Data Centre Noise: A Real-World Risk

A recent feature  by journalist Aya Miller highlighted something that is often overlooked in the excitement around digital infrastructure growth – data centres aren’t silent. In her video, garnering over 6.9 million views, she filmed a homeowner measuring the sound levels coming from a nearby hyperscale data centre in Michigan; a constant 58-63 decibels (dB) which, for context in a residential area, The World Health Organisation2 has recommended daytime guideline level limits of 55d(B) above which serious annoyance can be expected to be experienced with moderate annoyance occurring from 50 dB(A). Noise levels of not in excess of 30 dB(A) in a bedroom at night time are recommended to ensure a good quality sleep. Multiple residents have moved to sue the developer, which is detrimental to the developer’s reputation.

For many communities living near large facilities, sometimes the experience is not of obscured cloud computing, but of a constant, low-frequency hum that can be heard day and night. As demand for hyperscale and AI-driven data centres increases, so too does the scale of mechanical plant required to keep them running. And that means noise, which causes a lot of anxiety for neighbours.

What was once considered an internal engineering detail is now becoming a public-facing issue.

The reality behind the “quiet” data centre

Modern data centres are often described as discreet, highly controlled environments. But acoustically, they are complicated.

Across our clients’ feedback and industry reporting, the same sources consistently emerge:

• Continuous cooling systems and HVAC
• High-speed server fans
• Electrical transformers and substations
• Diesel generators used for backup and testing

These systems can produce a persistent sound, described as a “hum” or “whoosh”, that runs 24/7

This is not just an internal workplace concern. As facilities scale and move closer to residential and mixed-use areas, that environmental impact begins to extend beyond the site boundary.

When compliance doesn’t prevent complaints

One of the most important tensions emerging in the sector is the gap between regulatory compliance and human perception. From our experience in talking to customers, “compliant” doesn’t automatically mean “unnoticeable” or “without impact on our lives.”

Data centres may meet planning conditions and local noise limits, yet still generate complaints from nearby residents. This is largely because:

• Low-frequency noise travels further and is harder to mask
• Night-time ambient noise is lower, making hums more noticeable
• Tonal or constant sounds are more intrusive than variable noise
• Community expectations often don’t align with industrial “acceptable limits”

The real cost of getting acoustic design wrong

When noise is not properly addressed during early design stages, the consequences tend to surface later and with serious impact to the developers.

When this happens, we see three common outcomes:

• Operational constraints
  Facilities adjusting generator testing schedules or cooling performance to remain within acceptable noise thresholds.
• Planning and reputation pressure
  Community objections, delays in approvals, or negative local coverage once operations begin.
• Retrofit costs

The price no one wants to pay – late-stage, time-sensitive spend that disrupts schedules and could have been avoid at design stages.

What starts as an engineering oversight can quickly become a commercial and PR issue.

Above are examples of Ventac’s bespoke chiller treatments

Why early-stage acoustic design changes everything

When acoustics are considered alongside mechanical, structural and architectural design, it becomes possible to:

• Integrate acoustic solutions, like screening and anti-vibration treatment, into structural elements
• Optimise airflow with attenuation treatment, without amplifying sound breakout
• Model and predict performance before construction begins

The reactive to proactive shift is critical in a sector where speed-to-market, planning certainty and community acceptance are all tightly linked. As the industry continues to expand into more constrained and populated areas, acoustic performance will increasingly sit alongside energy efficiency and thermal design as a key success metric.

“Data centre noise is often treated as an afterthought, but in reality it is a critical design risk, especially when facilities are located near communities. In many projects, acoustic performance only becomes a priority after complaints or planning challenges arise, by which point solutions are costly and disruptive. At Ventac, we help data centre clients, developers and contractors avoid the cost, delay and reputational risk of late-stage noise mitigation by engineering compliance and performance into the design from day one, resulting in a smoother planning process, fewer redesigns, and a facility that performs as intended while protecting the reputation of our partners.“

Andrew Shannon

Data Centre Division General Manager

Designing out the problem, not designing around it

When noise control is embedded from the outset, it stops being a constraint imposed later and becomes part of the facility’s performance strategy. Because once a data centre is built, sound is very hard to ignore and even harder to reverse.

At Ventac, we’ve seen the difference early acoustic integration makes, particularly in complex, high-density environments like data centres. We help operators, OEMs, architects and contractors safeguard operations to make more sustainable and compliant data centres.

Learn More

To learn more about our data centre capabilities, visit our dedicated web page, or talk to Eoin directly by emailing info@ventac.com