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Shelves Guide - What Shelf Type Do You Need for Your Rack or Enclosure?

Shelves Guide - What Shelf Type Do You Need for Your Rack or Enclosure?

Posted by NavePoint on Aug 26th 2020

When choosing which shelves you need to go with your rack or enclosure, consider these items: 

Weight Requirements: Each shelf has a specific weight capacity, make sure that the items that you plan on placing on the shelf meet the weight capacity requirements. 

Dimensions of Rack or Enclosure: Ensure that the shelf is large enough to fit the items that you plan on placing on it.  Additionally, confirm the depth of your rack or enclosure to ensure compatibility when mounting your shelves. 

Access to Equipment (sliding or fixed): If you need to frequently access to your equipment for maintenance, you should consider sliding shelf.  Sliding shelves move back and forth to allow you to easily access cables, troubleshoot hardware issues, and clean your equipment. A fixed shelf is a great option for equipment that is going to be installed and left for long periods of time.

Airflow:  If temperature control is important for your equipment then consider vented shelves. Vented shelves allow more airflow and heat dissipation while maintaining structural integrity.   

Lip/No Lip: If you are concerned about equipment staying secure on the shelf then consider a shelf with a lip to prevent slippage. 

Types of Shelves to Choose From

Cantilever Shelves: Cantilever shelves overhang as they are braced in the back, but not in the front.  This shelf is meant to fit standard 2-post racks, but can be used for 4-post racks and enclosures.  Cantilever shelves are great for supporting routers, switches, battery backups/UPS and other non-rack mountable equipment and test gear.

NavePoint Cantilever Shelves

Fixed Shelves: Fixed shelves are solid and locked in place, preventing accidental movement from occurring while working in the rack.  They are designed to fit 4-post racks and enclosures.  

NavePoint Fixed Shelves

Adjustable Shelves: Adjustable shelves adjust to fit the depth of your 4-post rack or enclosure.  They are great for storing servers, batteries and other non-rack mountable equipment.  The shelf is locked in place, preventing accidental movement from occurring while working in the rack. 

NavePoint Adjustable Shelves

Adjustable Rails: Adjustable rails typically adjust to fit the depth of your rack or enclosure and can be mounted at any width. 

NavePoint Server Rack Rails

Sliding Shelves: Sliding shelves have the ability to slide in and out of the rack, making it easier to access cables, troubleshoot issues and clean your equipment.  They are great for storing your server, battery backups/UPS and other non-rack mountable equipment. 

NavePoint Sliding Shelves

Cabinet Shelves: Cabinet Shelves are designed to fit inside your cabinet/enclosure.  Cabinet shelves are available in both fixed and sliding styles.  The fixed shelves are locked in place to prevent accidental movement from occurring.  The sliding shelves can slide/extend out giving you easier access to your equipment.   

NavePoint Cabinet Shelves

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