Racks

Organisation of your audio visual equipment is important to ensure performance and efficiency is maximised, and the use of racks can greatly assist you to ensure that your products are installed in a way that keeps them secure and neatly organised.Server racks generally consist of mounted shelves or drawers to hold the equipment (measured in RU), side panels and doors with ventilation grilles to allow for airflow if the unit is locked. Network racks are similarly composed but generally would not include a door.

Cooling systems and cable management is often included in a rack system for optimal performance of equipment to be achieved. Racks can also be mounted on wheels if portability is important (for example in live production settings where equipment may need to be moved around frequently).

For complex applications in defence, broadcast or commercial applications it is possible to create customised racks specific to your needs. For simpler installations, standard rack kits will meet most requirements.

When installing equipment on a rack, the heaviest equipment should go on the bottom shelves. Following the manufacturer’s instructions and employing the services iof a qualified AV installer will ensure that the best possible result is achieved.

How much space should be planned around racks and equipment?

An RU (rack unit) is a standardised measuring unit for rack mount equipment. 1U is 1.75” high, so a 6U cabinet has 6 x 1.75” of space (10.5” in total). This represents the total internal usable space available to house the equipment.

When planning a rack for our equipment it is important to consider the following factors:

• Height – this determines how many rack spaces will be available, so the amount of equipment you are storing will determine the height of the rack
• Width
• Depth
• Load rating – the weight of all of your equipment in total needs to be considered so that you choose a rack that is built to hold that amount of load.

Racks can be installed into tight spaces as long as there is sufficient airflow to avoid equipment becoming overheated, plus room for a technician to troubleshoot any issues.