19-inch soundproof server cabinets - Everything you need to know

19-inch soundproof server cabinets or 19-inch network cabinets are great for storing IT equipment. Due to the soundproofing, they can be placed in a direct working environment without any problems. Soundproofed 19 inch server cabinets have the task to remove as much as possible of the sound radiation of the enclosed IT equipment, of course, besides the main function to protect the IT equipment from external influences such as dust, dirt, heat, and theft.


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19-inch soundproof server cabinet Silent Plus	19-inch wall mount server cabinets acoustics	CoolRack CW Silent 19-inch server rack cooling with cold water cooling

What are the advantages of soundproofed 19-inch server cabinets?

IT equipment is needed in almost all work areas these days and can accordingly be found in office buildings, conference rooms, retail outlets as well as medical practices and public buildings. When space is limited and there is no possibility to store IT equipment in a specially provided room, it is often inevitably located in the direct vicinity of workstations. However, since IT equipment emits noise continuously and this can become a burden for your employees, we recommend soundproof server cabinets.

Investing in 19" soundproof server cabinets also makes sense from a business perspective, because a constant background of noise produced by IT equipment can increase the stress level of your employees and consequently reduce their productivity, which can have a direct impact on the company's success. Customers can also be put off in the retail sector if, for example

sales conversations are influenced by subliminal noise. So, in general, it pays to purchase soundproofed server cabinets when employees work in close proximity, interact with customers, or spend extended periods of time in close proximity for other reasons.

What is the sound attenuation level of server cabinets?

Noise is usually measured in units of decibels (dB). The attenuation of a cabinet, on the other hand, indicates how much of the sound emitted by the source is removed. For example, if your IT equipment emits 78 dB of noise, which is roughly equivalent to the volume level of a live office, an acoustic cabinet with an attenuation of 31 dB, would reduce that noise to 47 dB. This corresponds to the noise level of a quiet office where no conversations are taking place.

How high the attenuation of a cabinet is, basically depends on the size, the construction, the chosen insulation material, and the quality of the server cabinets and cannot be determined in general. In principle, however, sound-insulated server cabinets achieve a reduction in noise levels of 15 to 31 dB. While a noise reduction of 15 dB can be compared to the normal noise level within office premises, a noise reduction of 31 dB creates a completely soundless silence. However, only the truly best and highest quality 19-inch models can handle these noise reductions.

How is the sound insulation in the server cabinet achieved?

All surfaces in the interior of soundproofed server cabinets are lined with so-called acoustic foam to achieve noise isolation. These are usually multi-layer, heavy-duty composite foams. How high the insulation is, of course, depends greatly on the material used. Higher-quality foams insulate better, but also cost more. The key here is to find the perfect price-performance ratio for your individual needs. We will be happy to help you with this.

In order to keep noise emissions low right from the start, care is taken during the design of the cabinets to select fans that are as quiet and quiet-running as possible. In principle, all fans with a level below 30 dB are considered to be low noise.

The danger of dust for your IT equipment

The basic function of a 19-inch server cabinet is still to protect IT equipment such as servers, switches, routers, or cables from various external influences that can damage the equipment. A significant threat to these is dust particles, which collect on and inside the hardware components as a result of air circulation in the room and cause damage there. The consequences of dust buildup range from slight degradation of energy efficiency to total failure. The chips and conductors in electronic devices are getting smaller, making them more susceptible to contact interruptions. Cleaning these devices is also more difficult than it was a few years ago due to the constant reduction in the size of individual components.

Furthermore, dust, as well as other contaminants such as textile residue, can build up a static charge inside the servers, causing malfunctions that may result in data loss or require entire reboots.

Another major problem is dust for heat dissipation and cooling of IT equipment. It can settle in the cooling system or fan, drastically reducing performance and efficiency. Dust deposited on the floor is also harmful to the overall cooling system. In general, the operating temperature in heavily dusty electronic equipment increases significantly, which increases the failure rate and decreases the overall life expectancy.

Choosing the right server rack

Soundproof 19-inch server cabinets should not be selected solely on the basis of potential sound attenuation. When selecting a server cabinet, there are of course several aspects to consider before making a purchase. One important aspect, of course, is the size of the cabinet and, related to that, the amount of space available to store the IT equipment.

Basically, the size of the cabinet should be based on your actual needs. The width of the rack in which the IT equipment is stored is 19 inches by default and has been adapted accordingly to the standard width of servers and other IT equipment. This means that the equipment can be easily stowed away. The number of devices that fit into a 19-inch server rack is therefore determined exclusively by the height, which is indicated with the unit HE (=height unit). One HE is 44.45 mm and offers space for one server. Soundproofed 19 inch server cabinets with a height of 25 U, therefore, offer space for a total of 25 IT devices.

