Middle Atlantic 28W20SP28D RFR RK CR A3 - RFR-2028A3

Middle Atlantic RFR-2028A3 20U Reference Furniture Rack

The Middle Atlantic RFR-2028A3 is a 20-rack-unit furniture-style equipment rack built for AV and security control rooms, executive briefing centers, and broadcast environments where exposed server-room aesthetics are not acceptable. At 41.95 inches tall and 27.3 inches wide with an Asian Night wood finish, it integrates into finished interior spaces while still delivering a UL-rated 350 lb load capacity and standard 19-inch, 10-32 rack rails — meaning you're not trading equipment density for looks. This is the RFR-2028A3 (often searched as RFR 2028A3), Middle Atlantic's reference furniture rack in the compact 20U footprint.

Overview

The Middle Atlantic rack and enclosure line has long served the professional AV integration and security markets, and the RFR series sits at the intersection of furniture-grade cabinetry and functional rack infrastructure. Where a standard open-frame or vented metal rack would look out of place in a boardroom security console or a hotel AV closet adjacent to guest spaces, the RFR-2028A3 presents a finished wood enclosure in Asian Night — a dark, neutral tone that blends with commercial millwork.

The 20 RU of usable rack space accommodates a practical equipment stack: a network video recorder, a managed PoE switch, an uninterruptible power supply, and patch panels fit comfortably within this footprint. The 28.25-inch overall depth — with 23.31 inches of usable depth — handles most 1U and 2U NVRs and network appliances without forcing cable-bend compromises at the rear.

Key Features

• 20 Rack Units (35 in. usable height): 20 RU translates to 35 inches of actual panel space — enough for a full security head-end stack including NVR, PoE switch, UPS, and KVM without stacking external gear on top. The usable height figure (35 in.) is what matters for equipment planning, not the overall 41.95 in. cabinet height.
• UL-Rated 350 lb Load Capacity: The 350 lb UL load rating is a hard number from an independent test, not a marketing claim. A typical 20U security stack — NVR with drives, PoE switch, UPS — runs 60–120 lbs. You have significant headroom for dense configurations including multiple 2U recorders or battery backup units without approaching the structural limit.
• 28.25-Inch Depth / 23.31-Inch Usable: The 6.94-inch difference between overall and usable depth accounts for door, rear panel, and cable management space. At 23.31 usable inches, this rack accommodates standard 1U/2U network appliances (most run 14–20 in. deep) with room for cabling. Deep 4U UPS units pushing 24+ inches will not fit — plan accordingly.
• 19-Inch Panel Width with 10-32 Rack Rails: Standard 19-inch, 10-32 threaded rails mean virtually every commercial AV and security device mounts without adapters. Cage nuts are the universal currency here — 10-32 is the dominant standard across NVRs, switches, and patch panels from every major vendor.
• Asian Night Wood Finish: The wood cabinet construction with Asian Night finish allows this rack to live in a finished room — an executive suite security closet, a hotel operations center, a retail back office — without requiring a separate enclosure or false wall. This is the functional differentiation versus a steel rack: it looks like furniture.
• Monitor Mounting Capability: The RFR-2028A3 supports monitor mounting, allowing a display to be integrated directly into the cabinet — useful for local NVR playback, KVM-attached workstations, or video wall source previews without a separate monitor stand consuming floor space.
• 27.3-Inch Overall Width: At 27.3 inches wide (versus 19-inch panel width), the cabinet body provides side panels and structural framing. Account for this in room layout — you need 27.3 inches of clear horizontal space plus door swing clearance, not just 19 inches.

Integration & Compatibility

The 10-32 threaded rail system is compatible with standard rack-mount hardware from all major NVR and recording platforms, managed switches, KVM switches, and UPS units. Equipment selection for this rack should be driven by two constraints: usable depth (23.31 in.) and weight (350 lb UL limit). Most 1U and 2U NVRs from Axis, Hanwha, Milestone-qualified appliances, and general-purpose network switches fall well within both limits.

