Types of telecommunication cabinets

Our company Maltima Telecom has been engaged in the selection and supply of telecommunication equipment since 2000. Freely navigating throughout the entire range of telecommunication equipment, we regularly encounter the need to repeatedly explain one or another basic principles of equipment selection for specific projects. In this regard, we decided to publish a number of reference materials that could help customers quickly make the best choice of product positions for their specific tasks.

Telecommunication cabinet (TS) is an integral element of any structured cabling systems (SCS) and data centers (DPC). The nomenclature of such products is huge, and the wrong choice of a particular model can often lead to a wide variety of undesirable consequences, among which equipment failures make up only a fraction.
In order to choose the correct TS even at the design stage of SCS / DPC, it is necessary to have a general idea of ​​what qualities it should possess. There are at least five of these qualities: compliance with the standard (usually ANSI / EIA RS-310 D), sufficient capacity (maximum number of units, width, depth), the equipment is protected from climatic factors, the ability to maintain temperature and humidity conditions, and is protected from unauthorized access.

Ideally, of course, I would like all the cabinets to satisfy all of the above requirements, but this approach is not optimal and only leads to inflating the project budget. Therefore, the best strategy when choosing a specific model of cabinets for SCS / DPC is the principle of necessary sufficiency. Consider the main types of “19-inch” telecommunication cabinets with an emphasis on their strengths and weaknesses in terms of operating conditions.

Capacity

Although the distance between the rails in the “19-inch” cabinet is standardized, its total width is usually 600 or 800 mm. Despite the fact that, due to its compactness, it is the 600-mm cabinets that are most widely used, 800-mm cabinets also do not lose relevance. This is due to the fact that they are better suited for mounting a large number of cables due to the additional space between the rails and the outer wall.

The depth of the TS varies widely; the maximum today is 1300 mm. When choosing a specific cabinet model, it should be noted that the recommended distance from the equipment placed in it to the back wall is 150 mm. This is quite enough for ventilation, comfortable installation and prevention of excessive cable bending.

Speaking of capacity, we should mention the division of TS into floor and wall. The latter are often more convenient, but have a number of limitations. So, for example, their capacity is usually limited to 22U, and the depth does not exceed 600 mm. If these parameters do not meet the requirements of the project, you should stop at the floor TSH, which can accommodate up to 48U with a maximum depth of 1300 mm. 19 ”floor cabinet TTC-4782-SR-RAL9004 47U 800x1200 When choosing a TS capacity, one should take into account not only current but also future requirements for SCS / DPC capacity. The number of units in a TS can grow in the future, sometimes several times, in addition, in advance The current and future needs of the main equipment for auxiliary elements, such as fan panels, power outlet blocks, etc., should be assessed.






Climatic factors, operation mode

Most telecommunication cabinets are designed for indoor installation with constantly controlled temperature and humidity parameters. Therefore, their protection complies with the IP20 or IP21 standard (Type 1 and Type 2 according to the NEMA classification), which implies preventing equipment from contacting with solid bodies with a diameter exceeding 12.5 mm (including human fingers), but it does not regulate the possibility of moisture penetration (IP21 still implies protection against vertically falling individual drops). Of course, the lack of protection against dust and moisture significantly reduces the cost of TS, but to be completely sure of the right choice you should make sure that the possibility of even short-term condensation formation in the room is completely excluded (for example, when the central heating is temporarily turned off in the winter).

In some cases, the IP20 standard does not meet the requirements of the operating conditions of the equipment. Then you should pay attention to the more protected TSh certified according to protection classes IP55, IP65 or IP66 (Type 4, 4X according to NEMA classification). They are designed to accommodate autonomously functioning active and passive telecommunications equipment and provide complete protection against environmental influences. When choosing such a TSH, you should pay attention to the presence of plugs with a seal at the cable entry points, the internal heat-insulating coating of the case, as well as the mounting panel for installing microclimate maintaining devices, such as heaters, thermal relays, hygrostats, etc. Wall all-weather wall cabinet ШТВ-Н- 18.6.5-4AAA Access Control






Cases of unauthorized access to the contents of a telecommunication cabinet can be divided into two types - unauthorized access itself and vandalism. To prevent incidents of the first type, it is usually sufficient to choose a TS with doors equipped with locks. In this case, access control will be ensured by the presence of a key from one or another TS only from an authorized employee of the operation service. Also, in this case there is no restriction on the use of TS with glass doors, unless otherwise specified by the current security regime.

In places with free access, in the presence of the risk of vandalism or intentional damage to the TS and the equipment contained therein, the most stringent requirements are imposed on the protective properties. They must ensure the impossibility of violating the integrity of the TS without the use of metal cutting tools. This is usually achieved through the use of internal door hinges (to prevent sawing), thick steel walls (1.2-3.0 mm), an internal steel frame, and locks that are resistant to mechanical damage. The holes for mounting such a cabinet should be located inside its volume. ShRN-A-6.500 anti-vandal cabinet of a pencil type How cabinets are tested before they go on sale






Specifically for this material, we requested manufacturers to comment on how telecommunication cabinets are tested before they go on sale. First, the production of cabinets is checked: an expert group evaluates the production process. Further, an expert in metalworking, already at the finished product, assesses the quality of the metal, painting, assembly, conformity of dimensions. Such specialists are really professionals in their field: according to how the profiles are bent at the cabinet, they can determine the quality of the metal and the assembly of the cabinet. The next stage, a special team of installers checks the ease of assembly of the cabinet, i.e. how simple and understandable it will be for the user to assemble the product in place. Next, the convenience of installing additional equipment (shelves, fans, organizers, etc.) is tested in the cabinet. And finally the last stage is the verification of the declared load capacity, i.e. if it is stated that the cabinet can withstand 1.5 tons, it is loaded with 1.5 tons of test equipment and, using special markers, it is monitored how the product can withstand the load.

Of course, in the framework of a short article it is impossible to consider all the subtleties that should be considered when choosing telecommunication cabinets for certain specific tasks. However, using this material as a card, you can quickly navigate in the whole variety of solutions presented on the market and concentrate precisely on the niche that most closely meets the task. It is only important to remember the principle of necessary sufficiency already mentioned.