Middle Atlantic 4 Space Custom Rackshelf 15.5IN. Deep Anodized Black Finish - RSH4A4R

Middle Atlantic RSH4A4R 4U Anodized Black Steel Rack Shelf

Overview

The Middle Atlantic RSH4A4R is a 4U steel rack shelf built for integrators who need a reliable, fixed-depth platform inside a standard 19-inch EIA rack. At 15.5 inches (394mm) deep, it handles mid-size rack-mounted equipment — NVRs, encoders, UPS units, and AV receivers — without projecting past the rear rail or leaving dead space at the front. The anodized black finish matches the interior of most professional rack enclosures and holds up to repeated access without chipping or fading. If you're specifying Middle Atlantic rack accessories for a new install or retrofit, the RSH4A4R is a straightforward, no-compromise shelf in that lineup.

Key Features

• 4U Rack Capacity (178mm height): Four rack units of vertical space means this shelf can house taller chassis — think 2U NVRs, 3U UPS units, or stacked 1U appliances — without burning a disproportionate share of rack real estate. 178mm of vertical clearance is meaningful when you're packing dense gear into a 12U or 16U enclosure.
• 15.5-Inch (394mm) Depth: This is the spec that determines fit. At 394mm, the RSH4A4R clears most mid-depth rack-mounted equipment. Measure your deepest unit before ordering — if you're running a 450mm-deep NVR or a full-depth server, step up to a deeper shelf variant in the Middle Atlantic line. If your gear is 350mm or under, this shelf gives you working clearance with room for cable management at the rear.
• Standard 19-Inch (482.6mm) Width: The 482.6mm width is EIA-310 standard, so it drops into any compliant 2-post or 4-post rack without modification. No custom drilling, no adapter kits. This matters in mixed-brand rack environments where you're combining Middle Atlantic rails with third-party enclosures.
• Steel Construction: Steel is the correct choice for a fixed shelf carrying heavy equipment. It doesn't flex under sustained static load the way aluminum can. If you're mounting a multi-drive NVR or a dense power distribution unit, steel construction eliminates the sag that can bind drive sleds or stress rear-panel connectors over time.
• Anodized Black Finish: Anodizing bonds the finish to the metal rather than coating over it — the result is a surface that resists corrosion, abrasion, and the cleaning agents used in regular rack maintenance. It also presents a consistent, professional appearance inside glass-door enclosures where aesthetics matter to the end client.
• Single-Piece Pack (1 unit): Sold individually, which is practical for single-shelf additions to an existing rack build. Order by quantity for multi-rack deployments — no minimum bundle required.

Integration & Compatibility

The RSH4A4R installs into any standard 19-inch EIA-310 compliant rack — 2-post open-frame and 4-post enclosed cabinets both work. Middle Atlantic's own rack enclosures and open-frame racks are the natural pairing, but this shelf is not proprietary to their system. It mounts on standard rack rails using the shelf's integrated mounting flanges.

For security integrators, this shelf is a practical landing spot for network video recorders and encoding appliances that ship without integrated rack ears. Pair it with a rack accessory kit including blanking panels and cable management to keep the bay organized. If you're building out a dedicated rack enclosure for a surveillance head-end, the RSH4A4R fits the equipment tier between 1U appliances (which rack directly) and heavier chassis that need a dedicated shelf platform.

Depth planning is the one compatibility variable to nail before ordering. The 15.5-inch (394mm) depth suits equipment in the 250–380mm range with rear-panel cable clearance. Equipment deeper than 380mm will overhang the shelf's rear edge — consult Middle Atlantic's full rack shelf catalog for deeper variants if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What rack unit height does the RSH4A4R occupy?

A: The RSH4A4R occupies 4U of vertical rack space, corresponding to a height of 178mm (approximately 7 inches).

Q: Will the RSH4A4R fit a standard 19-inch EIA rack?

A: Yes. The shelf is 482.6mm (19 inches) wide — EIA-310 standard — and installs in any compliant 2-post or 4-post 19-inch rack without modification.

Q: How deep is the RSH4A4R shelf surface?

A: The usable shelf depth is 394mm, which Middle Atlantic specifies as 15.5 inches. This suits mid-depth equipment in the 250–380mm range while leaving room for rear cable management.

Q: What material and finish is the RSH4A4R?

A: The shelf is fabricated from steel with an anodized black finish. Anodizing bonds the color to the metal surface, providing corrosion and abrasion resistance that outlasts painted finishes in rack environments.

Q: Is the RSH4A4R sold as a single unit or in a multi-pack?

A: It is sold as a single unit (1 pc per pack). Order multiple quantities for multi-rack deployments.

Q: What type of equipment is the RSH4A4R designed to support?

A: The RSH4A4R is intended for rack-mounted equipment that does not include integrated rack ears — NVRs, encoders, UPS units, AV receivers, and similar mid-size chassis. It is a fixed (non-vented, non-sliding) shelf platform.

Jerry Tildsen

The RSH4A4R comes up on almost every surveillance head-end build I spec out — specifically because of that 394mm (15.5-inch) depth. Most NVRs in the 8–32 channel range ship without rack ears and land right in the 300–370mm depth window, which means this shelf fits them correctly without hanging the chassis off the rear edge or wasting depth at the front. It is the shelf I reach for when a client's rack layout can't accommodate the deeper 20-inch or 22-inch variants.

Technical Highlights:

• 4U Height (178mm): Four rack units gives enough vertical clearance to seat a 2U NVR or encoder plus a 1U PDU above it without needing a separate bay — useful when rack space is the constraint.
• Steel over aluminum: For anything over 15 lbs of sustained static load — a multi-drive NVR, a populated UPS — steel construction is what prevents long-term shelf sag that can bind rear connectors or skew drive sleds.
• Anodized black finish: In client-facing head-end rooms with glass-door enclosures, the anodized surface reads as professional. It also handles the occasional cleaning pass with isopropyl without surface degradation.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm your equipment's actual chassis depth before ordering. Manufacturer-listed depths often exclude rear-panel protrusions — add 20–30mm for connectors and cable bend radius when checking against the 394mm shelf depth.
• This is a fixed shelf, not a sliding rail kit. If the equipment needs to be pulled forward for regular access (drives, ports, rear-panel connections), plan for a sliding shelf variant or route rear-panel connections through a patch panel instead.

The RSH4A4R is well-suited to enterprise surveillance head-end bays and AV control room rack builds where a stable, mid-depth platform is needed for chassis that ship without integrated rack hardware — particularly 8–32 channel NVRs and mid-size encoding appliances.