When buying a server cabinet, we recommend that you rather choose a larger version in order to have enough room for additional devices. Especially in today's world, the amount of data is growing rapidly in number and size, which is why new servers are always needed. If you want to expand your company in terms of personnel or space, further room for IT equipment and thus new soundproof network cabinets will also be needed. With a small server cabinet that is too close to your needs, you may quickly be forced to purchase another one, resulting in comparatively higher expenses.

Another important factor for 19-inch server cabinets is the choice of a suitable cooling system, which cools all components in the cabinet reliably and sufficiently and protects them from possible overheating. Basically, integrated cooling should be considered if the total heat output generated by all devices in the cabinet exceeds a value of 1700 watts.

Accordingly, the cooling to be provided depends on the equipment and whether a server cabinet with an integrated cooling system is required. Especially densely filled network cabinets, in which the available space is heavily utilized, should ideally have integrated cooling, as the radiating heat accumulates in them.

A basic distinction is made between active and passive cooling systems. In the case of active cooling, the cabinet has a device installed specifically for cooling that continuously supplies the cabinet with cooled air. Passive cooling uses uncooled air from outside by passing it into the network cabinet through mesh doors or other openings via an airflow. Passive cooling for soundproofed server cabinets already achieves a good effect but is nowhere near the performance of active cooling systems. However, active systems require additional energy for this and thus generate higher power consumption, which naturally leads to increased operating costs. Here it is important to weigh up which soundproof network and server cabinet is best suited to your requirements. We will of course be happy to help you with this.

Customized Server Cabinet products from Lehmann IT

If you do not find the right server cabinet for your needs among our products, we will be happy to design and produce one that is individually

and produce one individually tailored to your needs. All you have to do is describe your requirements to us so that we can work out a solution for sound-insulated server cabinets together. You can reach us by phone, by e-mail to Lehmann IT, or via our contact form.

Sound frequencies between 100 Hz and 6300 Hz fall within the range of human speech and many everyday noises. Within this frequency range, lower frequencies—such as 100 Hz to 500 Hz—produce bass-like sounds that are more felt than heard, while higher frequencies—such as 2000 Hz to 6300 Hz—generate treble-like sounds that are clear and bright. The human ear is most sensitive to frequencies between 2000 Hz and 5000 Hz, where many speech sounds are concentrated. In this range, tones are clear and intelligible, allowing us to communicate and understand each other easily. However, tones with very high or very low frequencies within this range may not be easily perceived by some individuals, especially those with hearing impairments. People with hearing loss often struggle to hear high-frequency sounds, while those with age-related hearing decline may have difficulty with lower frequencies. All our soundproof server cabinets are lined with acoustic foam between 20 and 30 mm thick.

A sound attenuation of 10 dB means that the sound has been reduced by 10 decibels, which corresponds to a reduction in sound pressure level by a factor of 10. In practice, this means that a noise originally measured at 70 dB would be reduced to 60 dB after applying 10 dB of sound insulation. Sound reduction is typically measured in decibels (dB) and is commonly used to quantify the effectiveness of soundproofing materials or techniques. A 10 dB reduction can make a noticeable difference in perceived loudness, but it may not be sufficient to completely block out loud or persistent noises. To illustrate: A 10 dB reduction is roughly equivalent to the volume difference between a quiet bedroom and a busy street. While a 10 dB attenuation is a significant improvement in reducing noise levels, it may not be enough in all situations and could require additional soundproofing measures to achieve optimal results.

What are the advantages of soundproof 19-inch server cabinets? IT equipment is now required in nearly all work environments and can be found in office buildings, conference rooms, retail spaces, medical practices, and public buildings. When space is limited and there is no dedicated room available for storing IT equipment, it is often placed directly near workstations. Since IT devices emit noise continuously, which can become a burden for your employees, we recommend soundproof server cabinets.

Investing in soundproof 19-inch server cabinets also makes sense from a business perspective, as the constant noise generated by IT equipment can increase employee stress levels and, in turn, reduce productivity—directly impacting business success. In retail environments, customers may also be deterred if, for example, sales conversations are affected by background noise. In general, purchasing soundproof server cabinets is worthwhile when employees work nearby, interact with customers, or spend extended periods in close proximity for other reasons.