For deployments integrating a PoE switch to power IP cameras from within the cabinet, verify that the switch's depth is within the 23.31-inch usable interior. 1U managed PoE switches from enterprise networking vendors typically run 17–18 inches deep and fit cleanly. Rear cable routing should be planned before installation — the usable depth already accounts for rear panel and cable space, but high-density patch panel runs benefit from planning horizontal cable managers between equipment tiers.

This rack is a furniture piece as much as an equipment enclosure. If your deployment requires fan-assisted cooling for high-heat loads (dense compute, multi-drive NVRs running sustained workloads), verify that the cabinet's ventilation design accommodates adequate airflow — or plan for a top-mounted fan tray. The evidence does not specify integrated fan options for this SKU; confirm with the manufacturer for thermal management accessories compatible with the RFR series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many rack units does the RFR-2028A3 provide, and what is the actual usable panel height?

A: The RFR-2028A3 provides 20 rack units (20 RU) of mounting space. The usable height is 35 inches (88.9 cm), which is the actual space available for equipment mounting — the overall cabinet height is 41.95 inches, with the difference accounted for by the cabinet structure, top cap, and base.

Q: What is the maximum weight this rack can hold?

A: The RFR-2028A3 carries a UL-rated load capacity of 350 lbs (158.8 kg). This is an independently verified structural rating, not a manufacturer estimate.

Q: Will standard 1U rack equipment fit in the RFR-2028A3?

A: Yes. The rack uses standard 19-inch panels with 10-32 threaded rails, which is the dominant standard for commercial AV and security equipment. Usable depth is 23.31 inches — confirm that any deep 2U or 4U equipment (particularly UPS units) fits within this usable depth before ordering.

Q: What finish is the RFR-2028A3 available in?

A: This SKU ships in Asian Night, a dark wood finish designed to integrate with commercial interior environments. If a different finish is required, consult the broader RFR product family for available options.

Q: Does the RFR-2028A3 support monitor mounting?

A: Yes. The RFR-2028A3 includes monitor mounting capability, allowing a display to be mounted directly to the cabinet — useful for on-site NVR monitoring or workstation integration without a separate stand.

Q: What type of rack rails does the RFR-2028A3 use?

A: The RFR-2028A3 uses 10-32 threaded rack rails, the standard for commercial AV, security, and networking equipment. Standard cage nuts and 10-32 screws are the correct hardware for mounting equipment in this rack.

Marty Allison

The RFR-2028A3 is the rack I specify when a finished-room installation can't tolerate exposed steel — hotel security ops, executive suite AV closets, retail back-office control rooms. The 20 RU and 23.31-inch usable depth handle a real security head-end stack cleanly, and the UL-verified 350 lb capacity means you're not white-knuckling a dense NVR-plus-UPS configuration.

Technical Highlights:

• UL Load Rating — 350 lbs: Independent UL verification at 350 lbs (158.8 kg) gives you room for a fully loaded NVR, managed PoE switch, 2U UPS, and cabling — a typical 20U security stack lands well under 150 lbs, so you have margin for growth.
• 23.31-Inch Usable Depth: This is the number that determines equipment compatibility. Most 1U/2U NVRs and PoE switches run 14–20 inches deep and fit cleanly. Budget UPS units pushing 24+ inches won't fit — spec your UPS depth before finalizing the BOM.
• 10-32 Threaded Rails: Standard 10-32 rails mean no adapter plates for any commercial NVR, switch, or patch panel. Every rack-mount security appliance you're likely to install ships with 10-32 hardware as default.

Deployment Considerations:

• Plan for the 27.3-inch overall cabinet width in your room layout — that's 4+ inches wider than the 19-inch panel on each side. In tight closets or millwork alcoves, this clearance is the constraint that determines fit.
• The wood cabinet construction performs well aesthetically, but if your security head-end runs sustained high-heat loads (dense multi-drive NVRs, always-on compute), verify ventilation before closing the doors — the evidence does not confirm integrated fan provisions for this SKU.

This rack earns its place in hospitality, corporate, and retail deployments where the AV/security infrastructure lives in a finished occupied space — not in a dedicated IT closet. For a pure server-room or data-center environment, a vented steel rack is a better call. For anywhere a client walks past the equipment daily, the RFR-2028A3 is the right enclosure.