A rack that tipped
A team stands a new rack against a wall and loads the heavy servers at the top. The rack is not fixed down. A door slams and it begins to tip.
Racks, cabinets and trunking look like plain boxes and metal. Fitted wrongly they are heavy, hot, unsafe and awkward to maintain.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Cabinet | a locked cupboard that holds cable equipment |
| Rack | an open metal frame with rails that holds equipment |
| Prebuilt | delivered ready-made |
| Flat pack | delivered in parts and built on site from a manual |
| Rack unit | a standard slot height in a rack, written U |
| Containment | trunking, tray or conduit that holds and protects cable |
| Trunking | a closed channel, usually with a lid, for cables on a wall or floor |
| Blanking panel | a plate that fills an empty slot so air flows the right way |
| Earth bonding | joining metal parts to earth so they cannot become live |
| Specification | the plan that says what goes where |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can compare a place with the specification, fit cabinets, racks and containment, test them, and arrange equipment in a rack.
Starter: fitting devices
Have a go
Starter: fitting devices
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Read the specification, check the place
The specification says where each cabinet, rack and run of trunking goes and what size. Read it, then compare it with the real place.
Check three things. Space: room for the kit and for doors to open. Power: a socket in reach on a suitable circuit. Cooling: air that can flow in and out.
Cabinet or rack, prebuilt or flat pack
A cabinet has sides, a door and a lock. It protects kit from dust and from people. A rack is open and easy to reach. Both hold standard 19-inch equipment.
A prebuilt cabinet arrives ready and is quick to fit. A flat pack arrives in parts and is built on site, which suits tight corridors but takes more time.
Prebuilt and flat pack compared
| Feature | Prebuilt | Flat pack |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Whole and heavy | In parts, easy to carry |
| Fitting time | Short | Longer: built from the manual |
| Access | Needs wide doors and clear routes | Fits through tight spaces |
| Risk | Manual handling of a heavy unit | A missed bolt or step weakens it |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check: cabinet or rack
Have a go
Check: cabinet or rack
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.