How coatings support energy and water goals
Data from McKinsey projects that more than $1.7 trillion will be spent on data centers through 2030.
According to the report, reaching the full potential of data center construction could shave up to 20 percent off that time and build new facilities faster. It could also enable more efficient capital spending, with potential savings of up to 20 percent per data center on average. Operators must also improve power usage effectiveness (PUE), reduce water usage effectiveness (WUE), and manage ongoing supply chain volatility. Together, these pressures change how materials are specified, sourced, and applied across the entire facility lifecycle.
Data center construction tests the limits of power availability, water access, and supply chains. As operators race to meet demand driven by AI, the conversation has shifted beyond speed and scale to include how facilities will operate efficiently, compliantly. and reliably over decades of service.
Supply chain volatility drives earlier material decisions
Strong demand and developer appetite continue to drive new construction. However, a lack of readily available power and extended lead times for key pieces of electrical infrastructure are delaying construction timelines. Long lead times and regional supply constraints have pushed data center teams to reconsider when and where protective coatings are applied. Delays tied to steel availability, fireproofing materials, or even skilled labor can impact tightly compressed build schedules.
As a result, more owners prioritize factory-applied protection and standardized coating systems that can be sourced and applied earlier in the construction process. Applying corrosion and fire protection in controlled shop environments improves consistency, enables pre-shipment inspection, and reduces dependence on site labor, which has become a growing concern as global projects scale.
For data center operators managing multiple campuses across many regions, standardized coating specifications help ensure consistent performance and faster startup.
Energy efficiency
Coating systems can also impact energy performance. Thermal instability, condensation, and corrosion under insulation (CUI) can compromise cooling efficiency, leading to increased maintenance and energy demand over time.
Advanced spray-applied silicone insulation coatings have shown low thermal conductivity that can help reduce surface temperatures and heat loss, while hydrophobic properties can limit water absorption to less than three percent after 72 hours of submersion, which may help mitigate factors associated with corrosion under insulation (CUI), a global issue estimated to cost $2.2 trillion annually. Lower moisture levels can contribute to improved insulation coatings performance and greater operational efficiency.
Water systems and environmental defense
Water loops for cooling and wastewater management have grown in complexity and scale. These systems introduce abrasive flows, chemical exposure and movement-related stresses to tanks, tunnels and secondary containment. Efficient cooling technologies prove essential for achieving optimal WUE, especially as data center water consumption attracts public and regulatory attention.
Coating systems for these areas will need to adhere well to concrete and steel high-flow conditions, often requiring elastomeric membranes or immersion-rated epoxies. Failure in these systems can lead to shutdowns, environmental violations or costly remediation.
As water sourcing scrutiny continues and discharge and reuse intensify, coatings that can help protect containment integrity and extend service life will continue to play a critical role in supporting responsible water management strategies.
Fire protection in occupied multi-level facilities
The vertical building of US data centers brings new fire safety requirements, especially when office and operations staff are housed near servers. Building codes increasingly call for multi-hour PFP coatings on structural steel in occupied zones. These coatings are designed to expand under heat to form a durable insulating barrier. This barrier can slow heat transfer to steel, helping it to maintain structural strength longer than unprotected steel. This added time can be critical for evacuation, emergency response, and asset preservation.
European data center projects have long required multi-hour fire-rated coatings. These standards have influenced US facilities to adopt higher fire-resistance ratings (often exceeding National Fire Protection Association minimums) to enhance resilience and reduce risks.
Coatings remain core
As data centers evolve, the protective materials used to build them must meet higher expectations for durability, safety, and sustainability. Coatings play a frontline role in enabling modular construction, contributing to fire safety, and helping protect systems from corrosion, temperature swings, and abrasion. They can also help with energy efficiency, responsible water management, and compliance readiness.
In an industry defined by accelerating demand and tightening constraints, advanced protective coatings become an asset in data center development, supporting uptime, speed to market, and long-term goals.