Why acoustic design has become a key consideration for data centers

For modern data centers, the efficient use of power and water often dominates design conversations. Power has become the primary growth constraint and AI-ready facilities are constantly trying to lower their PUE. Similarly, water usage is redefining the way facilities think about energy efficiency. However, sitting alongside power and water, a third aspect is playing an increasingly significant role in data center design: noise.

The growing importance of noise mitigation reflects a considerable shift across the data center industry. Over the past 12 to 18 months, the rapid adoption of AI has expanded focus beyond massive AI training facilities to include inference data centers that bring AI services closer to the end user. As these infrastructures move nearer to urban and suburban environments, developers are facing increased scrutiny around their impact. This shift is making data center acoustics a much more critical design consideration than ever before.

While in operation, data centers emit a myriad of sounds from the air chillers, HVAC systems, ventilation, generators, compressors, cooling towers and air handling units. Together, this can create a level of sound that could potentially affect neighboring communities and fall under local ordinances and regulations.

For Patrick Marks – Director of Engineering Services at Johnson Controls – the reason why noise has become more of a priority in recent times is simple:

“One reason noise is becoming such an issue is that it's something that everyone can relate to and readily identify. Sound is something everyone can perceive. As more facilities are being built, they are getting closer to communities.”

Why it’s so important to consider acoustics in data center design

Unlike power and water performance – which are typically evaluated through data over time – acoustic performance is immediately noticeable. As a result, noise can play an important role in planning approvals, community engagement and long-term facility operations.

For regulatory compliance and project timelines

Data centers must comply with local noise ordinances and zoning requirements. When noise limits are not adequately addressed during the design phase, it can potentially lead to additional reviews, mitigation measures and verification testing. Incorporating acoustic analysis early can improve compliance confidence and reduce uncertainty around scheduling.

For increasing design flexibility and limiting retrofit requirements

Acoustics are easier to address during the initial design phase. Retroactively installing noise controls can require the addition of sound barriers, silencers or actual structural modifications.

For proactive community engagement

Community engagement is becoming an important part of project development. Acoustic performance often serves as one of the most visible indicators of a facility's effect on its surroundings. Proactively considering acoustic performance can foster positive relationships and ultimately support long-term acceptance.

3 key decisions that can have an impact on acoustic performance

1. Consider acoustics early in the planning phase

One of the most effective ways to improve acoustic performance is to consider it from the earliest stages of site selection and concept design. This means thinking about acoustic performance alongside mechanical, structural and architectural design. Once cooling plants, power supplies and building layouts are fixed in place, acoustic mitigation becomes a significantly more difficult (and potentially expensive) challenge.

When acoustic considerations are incorporated early, it can help operators increase certainty around permitting, minimize the need for retrofit solutions, improve community acceptance and create a stronger foundation for future expansion.

Early planning creates an opportunity to address practical questions such as:

• What are the nearest noise-sensitive receptors?
• Can cooling equipment be positioned further from property boundaries?
• Can lower-noise equipment be installed from the outset?
• How will future expansion impact noise levels?

2. Site Selection and equipment positioning

Distance is one of the most effective tools available for managing noise impact, but it is often overlooked because equipment placement is influenced by many competing design priorities. Cooling, power infrastructure, maintenance access and building constraints can all affect where equipment is placed. When acoustic considerations are made early, relatively small placement decisions can have a meaningful impact.

“The simplest strategy is distance. The more distance you can put between the equipment and your sound receivers, the better off you are,” says Marks. “This might sound overly simplistic, but often equipment is placed at the side of the roof that is closest to the end receiver. However, if the cooling equipment was installed on the opposite side, the noise impact would reduce significantly. The data center would be starting from a much better place.”

In acoustic planning, these receivers can include nearby residents, businesses, public spaces, wildlife habitats and other locations that may be affected by facility noise. Effective site evaluation will assess the proximity and impact that noise might have.

3. Early-stage input from an acoustic consultant

Building acoustic design requires a balance between architectural and mechanical design elements. As acoustic requirements become more complex, many operators are seeking specialist expertise earlier in the development process. An acoustic consultant can help build site-specific models to determine the expected noise impact on the surrounding communities while also providing guidance on equipment selection and noise mitigation.

Engaging an acoustic consultant at the early design stage can be key to helping ensure compliance with local ordinances, optimizing equipment positioning and site selection. Each data center has its own unique acoustic profile which an acoustic consultant can help model – especially when it comes to higher-density AI infrastructures.

Testing data center acoustic performance at JADEC

As data center operators look to balance acoustic performance with cooling capacity, testing and validation become increasingly important. The Johnson Controls Advanced Development and Engineering Center (JADEC), one of the largest and most advanced testing facilities of its kind, provides a unique environment where engineers can evaluate both acoustics and equipment performance under the same operating conditions to help teams make more informed decisions.

JADEC allows engineers to simultaneously evaluate acoustics, airflow, thermal performance and equipment efficiency under real-world operating conditions. This integrated testing capability can help data center owners understand how noise mitigation decisions interact with cooling performance, energy use and operational reliability before deployment.

“One unique aspect of our acoustic testing facility at JADEC is that we test sound and performance at the same time,” says Marks. “In other setups, you need to test equipment performance in one location and then take it somewhere else to simulate the loading required to test sound at different conditions. At JADEC, all acoustical testing takes place in one location.”

Exploring acoustic design in large-scale AI infrastructure

Johnson Controls recently added Reference Design Guide 401 to its growing collection of blueprints for gigawatt-scale AI Factories. The reference guide provides a high efficiency air-cooled design that can return up to 50MW to the AI Factory and improve annual energy consumption by 32%.

In addition to examining cooling strategies, the guide also places a distinct focus on data center acoustics and noise mitigation. It examines the source of data center noise, considers the potential impact on nearby communities and provides several mitigation strategies.

By modeling noise propagation, equipment placement and mitigation strategies as part of the overall facility design process, operators can evaluate tradeoffs across multiple performance objectives rather than addressing acoustics as a standalone challenge.

FAQs

What is data center acoustic design?

Data center acoustic design is the specialized planning and engineering of a facility to limit the noise impact on the surrounding environments. Effective acoustic design maps noise sources and examines optimal site selection and the location of on-unit solutions.

Why is it important for data centers to engage with an acoustics consultant?

Acoustic performance can be highly site-specific, which makes early analysis an important part of the design process. An acoustic consultant can help build a site-specific model to determine the expected noise impact on the surrounding communities. This type of insight can influence effective decisions around equipment selection and acoustic performance. 

What are the primary sources of data center noise?

Data center noise can originate from a variety of mechanical systems. This includes cooling infrastructure such as condenser fans, compressors and air-handling units. The overall acoustic profile of a facility depends on factors such as equipment selection, operating conditions, site layout and proximity to nearby noise-sensitive locations.