StarTech BLANKB1 1U Rack Blanking Panel

Overview

The StarTech BLANKB1 is a 1U steel blanking panel built to fill unused rack unit slots in standard 19-inch EIA RS310-C server and network equipment racks. At 19.0 inches wide and 1.7 inches tall, it fits flush across a single rack unit opening — blocking the unoccupied space that would otherwise allow hot exhaust air to recirculate back to the front of the rack and starve your active equipment of cool intake air.

Thermal management in dense rack environments is not optional. Every open 1U slot is a bypass path for hot air. Blanking panels like the BLANKB1 are the lowest-cost, highest-ROI intervention in rack airflow management — they cost less than a dollar per degree of temperature reduction in a properly sealed rack. If you are running servers, NVRs, PoE switches, or any active equipment in a shared rack, unfilled slots will raise ambient intake temperatures and shorten component life.

Key Features

• Steel Construction: The BLANKB1 is fabricated from steel rather than plastic, which matters in environments where rack panels are handled frequently during equipment changes. Steel panels resist warping and cracking under repeated installation and removal cycles — plastic filler panels in high-turnover racks often degrade and lose their fit over time.
• EIA RS310-C Compliance: Built to the EIA RS310-C standard, the BLANKB1 fits any standard 19-inch rack enclosure that follows the same spec — including open-frame, enclosed, and wall-mount rack cabinets from virtually every major manufacturer. No guesswork on fit.
• 1U Form Factor (1.75 inches): Occupies exactly one rack unit of vertical space. If you have multiple consecutive empty slots, stack multiple BLANKB1 panels to seal the full gap — there is no multi-U version of this panel, so plan quantities accordingly based on your open slot count.
• Black Finish: The black finish blends with the interior of most rack enclosures, maintaining a clean appearance in customer-facing equipment rooms, NOCs, and server closets where panel aesthetics matter alongside function.
• 19.0-inch Panel Width: Matches the full standard 19-inch rack rail-to-rail width. The panel depth of 1.7 inches is shallow enough not to obstruct cable management channels immediately behind the rack rail.
• Lightweight at 10.6 oz: At under 11 ounces, the BLANKB1 adds negligible weight to the rack — relevant when you are filling a large number of slots and tracking rack weight limits for floor load calculations or wall-mount rack installations.
• Lifetime Warranty: StarTech backs the BLANKB1 with a lifetime warranty, which is the appropriate coverage tier for passive hardware like rack panels. You will not need to budget for replacement under normal use.

Integration and Compatibility

The BLANKB1 is compatible with any EIA RS310-C compliant 19-inch rack — open-frame two-post, enclosed four-post, shallow-depth wall-mount enclosures, and full-depth floor-standing cabinets. It installs with standard rack screws (M6, M5, or 10-32 depending on your rack's cage nut or tapped rail specification — verify your rack's fastener type before ordering hardware separately if screws are not included).

This panel is appropriate for NVR racks, security equipment enclosures, network closets, server rooms, and any deployment where a 19-inch rack has unused 1U positions that need to be sealed for thermal management or physical security compliance. Facilities running network switches, network video recorders, or other active rack-mount equipment will benefit from filling all open slots to maintain proper front-to-back airflow paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What rack standard does the BLANKB1 conform to?

A: The BLANKB1 meets EIA RS310-C, the standard governing 19-inch rack equipment dimensions. It will fit any rack enclosure built to the same standard, which covers the vast majority of commercial server, network, and security equipment racks.

Q: Is the BLANKB1 made of steel or plastic?

A: Steel. The panel is fabricated from steel, which provides better durability than plastic alternatives in environments where blanking panels are installed and removed repeatedly during equipment changes.

Q: How many rack units does the BLANKB1 occupy?

A: One rack unit (1U, or 1.75 inches of vertical rack space). For multi-slot gaps, you will need one BLANKB1 per open rack unit.

Q: What is the warranty on the BLANKB1?

A: StarTech provides a lifetime warranty on the BLANKB1.

Q: What are the physical dimensions of the BLANKB1?

A: The panel measures 19.0 inches in length (width across the rack face), 1.7 inches in height, and 1.7 inches in depth. It weighs 10.6 oz.

Q: Will the BLANKB1 fit a wall-mount rack enclosure?

A: Yes, provided the wall-mount enclosure is built to the EIA RS310-C 19-inch rack standard. Confirm your enclosure's rail spacing before ordering.

Marty Allison

The BLANKB1 gets overlooked in rack builds until someone runs thermals and wonders why inlet temperatures are climbing despite adequate room cooling — open rack slots are almost always part of the answer. This is a steel, EIA RS310-C compliant 1U filler panel, and the fact that it comes with a lifetime warranty tells you StarTech designed it to stay in the rack for the life of the enclosure, not be treated as a consumable.

Technical Highlights:

• Steel Frame: Steel construction at 10.6 oz holds its shape through repeated rack reconfigurations — unlike lightweight plastic panels that crack at the mounting tabs after a few cycles.
• EIA RS310-C Compliance: The 19.0-inch panel width is dimensioned to the EIA RS310-C standard, so fit is guaranteed across compliant rack brands without modification or shimming.
• 1U Slot Coverage: At 1.7 inches tall, the BLANKB1 fills exactly one rack unit — order one panel per open slot, and plan your quantities before the rack is populated to avoid shipping delays mid-installation.

Deployment Considerations:

• Mounting fasteners are not confirmed as included in the evidence — verify whether your rack uses M6, M5, or 10-32 cage nuts and source the appropriate screws separately if needed before install day.
• The panel depth of 1.7 inches is shallow, but in very dense cable environments directly behind the rack rail, confirm clearance before committing to a quantity order.

The BLANKB1 is the right call for any NVR rack, security equipment enclosure, or network closet where open 1U slots are creating hot-air bypass paths — particularly in sealed rack cabinets where front-to-back airflow management is the primary cooling strategy.