The new group’s focus will be dielectric liquids for immersion cooling applications.

Oct 06, 2025

ASTM International’s electric insulating liquids and gases committee (D27) has announced a new subcommittee on insulating liquids for immersion cooling.

The main purpose of dielectric liquids are to prevent or rapidly quench electrical discharges and act as heat transfer liquids to cool down systems. 

“Subcommittee D27.04 will begin its work by establishing standardized test methods, specifications, and terminology for insulating liquids used in immersion cooling,” says Griffin Burk, forthcoming chair of D27.04. “This will come with a strong emphasis on collaboration with industry leaders to ensure the standards reflect real-world applications, safety, and emerging technologies.”

The scope of this new subcommittee includes the development, review, and maintenance of standards, specifications, guides, and practices related to the use of dielectric liquids for immersion cooling applications.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Insulating liquid properties and performance specific to immersion cooling environments (e.g., thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, oxidation stability, and material compatibility),
• Test methods for evaluating insulating liquids in immersion-cooled systems,
• Safety, handling, and environmental considerations specific to immersion cooling applications,
• Guidelines for liquid selection, monitoring, maintenance, and lifecycle management in immersion cooling systems,
• Standardized terminology and classification of liquids used in direct and indirect immersion cooling.

This subcommittee will coordinate with the other subcommittees in D27 along with other ASTM committees, industry stakeholders, and standards development organizations (SDOs). This will ensure consistency and relevance in emerging immersion cooling technologies across sectors such as data centers, electric vehicles, and high-power electronics.