Sound-absorbing barriers to reduce noise and maintain efficiency

Technology makes noise, too. 5G networks, data centres and artificial intelligence systems do not just drive innovation; they can also have an impact on noise pollution. On the one hand, there are high-density AI servers, which require cooling and air-handling systems to run continuously. On the other hand, the need to reduce latency is driving the construction of large data centres ever closer to urban centres. The ‘culprit’ is often not the server room itself, but what keeps it running: chillers, fans and cooling towers operating 24 hours a day, emitting a constant, often low-frequency hum. The challenge here is twofold: to reduce noise without increasing energy consumption. Many traditional soundproofing solutions, based on rock wool panels and barriers, reduce noise levels but can ‘restrict’ air flow. Consequently, to ensure the same level of cooling, more powerful fans or larger systems are required.

It is within this delicate balance between performance and noise reduction that Sts Isolamenti operates – a Turin-based cleantech company specialising in soundproofing. “The real challenge is not to reduce noise, but to do so without compromising the system’s performance,” explains Giorgio Cellerino, the company’s CEO and founder. Over the last ten years, STS has invested around 700,000 euros in R&D and patents to bring ‘tailor-made’ solutions to market, such as those developed under the Fonois brand: sound-absorbing barriers just 1.5 cm thick, thinner partitions and curved solutions for acoustic insulation. “In most cases, we achieve noise reductions of between 10 and 25 decibels, but we have recently been supplying enclosures for a data centre in Germany with a noise reduction of 22 dB,” explains Cellerino. These are modular enclosures designed to contain noise without hindering the operation of the facility. And there is also a sustainability aspect: “The sound-absorbing component is made up of 80 per cent cotton waste, sourced mainly from clothing scraps, and for the outer layer we use at least 50 per cent recycled steel,” explains the CEO.

As well as using waste materials, there is a twofold environmental benefit: on the one hand, a reduction in noise pollution; on the other, more efficient operation of the plant, without forcing the machinery to ‘work harder’. ‘These enclosures also protect the machinery, which is often located outdoors, from the elements, extending its lifespan and reducing energy consumption during the hottest periods,’ adds Cellerino. He also highlights a benefit in terms of space-saving: “In data centres, Fonois solutions can take up to 60 per cent less space than traditional ones, optimising the layout of the premises and limiting the need for new building space.”