Server rooms perform a central function within any organization as they provide centralized and secure file and data storage solutions that support a company’s day-to-day operations.
Maintaining these systems can be challenging because they generate high amounts of heat. They require robust cooling systems to avoid overheating and ensure that the servers are running properly. However, these systems, along with the server equipment, and backup generators that power them, produce intolerable amounts of noise that can affect the mental health of employees and negatively impact productivity.
If you need data center noise reduction services to reduce the amount of noise pollution generated by your data center facility, Sound Fighter® Systems offers solutions to reduce the noise emitted by your data center according to your requirements.
Solutions For Data Center Noise Reduction
Data centers are well known for generating high amounts of heat, with each piece of equipment easily going higher than 100ºF. In addition, optimal operating temperatures for servers are between 54ºF and 89ºF, which means they require robust cooling systems to maintain efficiency.
These cooling systems are composed of fans on each piece of hardware, such as hard drives, enclosures, and processors, as well as exhaust fans within the room itself. They will also require chillers for temperature control, HVAC systems for temperature and moisture control, and backup generators to prevent system breakdown.
Running at full capacity, these cooling systems, along with the computing hardware themselves, generate high levels of noise. This noise can be an issue for surrounding businesses and communities that are plagued by the constant humming of the HVAC systems that are working overtime to maintain stable temperatures throughout the data center.
The backup generators involved in powering data centers are also a source of noise pollution. The generators may be required to run for extended periods of time, so it’s important that the systems that are in place to house the live generators, including intake and exhaust systems, have proper sound attenuation to control noise pollution.
Sound Fighter® Systems offers high-performance noise barrier walls that provide sound dampening capabilities that effectively reduce noise from loud cooling systems. Regardless of where data centers are located, our data center noise reduction solutions dissipate noise, protecting the surrounding environment and community from the harsh effects of noise pollution.
Soundproof Server Room
Most companies often consider IT solutions first in controlling noise generated by data centers. Many of the fixes they employ include:
- Reducing the capacity of current cooling systems
- Installation of new, more efficient cooling systems
- Modification of server performance
- Application of active localized noise cancellation
- Upgrading of server equipment
While these can certainly help, they entail making considerable modifications to the current server array that are rarely worth the investment in terms of cost and labor requirements from a cost-benefit point of view. Additionally, when implemented, these fixes can give rise to capacity issues and other problems.
Sound Fighter® Systems can provide an effective noise reduction solution to reduce noise pollution caused by your data center and address your organization’s noise control requirements.
Reflective barriers made from concrete or brick may provide noise abatement capabilities to a certain extent. However, as the name suggests, they typically cause sound waves to bounce out further into the environment, often exacerbating the noise pollution rather than reducing it.
Our data center noise reduction solutions rely on sound-absorptive noise barriers that eliminate sound waves that hit them. Unlike reflective barriers, sound-absorptive barriers dampen sound waves when hitting the surface, helping dramatically reduce the noise pollution caused by cooling systems operating on top of or adjacent to the data center.
The Use of Sound Walls for Data Center Noise Mitigation
Data storage and management is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. From California to Virginia, massive data centers are being designed and built to accommodate the vast numbers of servers and supporting hardware required to store & process all this data.
“In the past few years, the need for data centers has rapidly increased, fueled by changing work habits during the pandemic and the growth of cloud-based technologies. That means more buildings, more land, more cooling systems and more electricity to support the physical infrastructure that runs 24/7.” – NY Times
Two common denominators with every data center are:
- Very large cooling systems to dissipate the immense amount of heat generated by the servers.
- Backup power generation systems to kick-in whenever primary power is disrupted.
Unfortunately, both of these services make lots of noise. And this excessive noise is one of the most consistent complaints amongst the adjacent communities. In fact, lawsuits related to noise are common for this industry, which can result in permitting denial in some cases.
Sound wall products and companies like Sound Fighter Systems are used extensively by many of the key data center developers. Their sound wall materials are not inexpensive, but they work beautifully and last indefinitely with minimal maintenance.
