26 Dec What is Fiber Optics? Complete Guide (2026)
A 19” free standing rack cabinet is a floor-standing enclosure designed to house standard 19-inch rack-mount equipment such as servers, switches, patch panels, and PDUs. It provides front and rear mounting space, cable entry points, airflow options, and physical security in a compact footprint. Free standing cabinets are commonly used in data centers, server rooms, and telecom rooms where higher equipment density and organized cabling are required.
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19-inch rack standard: what does “19 inch” actually mean?
“19 inch” refers to the standard equipment mounting width between the vertical mounting rails (EIA-310 / IEC 60297 family). Because manufacturers follow the same standard, rack-mount equipment from different brands fits into the same cabinet.
Rack units (U): how tall is 1U, 19U, 42U?
- 1U = 1.75 in = 44.45 mm
- 19U = 33.25 in = 844.55 mm
- 20U = 35.00 in = 889.00 mm
- 42U = 73.50 in = 1866.90 mm
How do you measure a rack cabinet correctly?
- Width: rack mounting width is standardized (19”). Cabinet outer width can be 600 mm or 800 mm depending on design.
- Height: measured in rack units (U). Choose based on installed equipment and future growth.
- Depth: measured front-to-back. Select depth based on server length, cable bend radius, and airflow clearance.
- Load capacity: confirm static load rating for fully populated configurations.
Parts of a 19” Free Standing Rack Cabinet
- Front door: glass or perforated metal options
- Rear access: removable rear panel/door (model dependent)
- Mounting rails: 4 pcs adjustable 19” rails
- Cable entry: top and bottom cable entry points
- Side panels: removable, lockable (model dependent)
- Finish: electrostatic powder coating, RAL 9005 Black / RAL 7035 Grey
Typical size options (varies by series):
- Heights: 12U, 15U, 16U, 19U, 20U, 25U, 27U, 30U, 33U, 35U, 37U, 39U, 42U, 45U
- Width × Depth: 600×600, 600×800, 600×1000, 800×800, 800×1000 (mm)
IP Rating Chart (Quick Reference)
IP rating has two digits: first digit = solids/dust protection, second digit = water protection.
| IP Rating | Solids (1st Digit) | Liquids (2nd Digit) |
|---|---|---|
| IP54 | Limited dust ingress (protected) | Splashing water (limited protection) |
| IP55 | Limited dust ingress (protected) | Water jets (limited protection) |
| IP56 | Limited dust ingress (protected) | Powerful water jets (limited protection) |
| IP57 | Limited dust ingress (protected) | Temporary immersion (15 cm to 1 m) |
| IP58 | Limited dust ingress (protected) | Continuous immersion (conditions specified) |
| IP6X | Dust tight | Varies by second digit |
| IP66 | Dust tight | Powerful water jets |
| IP67 | Dust tight | Temporary immersion (up to 1 m) |
| IP68 | Dust tight | Continuous immersion (conditions specified) |
| IP69K | Dust tight | High-pressure / steam jet cleaning |
Note: If the cabinet is rated IP66 as an enclosure, adding fans, filters, exhaust slots, or cable entries without proper sealing can reduce the achieved IP rating in real installations.
Relevant standards for 19” rack cabinets
- ANSI/EIA-310 (19-inch rack mounting standard)
- IEC 60297 / IEC 60917 (mechanical structures for electronic equipment)
- EN 61587 (mechanical structure and testing)