Data centers can be noisy places.

Why? It’s a simple byproduct of how data centers have traditionally operated. Hundreds of servers (or more, when it comes to hyperscale data centers) operating in compact spaces can together create excessive noise. By some estimates, the average noise level around server areas reach up to 92 A-weighted decibels (dBA). And that’s not to mention the equipment typically required to keep them cool.

Research has shown that the constant humming of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can create noise sometimes in excess of 80 dBA, nearing the maximum acceptable threshold of 85 dBA during an 8-hour exposure period set by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). As data centers become more dense and powerful, driven by an increasing need for greater computing power around the world, there is an escalating need to keep them cool. New cooling methods will be required—and noise control is one metric data centers should bear in mind.

One increasingly viable alternative is immersion cooling, in which all computer components are submerged in nonconducting dielectric fluid that helps maintain ideal operational temperatures. It is a technology gaining adoption as a practical option for overcoming data center heat issues.

For a deep dive into immersion cooling technology, read our white paper here.

Further, immersion cooling is quiet—and it has the potential to eliminate the excessive whirring and humming of HVAC systems while bringing a range of other benefits to your operations. At a time when labor is hard to come by, creating a safe environment where employees enjoy working can be a critical differentiator.

How Immersion Cooling Creates Healthier Data Centers