RDK Engineers Blog

This "Tech-Tip" is provided by the Technology Design Group at RDK Engineers in an effort to assist Architects in space planning for integrated design of technology driven systems.

Today's RDK-TD "Tech-Tip"- Equipment Racks

EQUIPMENT RACKS: Why Pre-Planning is Key!
You've all been there. You're at a schematic design level meeting with the owner's Information Systems team to develop the size of an IT room needed within the new space you are designing, when you ask "How large does the room need to be?" The response is often, "We will have five racks in the main room, and two racks in the remote rooms." Success? Maybe not. You later find out during construction that the IT team used the term "racks" loosely to refer to ALL support systems that house active and passive electronic equipment and that the racks in the main room are not the same size as the racks in the remote rooms. Now space and clearance requirements are a problem.

Here are the three main types of "racks": 
Photography courtesy of Panduit Corporation

1.  2-post rack Sometimes referred to as open bay equipment rack Dimension are often 21” wide by 15” deep They house electronic equipment that can extend to the rear of the rack as much as 24 to 29” Usually requires vertical cable managers on each side of the rack which can range from 3” to 12” increasing the width of the rack, especially when lining up multiple racks Requires 36” of working clearance in front and back

2.  4-post rack Dimensions are often 24” wide by as much as 29” deep Usually requires vertical cable managers on each side of the rack which can range from 3” to 12” Requires 36” of working clearance in front and back

3.  4-post Cabinet Dimensions are often 24” wide by as much as 48” deep Usually enclosed and includes front and rear doors with fixed side panels Vertical cable managers on each side of the rack are typically contained within the enclosure Requires 48” of working clearance in front and 36” of working clearance in back

Below is a typical example of a 2-post rack installation with the front and rear of the rack open to install equipment and provide technician working clearances.

Below is an example of the main telecommunications room where we show the different types of 2-post racks, 4-post racks and enclosed cabinets. As you can see with the cabinet dimensions and required clearances the room size requirements can get quite large. If a 4-post rack or cabinet was used in example #1 above you can see how the room would be too small to access the front and rear of the rack causing a possible redesign of the room during construction.