However, the market has become flooded with unproven and ineffective – but cheap – sound wall products including wood, corrosive steel, toxic PVC, etc, etc.
PVC struggles with stability in extreme temperatures and its raw materials pose a toxic nightmare risk.
Wood is a maintenance nightmare and acoustical failure
Acoustic "Blankets" don't work well, don't last long, and look awful
Preforated Steel is notorious for corrossion over the long-run (and is conductive)
Many “sound wall companies” have a fundamentally poor understanding of acoustics, reflected noise, airflow, etc,. As a result, many of their treatments are ineffective due to poor acoustic performance in the specific target frequencies, improper barrier layout in relation to the affected Receivers, insufficient barrier length or height, etc.
The end result to the customer: Skyrocketing costs of “band-aiding” the barrier to try and make it more effective while not providing sufficient attenuation in the process (i.e. incessant complaints). Owners end-up spending as much money or more (with much more headache) than they would have if they had used a legit product and company like Sound Fighter in the first place.
What is the actual value of using a Sound Fighter barrier?
Assuming some credence is given to longevity, it is worth noting that Sound Fighter System is the oldest manufacturer of outdoor sound-absorptive barriers in North America. It is all we have done for 50 years. Our learning curve is pretty flat, and our experience in treating applications such as those related to Data Center noise is strong.
We spent the last decades developing the very best mousetrap in the sound wall world in our SonaGuard panels. We deployed our many experiences, good and bad, into making a sound-absorptive panel that is unrivaled in its combination of acoustics, strength, durability and ease of installation. It is a beast, and a game-changer in our industry.
We understand the significant price associated with the use of our SonaGuard sound-absorptive products. They are not inexpensive for us to produce, and as a result they are not inexpensive to buy. But they do resolve noise issues.
Pultruded fiberglass has a long and successful history of strength and durability in the harshest environments on earth, including offshore platforms, etc. The finished product will last decades, in any weather:
- SonaGuard panels are hurricane proven
- SonaGuard panels have top UV paints & coatings (5000 hr UV test)
- SonaGuard panels have a up to Class A Fire Rating
- SonaGuard panels are freeze-thaw tested
- SonaGuard panels are 100% Sound Absorption (1.05)
- SonaGuard panels have high STC performance (35)
- SonaGuard panels are non-conductive
- Our barriers are adaptable for concrete piers, continual curb-footers or helical piers
- We pioneered acoustical gates >> swing, rolling, electric >> and can easily incorporate them into any barrier enclosure
- Our barriers require virtually zero long-term maintenance.
- SonaGuard panels will not dent, rust or corrode like steel. NOTE: one of our most active markets is the replacement of failing/corroding perforated steel sound walls like the ones shown above
Here are some recent photos of SonaGuard Sound Wall Installations for Data Centers:
We also like to believe (and are routinely told) that we have unusually good and competent customer services, prompt responses, competent answers, realistic expectations. Besides being smart business, it is mandatory given the cesspool of shaky contractors particularly in the oil patch these days. And it is our opinion that the better educated our customers are, the more accurate their expectations will be, and the fewer surprises there will be down the road.
Unrealistic expectations by our customers are a recipe for disaster. We say “yes” when we can, but also “no” when appropriate. We always use independent Acoustical Firms to assess customer’s needs when necessary, just to provide an extra level of transparency. We rely on Acousticians to convey realistic expectations to customers, since professional Acousticians are the only ones properly trained to do so (and it is critical that the customer understand what is and is not achievable in the realm of outdoor acoustical treatments).
Learn How To Reduce Data Center Noise Pollution with Sound Fighter Systems
The Sound Fighter® SonaGuard system is a fully-absorptive barrier that effectively dampens sound waves through its porous surface, killing them as they hit. Implement effective noise reduction solutions that outperform and outlast all other sound barrier products. Learn more by giving us a call at 1-866-348-0833. Or use this contact form to request a quote!
