Panduit R2PS 45U 2-Post Open Frame Rack
Overview
The Panduit R2PS is an 84-inch, 45U two-post open-frame rack built for telecom closets and data center rows where you need straightforward, dense equipment mounting without the overhead of a full enclosure. At 20.3 inches wide and fabricated from powder-coated steel, this rack accepts standard 19-inch EIA equipment and is UL 2416 listed for 1,000 lb (453.59 kg) — enough capacity to support fully loaded patch panels, switches, and cable management across all 45U without worrying about the frame giving out under real-world loads.
The R2PS ships as a single unit (Package Qty: 1) and fits neatly in telecom rooms, MDF/IDF closets, and open data center aisles where airflow is managed externally and physical access to rear cabling is a daily requirement.
Key Features
- 45U of usable rack space (84 inches / 2,134 mm tall): 45U accommodates a fully populated switch stack, patch panel tier, and cable management in a single frame — no need to chain multiple shorter racks or waste floor space with oversized enclosures in tight telecom closets.
- EIA/ECA-310-E #12-24 threaded rails with universal hole spacing: The industry-standard #12-24 thread pattern means virtually every rack-mount switch, router, UPS, and patch panel installs without adapter hardware. Bottom-to-top U numbering makes cable documentation and port labeling straightforward on crowded frames.
- UL 2416 listed, rated to 453.59 kg (1,000 lb): This isn't a load advisory — it's a tested, listed rating. You can confidently specify the R2PS for high-density copper or fiber patch environments without a structural engineering review for typical telecom loads.
- 3-inch deep channel rails: The 3-inch channel depth provides enough structural rigidity on a two-post design to handle front-heavy equipment like dense patch panels and cable managers without the rack racking (twisting) under uneven loading.
- Powder-coat finish in black: The powder-coat finish resists corrosion and minor abrasion from daily cabling work better than painted steel — relevant in high-traffic closets where equipment swaps happen frequently.
- RoHS-compliant materials: Meets EU RoHS directive, which matters for deployments in LEED-certified buildings or organizations with environmental procurement policies.
- Compatible with Panduit cable guides and accessories: The R2PS is designed to accept Panduit's broader line of cable management accessories — lacing bars, horizontal managers, and vertical guides — so you can build out a full structured cabling architecture without sourcing third-party adapters.
Integration & Compatibility
The R2PS accepts any standard 19-inch EIA rack-mount equipment. The #12-24 threaded rail pattern is the dominant standard across Cisco, Panduit, Commscope, Belden, Leviton, and virtually every other structured cabling and networking vendor. If you're already working within the Panduit infrastructure catalog, the R2PS integrates directly with Panduit's horizontal and vertical cable management accessories without modification.
Competitive cross-reference part numbers EIRL-5545 and RK3-45S indicate direct dimensional equivalence with comparable two-post racks from other manufacturers, making the R2PS a drop-in replacement in refresh scenarios.
For complete open-frame rack comparisons across form factors and load ratings, review the full category. If your deployment requires cable pathway planning, consult a cable management guide to size horizontal and vertical managers before ordering. For high-density structured cabling builds, pairing the R2PS with a patch panel tier is the standard approach in MDF/IDF closets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the load capacity of the Panduit R2PS?
A: The R2PS is UL 2416 listed and rated to 453.59 kg (1,000 lb). This is a tested, certified load rating — not an advisory estimate.
Q: What rail thread standard does the R2PS use?
A: The R2PS uses EIA #12-24 threaded rails, the dominant industry standard. Standard rack-mount equipment installs without adapter hardware.
Q: Is the R2PS compatible with standard 19-inch rack-mount equipment?
A: Yes. The R2PS is built to EIA/ECA-310-E standards and accepts any standard 19-inch (48.3 cm) rack-mount equipment.
Q: What accessories are compatible with the R2PS?
A: The R2PS is designed to work with Panduit's full line of cable management accessories, including horizontal and vertical cable guides and lacing bars. Cross-reference equivalents for competing accessories include EIRL-5545 and RK3-45S.
Q: Is the R2PS RoHS compliant?
A: Yes. The R2PS meets RoHS compliance requirements as noted in its standards listing alongside UL 2416 and EIA/ECA-310-E.
Q: What is the overall height and U count of the R2PS?
A: The R2PS stands 84 inches (2,134 mm) tall and provides 45U of usable rack space.
The R2PS earns its place in structured cabling projects where you need a proven, load-rated two-post frame rather than a generic open rack of uncertain provenance. The UL 2416 listing at 453.59 kg is the spec I'd point to first — that's a tested structural certification, not a marketing claim, and it matters when your closet has 45U worth of fully populated copper patch panels and managed switches loaded front-to-back.
Technical Highlights:
- EIA #12-24 Threaded Rails: The #12-24 thread pattern is universal across commercial networking and structured cabling gear — no cage nuts required, no adapter kits, no guessing whether a vendor's equipment will mount cleanly. Every U is immediately usable with standard hardware.
- 45U / 84-inch Frame Height: At 84 inches (2,134 mm), this is a full-height two-post rack. You get 45U of usable real estate — dense enough for a complete IDF stack (patch panels, switches, cable management, UPS) without stacking multiple shorter frames.
- Powder-Coat Steel Construction: The powder-coat finish on the steel frame holds up to repeated cable pulls and hardware swaps better than bare or lightly painted steel — practical in high-churn closets where technicians are in and out weekly.
Deployment Considerations:
- The R2PS is a two-post open-frame design — it provides no side panels, doors, or physical security. For deployments requiring locking access control or dust protection, a four-post enclosed cabinet is the appropriate choice instead.
- At 20.3 inches (516 mm) wide, verify your closet door clearance and floor tile cutout dimensions before delivery — this is wider than the 19-inch EIA equipment it mounts, and tight closets can make maneuvering a full-height frame difficult during installation.
The R2PS is a practical specification for MDF/IDF closets in commercial buildings, campus network rooms, and structured cabling retrofits where open-frame access matters, load certification is required by the AHJ, and the deployment is anchored in the Panduit ecosystem for cable management accessories.
