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Rack
Rack design and layout
How to plan the utility-room rack so it stays serviceable and quiet over a 10-year property lifecycle.
Best practices
- Group by function: network, AV, automation, power
- Colour-coded patch cables per VLAN
- Photo documentation of the finished rack
Common mistakes
- Building the rack against a wall with no rear access
- Placing the rack in an unventilated cupboard
- Sharing the rack circuit with the AC condenser
Engineering checklist
- Wall or floor rack sized with 30% spare U
- Front + rear service clearance
- Cross-ventilation or active cooling for enclosed rooms
- Power distributed across two circuits where possible
- Every device labelled front and back
Recommended workflow
- Rack location selection
- MEP coordination (power + cooling)
- Structural mount
- Cable dressing + labelling
- Photo documentation + handover