are typically selected to meet multiple UL safety and performance standards:

• UL 94 (Flammability of Plastic Materials): Ensures coatings resist ignition and limit flame propagation, reducing fire risk on plastic or composite components.
• UL 263 (Fire Resistance of Building Construction and Materials): Confirms that coated structural assemblies maintain their fire-resistance rating, safeguarding critical infrastructure.
• UL 746C (Polymeric Materials for Electrical Use): Validates thermal and dielectric stability for coatings applied to electrical panels and busbars.
• UL 723/ASTM E84 (Surface Burning Characteristics): Measures flame spread and smoke development, supporting compliance with building codes and NFPA guidelines. ASTM E84 is a 10-minute fire test evaluating the surface burning characteristics of building materials.

UL-certified solutions ensure compliance with rigorous criteria related to fire, smoke, electrical compatibility and long-term performance and reliability.

IEEE Standards

While UL focuses on material performance, IEEE standards address the electrical and operational safety of data centers:

• Grounding and EMI Control (IEEE 518/519): Coatings that meet these standards improve power quality, limit harmonic voltage and reduce electrical noise.
• Arc Flash and Power Distribution (IEEE 141/IEEE 1584): Coatings with proper dielectric properties can reduce arc flash hazards and support safe power delivery throughout the facility. IEEE 141 is commonly referred to as the “IEEE Red Book,” and it recommends best practices for the design, construction and operation of electric power distribution systems and facilities.

Some data centers, such as those with high-density battery rooms or fuel cells, may require additional certifications like UL 60079 (hazardous locations) or specialized IEEE thermal management compliance. While not needed in every facility, advanced coatings that meet these rigorous specifications provide extra assurance for high-risk environments.

Specifying resilient coatings that meet or exceed applicable standards ensures reliable performance, minimizes fire and electrical risks and helps facilities stay compliant with building and safety codes.

Coating Types and Their Functions

Five key pillars define effective data center coatings: resiliency, efficiency, safety, security and sustainability. Specialized coatings with enhanced functional properties help to maintain service continuity, optimize energy use and extend the reliability and longevity of critical equipment. The many components within a data center may require unique coating properties to ensure optimal performance and safety.

Ultimately, coatings must work together to prevent the many threats to data center performance, including heat buildup, electrostatic discharge, moisture intrusion and corrosion. Key coating technologies supporting these goals include:

• EMI-shielding coatings to reduce electromagnetic interference and preserve signal integrity in dense hardware environments.
• Antistatic and passive fire protection coatings to prevent electrostatic discharge and maintain the integrity of structural steel during a fire event.
• Dielectric powder coatings to prevent unintended electrical conduction and short circuits with added stability under high heat and heavy loads.
• Thermal-resistive and insulative coatings to stabilize operating temperatures, minimize condensation and improve energy efficiency.
• IR-reflective coatings to lower cooling loads by reducing solar heat gain on roofs and exterior panels. These coatings help improve a facility’s overall energy efficiency.
• Anticorrosion coatings to shield metal building components and equipment like HVAC systems, racks, coils, transformers, switchgear, generators and enclosures from moisture, chemicals and airborne contaminants.
• Protective coatings for uninterruptible power supply (UPS) batteries ensure seamless power continuity and protect equipment from voltage disturbances. These safeguard battery cells, terminals, busbars, cabinets and control electronics from moisture, off-gassing and corrosion.

Coverage for the Entire Facility

Data centers are built from a wide range of substrates, including metals such as steel, aluminum and a number of various alloys, as well as nonmetal substrates like plastics, glass, fiberglass, concrete, wood and composites. Within these facilities, these materials are exposed to unique electrical, thermal and environmental stresses that coatings are designed to protect.

As a result, data center developers and specifiers are relying on high-performance, multipurpose coatings across a range of critical components:

• Servers and Electrical Enclosures: Coatings protect the sensitive electronics inside from moisture, dust and corrosive contaminants while reducing electrostatic discharge and risk of short circuits.
• Shelving and Racking: Protective coatings enhance their structural integrity, wear resistance and durability under heavy load and constant movement.
• Generators: Generators are the essential power backups for data center operations, and protective coatings are a critical layer of defense, offering robust protection against harsh environmental conditions to prevent corrosion-related failures.
• Transformers and Switchgear: Protective and insulating coatings help maintain electrical reliability by shielding these critical pieces of power distribution equipment from moisture, contaminants and long-term degradation.
• Battery Energy Storage: The right coatings for battery applications help to prevent catastrophic failures, reduce thermal runaway risk and allow systems to operate more efficiently and stably. They also safeguard against common contaminants while resisting chemical exposure and thermal cycling.
• Flooring Solutions: Data center floor coatings must be durable, provide antistatic protection to reduce electrostatic discharge and offer fire and chemical resistance to help maintain safe, reliable operations.

It is important to consider the entire scope of a data center’s coating needs and substrates when choosing a supplier, while also understanding how coating solutions work together to maintain 99.9% uptime. Specifying solutions using the most up-to-date coating standards is essential since data centers operate under rapidly evolving thermal, electrical and environmental demands. Using outdated specs can leave critical components under-protected, while new, more advanced formulations ensure maximum durability, compliance and long-term reliability.

PPG is dedicated to serving as a full-stack solutions provider with coatings across every major technology platform, bringing deep expertise, proven high-performance systems and technical support to data-center designers, contractors and operators. This enables them to build specifications that deliver optimal durability, compliance and reliability, with coating layers engineered to work seamlessly together.

Resilience Redefined: Advanced Coatings for Power and Protection

As demand for data centers intensifies, high-performance coatings will take on an increasingly critical role, not only in construction but also in safeguarding the complex and indispensable electrical and power systems that keep these facilities running without interruption. In a world that relies on constant connectivity, advanced coatings help the digital economy thrive without interruption, and in a more sustainable way.

Advanced coatings for data centers provide owners, operators, developers and builders with a comprehensive suite of solutions, including fire- and corrosion-resistant coatings, antistatic and battery protection systems, and other performance-enhancing technologies.

PPG offers coatings made without per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), as well as solutions that deliver smooth, uniform finishes on challenging areas such as sharp edges, angles and recesses, offering more complete corrosion protection that reduces the need for maintenance and replacement. Plus, PPG’s high-transfer efficiency (HTE) coatings are engineered to electrostatically wrap and penetrate intricately shaped parts, achieving first-pass efficiency rates of 85% or higher, significantly reducing powder consumption. These types of coatings play a vital role in total carbon footprint reduction while increasing the lifespan of data center assets.

As the need for data centers grows and project delays become more common, streamlining procurement and construction processes will be increasingly important for those responsible for bringing these facilities online.

Single-source suppliers help accelerate projects by reducing the complexities of juggling multiple vendors. Paired with industry-leading coatings, value-added services and engineering solutions, data center stakeholders can more readily deliver efficient, reliable and sustainable facilities.

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For more technical coverage, explore PCI’s latest reporting on protective coatings and industrial coatings performance.