Middle Atlantic RFR-2428E0 24U Reference Furniture Rack — Biltmore Cherry
The Middle Atlantic RFR-2428E0 is a 24-rack-unit furniture-grade enclosure built for AV and security control rooms where the equipment bay needs to blend into a professional or executive environment without sacrificing structural integrity. At 350 lbs UL-rated load capacity and 23.31 inches of usable depth, it handles real production loads — NVRs, matrix switchers, power distribution, patch panels — while presenting a wood-finished cabinet face that a bare open-frame rack cannot match. If your deployment brief includes an aesthetics requirement alongside a technical spec sheet, this is the unit to evaluate.
Overview
The RFR-2428E0 (often searched as RFR 2428E0) sits in Middle Atlantic's RFR Reference Furniture Rack line, a series designed specifically for fixed installations where a standard equipment rack would look out of place. The Biltmore Cherry wood finish gives it the visual profile of furniture rather than infrastructure — appropriate for boardrooms, command centers, executive briefing rooms, and high-end home theater or security operations centers where the rack is visible rather than concealed in a closet or equipment room. The 19-inch panel width accommodates standard rack equipment, and the 10-32 rail thread is compatible with the vast majority of commercial audio, video, and security hardware on the market today.
Key Features
- 24 Rack Units / 42-inch usable height: 24 RU gives you enough vertical real estate to mount a full security backbone — a mid-size NVR, a PoE switch, a UPS, a patch panel, and a power distribution unit — without stacking equipment on the floor. The 42-inch usable height (106.7 cm) is the practical figure to plan against, not the 48.95-inch cabinet height.
- 350 lb UL-rated load capacity: UL-tested to 350 lbs (158.8 kg) means you can populate this rack with dense hardware — multiple 2U NVRs loaded with drives, a rackmount UPS, and ancillary gear — without worrying about structural failure. This is a verified load rating, not a manufacturer estimate.
- 23.31-inch usable depth: The 23.31-inch (59.2 cm) usable depth accommodates most 1U and 2U security appliances, NVRs, and managed switches, which typically run 14–20 inches deep. The 28.25-inch total cabinet depth provides clearance for cable management behind the equipment. Measure your deepest unit before ordering — very deep 4U+ servers may require a deeper enclosure.
- 19-inch panel width with 10-32 rail threading: Industry-standard 19-inch rack rails with 10-32 threaded holes mean you can mount virtually any commercial security or AV component without adapter hardware. 10-32 is the dominant thread standard for professional AV and security racks, so cage nuts are not required.
- Monitor mounting support: Built-in monitor mounting capability lets you integrate a dedicated display for a local NVR interface or security monitoring station directly into the enclosure footprint — reducing the surface area required in the room and keeping the installation self-contained.
- Biltmore Cherry wood finish: The wood cabinet exterior is engineered for environments where the rack is visible to building occupants or clients. This is a functional differentiator versus painted steel racks in applications like executive security suites, corporate boardrooms, or broadcast control rooms with public visibility.
- 27.3-inch width / 170 lb shipping weight: At 27.3 inches (69.3 cm) wide and 170 lbs shipping weight (77.1 kg), plan your delivery and installation logistics accordingly. Two-person delivery and installation is standard for this class of furniture rack — do not attempt single-person placement.
Integration and Compatibility
The RFR-2428E0 is compatible with any rack-mount equipment conforming to the standard 19-inch rack form factor — NVRs, managed PoE switches, patch panels, UPS systems, and power distribution units. The 10-32 rail thread accommodates standard rack screws used across commercial security, AV, and IT hardware. Monitor mounting support makes it a practical choice for integrators building a surveillance or access control command station where a local display is part of the design. For Middle Atlantic accessories — shelves, cable management panels, blanks, and fans — confirm compatibility with the RFR series before ordering, as accessory fitment varies by product line. The 23.31-inch usable depth should be cross-referenced against each piece of equipment being installed; consult a rack planning guide for mixed-depth deployments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the rack unit capacity of the RFR-2428E0?
A: The RFR-2428E0 provides 24 rack units (RU) of equipment space, with a usable interior height of 42 inches (106.7 cm).
Q: What is the UL-rated load capacity?
A: The RFR-2428E0 is UL-rated for 350 lbs (158.8 kg) of equipment load.
Q: What rail thread standard does the RFR-2428E0 use?
A: It uses 10-32 threaded rack rails, the standard for professional AV and commercial security equipment. Cage nuts are not required for 10-32 hardware.
Q: What is the usable depth inside the RFR-2428E0?
A: The usable depth is 23.31 inches (59.2 cm). The total cabinet depth is 28.25 inches (71.8 cm), with the difference providing rear cable management clearance.
Q: Does the RFR-2428E0 support monitor mounting?
A: Yes, the RFR-2428E0 includes monitor mounting capability, allowing integration of a display directly into the enclosure for local NVR or security monitoring use.
Q: What finish and material is the RFR-2428E0 cabinet?
A: The cabinet is constructed from wood with a Biltmore Cherry finish, designed for visible installations in professional or executive environments.
The RFR-2428E0 is a unit I recommend specifically when the installation environment pushes back on standard steel rack aesthetics — the 350 lb UL load rating tells you this isn't a decorative piece, but the Biltmore Cherry wood finish means it can live in a space that clients or executives actually walk through. That combination is genuinely rare in the 24 RU class.
Technical Highlights:
- 23.31-inch usable depth: Fits the overwhelming majority of 1U–2U NVRs and managed switches without modification. The 4.94-inch difference between total depth (28.25 in) and usable depth (23.31 in) is real cable management clearance — don't ignore it when routing power and data to rear-facing ports.
- UL-rated 350 lb load capacity: At 158.8 kg certified, you can fully populate all 24 RU with production-weight hardware — dual-PSU NVRs, rackmount UPS, patch panels — and the structure holds. This is a third-party-verified rating, not a spec-sheet estimate.
- 10-32 threaded rails: No cage nuts, no adapter kits. Every standard commercial NVR, switch, and power distribution unit mounts directly. This matters on dense installs where you're racking 8–12 pieces of gear and don't want thread-adapter delays.
Deployment Considerations:
- At 170 lbs shipping weight and 27.3 inches wide, this enclosure requires two-person delivery and installation — factor that into your site logistics and scheduling before the truck arrives.
- The 23.31-inch usable depth is the governing constraint for equipment selection. Any unit deeper than roughly 22 inches will be tight on cable clearance at the rear — measure your deepest piece of gear against this figure before finalizing your equipment list.
The RFR-2428E0 is the right call for a corporate security operations center, executive briefing room, or high-end command station where the rack bay is visible to building occupants and the wood furniture finish needs to hold up to the same scrutiny as the rest of the room's millwork.