How much sound attenuation do the server cabinets provide? Noise is typically measured in decibels (dB). The attenuation of a cabinet indicates how much of the sound emitted by the source is reduced. For example, if your IT equipment emits 78 dB of noise—roughly equivalent to the sound level of a lively office—an acoustic cabinet with 31 dB attenuation would reduce that noise to 47 dB. This corresponds to the sound level of a quiet office where no conversations are taking place.

The level of attenuation depends on the size, construction, insulation material, and overall quality of the server cabinet and cannot be universally defined. In general, soundproof server cabinets achieve a noise reduction of 15 to 31 dB. A reduction of 15 dB is comparable to the typical noise level in office spaces, while a reduction of 31 dB creates near-total silence. Only the very best and highest-quality 19-inch models can achieve such reductions.

How is soundproofing achieved inside the server cabinet? All interior surfaces of soundproof server cabinets are lined with acoustic foam to achieve noise isolation. These are typically multi-layered, highly durable composite foams. The level of insulation depends heavily on the material used—higher-quality foams provide better insulation but are also more expensive. It’s important to find the best price-performance ratio for your specific needs. We’re happy to assist you with that.

To minimize noise emissions from the start, the cabinets are designed with low-noise, smooth-running fans. In general, fans with a noise level below 30 dB are considered quiet.

The danger of dust for your IT equipment The primary function of a 19-inch server cabinet is still to protect IT equipment such as servers, switches, routers, or cables from various external influences that could damage the devices. One significant threat is dust particles, which can accumulate on and inside hardware components due to air circulation in the room, potentially causing damage. The consequences of dust buildup range from minor reductions in energy efficiency to complete system failure. As chips and circuits in electronic devices become smaller, they become more susceptible to contact interruptions. Cleaning these devices has also become more difficult due to the miniaturization of components.

Additionally, dust—like other contaminants such as textile fibers—can build up static charges inside servers, potentially causing disruptions that may lead to data loss or require full system restarts.

Dust also poses a major problem for heat dissipation and cooling of IT equipment. It can settle in the cooling system or fan, drastically reducing performance and efficiency. Dust that settles on the floor is also harmful to overall cooling. In general, operating temperatures in heavily dust-laden electronic devices rise significantly, increasing failure rates and reducing overall lifespan.

Choosing the right server cabinet Soundproof 19-inch server cabinets should not be selected solely based on potential sound attenuation. There are several factors to consider before purchasing a server cabinet. One important aspect is the size of the cabinet and the space available for storing IT equipment.

In general, the size of the cabinet should be based on your actual needs. The width of the frame in which the IT equipment is stored is standardized at 19 inches, matching the uniform width of servers and other IT equipment. This allows for easy storage. The number of devices that can fit into a 19-inch server cabinet depends solely on its height, which is measured in rack units (U). One rack unit (1U) equals 44.45 mm and accommodates one server. A soundproof 19-inch server cabinet with a height of 25U can therefore hold up to 25 IT devices.

We recommend choosing a larger cabinet to allow room for additional devices. Especially today, data volumes are growing rapidly in both quantity and size, requiring new servers on a regular basis. If you plan to expand your business in terms of personnel or space, you’ll also need more room for IT equipment and thus additional soundproof network cabinets. A cabinet that is too small and closely tailored to current needs may force you to purchase another one sooner than expected, resulting in higher costs.

Another important consideration for 19-inch server cabinets is selecting an appropriate cooling system that reliably and sufficiently cools all components and protects against overheating. In general, integrated cooling should be considered if the total heat output generated by all devices in the cabinet exceeds 1700 watts.

The required cooling depends on the equipment and whether a server cabinet with an integrated cooling system is necessary. Densely packed network cabinets, where available space is heavily utilized, should ideally have integrated cooling, as heat tends to accumulate in such setups.

There are two basic types of cooling systems: active and passive. With active cooling, the cabinet includes a specially installed device that continuously supplies cooled air. Passive cooling uses uncooled outside air, which is directed into the cabinet through mesh doors or other openings via airflow. Passive cooling in soundproof server cabinets already achieves a good effect but falls short of the performance of active systems. However, active systems require additional energy and generate higher power consumption, which leads to increased operating costs. It’s important to weigh which soundproof network and server cabinet best suits your requirements. We’re happy to help you with that.

Custom solutions from Lehmann IT If you don’t find a suitable server cabinet among our products, we can design and manufacture one tailored to your specific needs. Simply tell us your requirements, and together we’ll develop a solution for soundproof server cabinets. You can reach us by phone, via email at Lehmann IT, or through our contact form.