Middle Atlantic DWR-12-22PD 12U Pivoting Wall Rack with Plexi Door
Overview
The Middle Atlantic DWR-12-22PD is a 12-space (21 in. usable height) steel wall rack designed for AV, network, and security deployments where floor space is at a premium. At 22 in. total depth with 20 in. of usable interior depth, it accommodates most network switches, NVRs, patch panels, and edge compute equipment without requiring a dedicated server room. If you're mounting gear in a utility closet, retail back office, or surveillance head-end room, this is the enclosure class to evaluate first.
The DWR-12-22PD ships in a black wrinkle powder coat finish on 14-gauge steel — durable enough for commercial and light-industrial environments where the rack sees daily access. The pivoting wall-mount design means you can swing the rack away from the wall for rear-cable access without unmounting anything, which is a real time-saver during initial commissioning and follow-on service calls.
Key Features
- 12 RU / 21 in. Usable Height: Twelve rack spaces fits a typical small-site security or AV stack — NVR, PoE switch, patch panel, and a power distribution unit — without wasting vertical wall space. The 21 in. usable height is the practical number to match against your equipment list, not the 28.06 in. overall enclosure height.
- 20 in. Usable Depth: The 20 in. interior depth clears most 1U and 2U network appliances, NVRs, and managed switches. The DWR-12-22PD is specifically rated forward-compatible, meaning Middle Atlantic's forward rackrail system allows rail position adjustment as equipment depth requirements change — useful when you're specifying ahead of final equipment selection.
- 200 lb UL-Listed Load Capacity: The 200 lb UL-certified load rating gives you confidence that a fully populated rack — NVR, switch, PDU, cabling — stays safely on the wall. That's not a marketing claim; it's a UL-listed figure verified to the standard.
- 155 lb Seismic Load Capacity: Seismic rating at 155 lbs (70.3 kg) matters in California, the Pacific Northwest, and any AHJ that enforces IBC seismic requirements for mounted equipment. If your project is in a seismic zone, this is a spec that keeps you off a change-order conversation with the GC.
- TAA Compliant: The DWR-12-22PD carries TAA compliance (CSA Standard: TAA), making it eligible for GSA schedule purchases and federal/state government projects subject to the Trade Agreements Act. The country of origin is Mexico, consistent with TAA requirements.
- Plexi Front Door: The clear plexi door lets facility staff and integrators visually confirm equipment status LEDs and cable runs without opening the enclosure — reduces unnecessary access events in secure or controlled spaces. It's not a locking security enclosure, but it keeps dust out and provides a visual inspection path.
- Steel Construction with Black Wrinkle Powder Coat: The textured black powder coat on steel resists scratching and minor abrasion better than painted surfaces — relevant in utility spaces where the rack may be brushed by carts or equipment during installation.
- Forward Rackrail Design: The forward rackrail positions equipment toward the front of the enclosure. Combined with the 20 in. usable depth, this allows rear cable management space behind mounted gear — a detail that matters when you're returning to a site 18 months later and need to trace a run.
Integration & Compatibility
The DWR-12-22PD accepts standard 19 in. rack-mount equipment. The forward-compatible rackrail system is designed to work with Middle Atlantic's DWR accessory line, including blanking panels, horizontal cable managers, and power distribution units sized for the DWR enclosure family. If you're building out a wall mount rack deployment with mixed equipment depths, the adjustable rail positioning is the feature that gives you flexibility post-spec. For surveillance-focused builds, pair with a compatible network video recorder and a managed PoE switch to complete a compact head-end stack within the 12 RU footprint. For broader rack planning, consult a rack and enclosure selection guide to match enclosure depth and load requirements to your equipment list before ordering. Browse the full Middle Atlantic enclosure and rack accessory line for blanking panels, cable managers, and PDUs that fit this series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the usable rack space inside the DWR-12-22PD?
A: The DWR-12-22PD provides 12 rack units (RU) of usable space, with a usable interior height of 21 inches (53.3 cm). Overall enclosure height is 28.06 inches, but 21 inches is the number to use when counting rack unit availability for your equipment list.
Q: What is the maximum equipment depth the DWR-12-22PD can accommodate?
A: Usable interior depth is 20 inches (50.8 cm). The total enclosure depth is 22 inches. Most 1U and 2U network appliances, NVRs, and managed switches fit comfortably within 20 inches of usable depth.
Q: Is the DWR-12-22PD TAA compliant for government purchasing?
A: Yes. The DWR-12-22PD is TAA compliant (CSA Standard: TAA) and is eligible for GSA schedule and federal/state government projects subject to Trade Agreements Act requirements. Country of origin is Mexico.
Q: What is the load capacity of the DWR-12-22PD?
A: The UL-listed load capacity is 200 lbs (90.7 kg). The seismic load capacity is 155 lbs (70.3 kg), making it suitable for deployments in seismic zones where IBC compliance is required.
Q: Does the DWR-12-22PD have a locking door?
A: The DWR-12-22PD includes a clear plexi front door that provides dust protection and visual access to equipment status LEDs without opening the enclosure. It is not a keyed locking security door — if physical access control of the enclosure is required, evaluate Middle Atlantic's locking door accessory options for the DWR series.
Q: What is the shipping weight of the DWR-12-22PD?
A: Shipping weight is 90 lbs (40.8 kg). Product weight (the rack itself) is 53.5 lbs (24.3 kg). Plan wall mounting with at least two installers given the enclosure weight plus any pre-populated equipment.
The DWR-12-22PD is the enclosure I default to on small commercial surveillance and AV installs where you have a utility closet or back-of-house wall and no floor space for a full-depth rack. The 200 lb UL-listed load capacity and 20 in. usable depth cover virtually every NVR, managed switch, and patch panel combination that fits in 12U — and the pivoting wall-mount design means rear cable access doesn't require a second person holding the rack off the wall.
Technical Highlights:
- 200 lb UL Load / 155 lb Seismic: Two separate ratings that matter for two separate conversations — the structural engineer on a commercial build cares about the UL number; the AHJ in a seismic zone cares about the 155 lb seismic figure. Having both in spec avoids the inspection delay that comes from submitting an enclosure without seismic documentation.
- 20 in. Usable Depth with Forward Rackrail: The forward rackrail positions gear toward the front face, leaving real cable management space behind equipment. On a 22 in. total-depth enclosure, that rear clearance is meaningful — you can route a bundle of Cat6 runs cleanly rather than folding them into the back of the chassis.
- TAA Compliance (Mexico COO): TAA-compliant enclosures sourced from TAA-designated countries are increasingly a hard requirement on public-sector bids, not a preference. The DWR-12-22PD qualifies without substitution, which keeps the submittal clean.
Deployment Considerations:
- At 53.5 lbs empty and 90 lbs shipping weight, wall mounting this enclosure is a two-person job. Locate wall studs or use rated anchor hardware — the 200 lb load capacity is only as good as the fasteners going into the wall structure.
- The plexi door is not a locking door. If this enclosure is going into a space with uncontrolled access — a shared utility room, a leased retail space — factor in a keyed or padlockable door option from the DWR accessory line, or control room access at the door level instead.
This enclosure is a natural fit for retail loss-prevention head-ends, small office surveillance closets, and K-12 or municipal utility rooms where TAA compliance is a bid requirement and available floor space is zero. The DWR-12-22PD (often searched as DWR 12 22PD) handles the enclosure side of those installs without compromise.
