Data center noise is a contentious societal issue. How is sound regulated?
Data center noise is a growing concern, with residents in the US (e.g., Michigan) and Australia pushing back due to potential health impacts and disruption. The article explains how data centers produce noise from cooling systems and generators, and how regulations typically require noise mitigation to meet local limits. While health effects are linked to excessive noise generally, specific long-term research on data center noise health impacts is still lacking.
Data center noise has emerged as a contentious societal issue, with residents in US hotspots like Michigan and across Australia expressing concerns about potential health impacts. The article details how data centers generate low-frequency hums from essential cooling equipment, such as air-handling units, chillers, cooling towers, and backup generators, with internal levels capable of exceeding 85dBA. These facilities are required to implement noise mitigation strategies like soundproofing, acoustic louvres, and careful building design to comply with environmental noise limits in surrounding areas.
Regulations, typically set by state and territorial governments, require companies to submit independent noise assessments to prove compliance, particularly with strict nighttime limits for residential areas, often around 35-40dBA. These limits are consistent with World Health Organization guidelines. Australia's environmental approval process also includes safeguards against "creeping background noise," adjusting individual project limits based on existing cumulative noise.
The article highlights a recent case where Victoria’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) objected to a data center in Campbellfield, Melbourne, due to noise impact concerns. Additionally, a proposal in Hazelmere, Western Australia, featuring 64 rooftop chillers and 88 diesel generators, was rejected by the local council in May, citing noise concerns for nearby residents and a school, as well as proximity to a river and Aboriginal cultural sites. Despite the growing public concern, the article notes a current lack of long-term research data definitively linking environmental noise from data centers to specific health effects.