Thailand's cabinet approved new environmental rules for data centres on 10 November 2026, capping noise at 70 decibels at a site's boundary and setting limits on heat and cooling water. The decision follows a government review prompted by public concern about the rapid construction of data centres driven by artificial intelligence investment, and a pause requested of developers of nearly 50 projects under construction in September. [AI Affairs](https://www.aiaffairs.com/government/thailand-cabinet-approves-data-centre-noise-heat-water-rules/) ## What the new rules require Under the rules, noise from a data centre — including backup power systems — must not exceed 70 A-weighted decibels at the boundary of the site. Temperature increases at site boundaries would be limited to one or two degrees Celsius. Cooling water must be recirculated, and water discharged from a facility must be tested before release. Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of Thailand's economic planning agency, set out the limits, while Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas told reporters that "the use of national resources must not adversely affect the public". [BigGo Finance](https://finance.biggo.com/news/31954f26-7754-4504-acd3-8ebfd00d754f) ## Seven tiers and a one-stop approval centre The cabinet also approved in principle zoning rules placing data centres using more than 20 megawatts in industrial zones under stricter oversight. A new one-stop service centre under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society will act as the central approver, with facilities split into seven tiers by power draw from 0.5 megawatts upwards. Most centres will follow environmental codes of practice rather than full impact assessments. Projects approved before 14 August have one year to meet the guidelines. Thailand's Board of Investment said 57 data centre projects had received approval, with 17 operating, 20 holding construction permits and 20 preparing to invest.