Airflow Management and Soundproofing in Server Cabinets
Server cabinets play a critical role in the evolving world of technology. They house essential IT equipment and servers and ensure their security, cooling, and operational efficiency. However, such an advantage also has some challenges such as; the noise generated from servers, switches, and other equipment can be disruptive and harmful. Hence solutions that can help to manage and reduce this noise is essential. So, Netrack designed soundproof server racks like the AcoustiRACK™ Active and AcoustiRACK™ Passive to help with noise reduction in hospitals, banks, or R&D facilities.
Side effects of IT noise that cannot be ignored
High-frequency noise can easily penetrate walls and other barriers, while low-frequency noise can cause vibrations difficult to manage. Compared to automobile noise which is around 70-85 dB with a mixture of low and high frequencies is intermittent and less harmful than IT noise. Even chimneys generate noise but at 40-60 Hz which can be disturbing but not so harmful since it can be shut down if required. But servers produce both high-frequency noise ranging from 1 kHz to 10 kHz from fans and low-frequency noise from hard drives and power supplies. The noise can even reach levels of 80-90 dB similar to that of an automobile engine. But unlike automobile engines, it is more constant and penetrating.
The noise from the server room is often dismissed as negligible when compared to other sources. However, its side effects and health hazards cannot be undermined. Regular and prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can lead to loss of hearing, increase of stress and lethargy, and decrease in overall productivity. In places such as hospitals, excessive noise can disturb critical patients hampering their recovery process. Also, such background noise can lead to decreased cognitive function, resulting in errors and inefficiency. Persistent noise exposure in data centers or server rooms can also cause chronic health issues among employees.
Netrack’s solution for reducing IT noise
Netrack designed soundproof server racks to reduce the IT noise. It is an effective solution to emit noise while maintaining optimal cooling and airflow. There are two types of soundproof cabinets that can be used depending upon the requirement.
AcoustiRACK™ Passive Soundproof Cabinets comes with acoustic foam, double-glazed glass doors, and IP50-rated racks with gaskets. It is a perfect solution to absorb and block high-frequency noise making it ideal for environments where the equipment load is relatively low such as; small server rooms, offices, or any environment where reducing noise is essential for daily operation.
AcoustiRACK™ Active Soundproof Cabinets on the other hand takes noise reduction a step further by incorporating active noise cancellation technology. This technology is important to curb low-frequency noise, which is difficult to manage with passive methods alone. Along with the features found in the passive soundproof cabinet solutions, it uses sound anti-noise waves to cancel out the noise. This makes this solution highly effective for environments with high equipment density and more penetrating noise levels. This solution can manage both high and low-frequency noise making it ideal for hospitals, financial institutions, and R&D labs with large data centers.
Understanding the difference to make the right choice!
The passive soundproof cabinets focus on reducing high-frequency noise through the use of sound-absorbing materials. While the active counterpart offers comprehensive noise reduction by reducing both high and low-frequency noise by combining passive and active mechanisms.
The passive model is ideal for smaller setups with fewer noise sources, while the active model is designed for larger and noisier places.
The active model is expensive considering the advanced technology used in it and is complex to install and maintain compared to the passive model.
By choosing the appropriate cabinet based on the specific needs of the environment, organizations can protect the health of their employees, improve working environments, and productivity of the workforce.
