For most operators, the question isn’t whether to use containment—it’s how to get it done without disruption. Most containment systems on the market were built for new builds with uniform rows and ceiling heights. Retrofitting them into mixed-layout, live environments creates familiar obstacles:
- Ceiling heights and layouts that don’t match standard panels
- Long install times that disrupt live environments
- Costly custom fabrication just to make everything fit
- Maintenance headaches when equipment needs servicing
These factors slow projects, inflate budgets, and often put efficiency gains out of reach.
How to Improve Efficiency Without the Headaches
When you strip it down, successful retrofits hinge on a few critical factors:
- Fast to deploy – so projects don’t stall or require downtime.
- Adaptable to your space – so non-standard ceiling heights and layouts aren’t roadblocks.
- Minimal disruption – so existing operations continue without interruption.
- Serviceable – so technicians can still access cabling and overhead systems easily.
A Smarter Approach to Retrofit Containment
What’s been missing is a retrofit approach that delivers the flexibility and adaptability operators need. That’s where Chatsworth Products; Elevate™ Adjustable Containment Solution stands apart.
Elevate is a set of easy-to-install panels that mount directly on top of the cabinet and telescope upward to meet the ceiling, creating a sealed pathway for airflow. By adjusting on site to variable heights and layouts, this solution eliminates the need for cutting or fabrication, while still maintaining service access through sliding panels.
For operators, the result is a practical option for achieving the efficiency benefits of containment without the disruption, cost, or inflexibility of traditional fixed-panel designs.
Here are the key benefits of Elevate™ for retrofits:
1. Flexible, Telescoping Design
Ceiling heights vary, layouts shift, and not every row of cabinets aligns perfectly. Fixed panels don’t accommodate these realities, which is why retrofits often stall or require expensive customization.
Elevate™ solves this with:
- Telescoping panels that adjust within defined height ranges to meet your ceiling conditions.
- Rear-alignment or mid-span placement options, so airflow can be optimized based on your layout.
2. Fast, Tool-Less Installation
Time is the biggest barrier to retrofits. Traditional containment systems often require cutting, drilling, and custom fabrication—all of which add hours of labor and create potential points of disruption in a live environment.
Elevate™ is engineered for speed:
- Installs in under two minutes per panel per cabinet—dramatically reducing deployment time.
- Ships Preassembled: eliminating the mess, cost, and risk of error.
- Mounts directly to ZetaFrame® Cabinet System top tracks—ensuring a secure fit that’s simple to deploy.
3. Serviceability Built In
Containment must support ongoing operations, not complicate them. Many traditional systems make maintenance cumbersome, requiring technicians to remove or break panels just to access overhead cabling or infrastructure.
Elevate™ was designed with technicians in mind:
- Sliding service panels provide quick, tool-less access to cabling and overhead systems.
- Reduces maintenance downtime by allowing teams to perform routine work without dismantling panels.
Elevate Deployment Options: HAC and VED
Containment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on your footprint, Elevate can be applied in two ways:
- Hot Aisle Containment (HAC): Best for sealing full rows, channeling hot exhaust into the plenum above the ceiling. Ideal for maximizing density across larger deployments.
- Row-Level Vertical Exhaust Duct (VED): Provides a dedicated overhead exhaust pathway for a single row. Perfect for phased retrofits, smaller budgets, or constrained spaces.
This flexibility lets you start where it makes sense today—then expand as your environment evolves.
See It in Action
With over 30 years of thermal management expertise, CPI manufactures advanced solutions like the Elevate™ Adjustable Containment Solution and partners with operators from assessment and design through installation and optimization to ensure containment strategies succeed in real-world environments.
Watch the video below to see Elevate™ install in minutes, or
