CRAH Unit Financing for Data Centers

Computer Room Air Handlers serve the same function as CRAC units but reject heat into a chilled water loop rather than through a direct expansion refrigerant circuit. That distinction matters enormously at scale. A CRAH unit has no compressors; it is essentially a fan coil unit that moves large volumes of air across a water coil fed by a central chilling plant. The operational simplicity of a compressor-free unit means lower maintenance requirements, fewer failure modes, and the ability to achieve very high cooling capacities from a relatively compact footprint. For large data centers served by a central chilled water plant, CRAH units are the standard room-level air cooling solution.

We finance CRAH units for data centers, covering new installations and late-model used equipment. CRAH units frequently appear in financing transactions alongside chiller plant equipment, cooling towers, and the chilled water distribution system that connects the plant to the CRAH units. Bundling the full chilled water cooling system in a single transaction simplifies underwriting and keeps one debt service payment aligned with one commissioned system. Transactions start at $50,000; application-only processing is available up to $400,000.

CRAH units for data centers are available in floor-standing configurations in a range of capacities from roughly 10 tons to 100 tons per unit, with some specialty units extending beyond that. They are typically designed for overhead supply or underfloor supply airflow, depending on the facility's air distribution design. Key specifications include cooling capacity in kW or tons, airflow in CFM, the chilled water supply and return temperature requirements (typically 45 to 55 degrees F supply, returning at 55 to 65 degrees F), and the available static pressure for pushing air through raised floors or overhead plenum arrangements.

Manufacturers producing CRAH units for data center applications include Vertiv (Liebert DSE and related series), Stulz (CyberAir 3 CRAH variants), Data Aire, Schneider Electric (APC InRow and related room cooling), Emerson Precision Cooling, and others. Variable-speed EC fan motors in modern CRAH units deliver significantly better part-load efficiency than older constant-speed designs, which is a relevant factor when evaluating new versus used equipment.

Financeable scope for a CRAH installation includes the air handler unit itself, the coil connections and valve packages, condensate management components, and in underfloor supply configurations, the floor penetrations and distribution components. When CRAH units are installed as part of a containment retrofit, the hot aisle containment enclosures can be bundled in the same financing transaction.

The absence of a refrigerant compressor is one of the most valuable features of a CRAH unit from a secondary market standpoint. Without a compressor cycle to wear out, a well-maintained CRAH unit can provide another decade of reliable service well after its initial financing term ends. That long service life is why used CRAH units from recognized manufacturers are a practical financing option for operators who are budget-constrained but cannot sacrifice cooling reliability.

When evaluating used CRAH equipment, the critical items are fan motor condition and hours, coil integrity (no fouling, no corrosion on the water side), controls compatibility with your building management system, and parts availability for the specific model. Units with EC fan motors are particularly valued in the used market because the efficiency and variable-speed capability translate directly to PUE and operating cost even in a second or third installation.

For new installations in facilities targeting aggressive PUE goals, current-generation CRAH units with modern EC fans and precise capacity modulation are the specification choice. The financing can be structured to align with energy savings projections over the unit's life.

As data center average power density per rack rises driven by AI and high-performance compute workloads, the limitations of DX-based CRAC systems become more apparent. CRAC units have a practical capacity ceiling determined by the refrigerant circuit and compressor capacity, while CRAH units connected to a central chilled water plant scale much more easily. A chilled water plant can deliver cooling to many CRAH units across a large facility from a central plant that is sized and maintained as a utility, rather than having dozens of independent compressor-based systems each with their own refrigerant circuit to maintain.

Data centers in markets like Dallas, Phoenix, and Atlanta that are seeing significant capacity expansion are increasingly specifying chilled water systems with CRAH units rather than DX-based CRAC for new builds above a certain scale. The operational and efficiency advantages compound over the facility's life, and the upfront capital investment in the chilled water plant and CRAH units is a natural financing opportunity.

The growth of GPU-dense AI training clusters has pushed rack densities in some halls well beyond what conventional DX cooling architectures can support economically. CRAH units paired with high-temperature chilled water loops are the architectural response to those workloads, and the financing for the cooling system expansion is part of the same capital plan as the compute procurement itself.

Hyperscale operators building large campus facilities deploy CRAH units as standard; the entire cooling infrastructure at this scale is based on chilled water with central plant. Colocation providers building multi-megawatt facilities that cannot support a DX approach at scale make the same choice. Data center developers delivering turnkey space to enterprise and wholesale tenants typically include CRAH units as part of the base-building cooling scope.

Enterprise data centers transitioning from DX-based cooling to chilled water as part of a major infrastructure upgrade often finance the CRAH units as part of the cooling system conversion project, which may also include new chillers and cooling towers. This full-system conversion is a financing opportunity where bundling the complete scope in one transaction is both practical and cost-effective.

Whether you are cooling a new data hall or converting from DX to chilled water, we can structure financing for your CRAH unit procurement. Send us the scope and quote to begin.

Can I finance CRAH units and the chilled water piping distribution together in one transaction?

Yes. CRAH units and the chilled water distribution piping, valves, and pump skids that serve them can be financed together as a complete cooling system. This is common when the full chilled water scope is being procured from a single contractor on one contract.

What is the typical useful life of a CRAH unit in a data center environment?

CRAH units in properly maintained data center environments typically have useful lives of 15 to 20 years. Unlike CRAC units, there are no compressors to wear out. The fan motors, controls, and coils are the primary maintenance items.

Can I finance CRAH units for a data hall expansion when the chilled water plant already exists?

Yes. Adding CRAH capacity for a hall expansion is a standalone financing transaction. The existing chilled water plant does not need to be refinanced. The lender assesses the CRAH units on their own merits.

Are high-efficiency CRAH units with EC fan motors valued more favorably for financing?

Modern EC fan motor units command higher market values than older constant-speed designs, which generally supports better collateral assessments. The efficiency advantage also reduces operating cost, which the operations team will appreciate but which does not directly change the financing terms.

Can a CRAH unit be financed as part of a data center lease transaction where the landlord owns the equipment?

The financing would need to be in the name of the entity that legally owns and operates the equipment. If the landlord owns the CRAH units and provides them as part of the leased premises, the tenant would not be the borrower.

Our facility is converting from CRAC to CRAH cooling. Can we finance the full retrofit including the chiller plant?

Yes. A full DX-to-chilled-water conversion that includes new CRAH units, chillers, cooling towers, and associated piping can be structured as a single equipment financing transaction. Provide the full scope from your mechanical contractor and we will structure accordingly.