Singapore has introduced the world’s first standard for liquid cooling in data centres, specifically designed for tropical climates, to address the increasing energy demands of artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. The Singapore Standard SS 726:2026, developed by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) through the Singapore Standards Council (SSC), aims to improve energy efficiency in data centres by over 30% compared to traditional air cooling methods.
Liquid cooling, which uses fluids to transfer heat from hardware chips, is becoming essential as AI adoption grows, leading to more compute-intensive workloads. However, tropical conditions such as high temperatures and humidity pose challenges like equipment corrosion. SS 726 addresses these issues by building on existing international standards and recommending best practices for water efficiency.
The standard was developed through collaboration between industry, academia, and technical experts, translating the challenges of Singapore’s environment into practical guidelines. It provides data centre operators with technical advice on designing, deploying, and operating liquid cooling systems safely and efficiently.
Aileen Chia, Deputy Chief Executive at IMDA, emphasised the importance of sustainable growth for data centres, stating, “Liquid cooling is increasingly important to support the higher power densities required for AI and other advanced computing workloads whilst improving cooling efficiency.”
Choy Sauw Kook, Director-General Quality & Excellence at EnterpriseSG, added that SS 726 offers a “trusted benchmark” for liquid cooling systems, positioning Singapore as a leader in sustainable data centre infrastructure in tropical markets.
The launch of SS 726 highlights Singapore’s commitment to supporting AI growth whilst addressing environmental challenges, ensuring the sustainable development of its digital infrastructure.
