Middle Atlantic WRK-44SA-27LRD 44RU Seismic-Rated Open-Frame Floor Rack
Overview
The Middle Atlantic WRK-44SA-27LRD is a 44-rack-unit, open-frame floor-standing rack built for environments where seismic compliance is non-negotiable. Standing 83.13 inches tall with a 27.63-inch depth, it delivers 77 usable rack-inches of vertical real estate and 25.75 inches of usable depth — enough clearance for deep servers, NVR chassis, or high-density patch infrastructure without forcing a second rack. If you're specifying equipment rooms in California, the Pacific Northwest, or any jurisdiction that enforces ASCE 7-10 seismic standards, WRK-44SA-27LRD is a direct answer to that requirement.
Manufactured in the USA and fully TAA compliant, this rack suits federal, state, and municipal deployments where country-of-origin documentation is required at procurement. The Middle Atlantic rack and enclosure line has long been a field standard in AV and security integration, and the WRK series represents its open-frame, high-capacity tier.
Key Features
- 44 Rack Units of Usable Space: 77 inches of usable height across 44 RU means you can fully populate a surveillance head-end — NVRs, managed switches, UPS, and patch panels — in a single enclosure without vertical compromise. At 19-inch standard panel width, every standard 1RU or 2RU device fits without adaptation.
- UL-Listed 2500 lb Seismic Load Capacity: This is the spec that drives the purchase decision in seismic zones. The UL-listed 2500 lb seismic load rating (ASCE 7-10 compliance) means the rack and its contents meet code for occupied-building installations in high-risk zones. UL listing here is not a marketing badge — it's the paperwork your AHJ will ask for.
- 10,000 lb Static Weight Capacity: The 10,000 lb static load rating tells you the rack frame itself is engineered well beyond any realistic equipment load. Even a fully populated 44RU rack with high-density blade servers or stacked NVRs won't approach that ceiling — which translates to long-term structural confidence for installations that won't be touched for a decade.
- 25.75-Inch Usable Depth: With 25.75 inches of usable depth (27.63 inches overall), this rack accommodates standard 1U/2U rack-mount devices as well as deeper chassis — important when integrating enterprise NVRs or UPS units that run 20–24 inches deep. Verify your deepest component against the 25.75-inch usable figure before finalizing.
- 10-32 Rack Rail Threading: Standard 10-32 threaded rails are compatible with the broadest range of rack-mount hardware — security appliances, servers, switches, patch panels — without requiring cage nuts or special hardware. This is the preferred threading for most enterprise and surveillance-grade equipment.
- No Rear Door — Open-Frame Design: The absence of a rear door is deliberate for high-airflow environments. Open-frame racks run cooler under heavy continuous loads because there's no enclosure trapping heat. If your head-end room has active HVAC or perforated floor tiles, open-frame is the right call. If physical security of rear cabling is a concern, evaluate an enclosed cabinet variant instead.
- TAA Compliance and USA Origin: Federal procurement officers and prime contractors: the WRK-44SA-27LRD is TAA compliant and manufactured in the USA, satisfying Buy American and Trade Agreements Act requirements. Country-of-origin documentation is available through standard procurement channels.
- ASCE 7-10 Seismic Rating: Compliance with ASCE 7-10 (the structural engineering standard for seismic load calculations) means this rack has been evaluated against the load combinations that govern building codes in high-seismic jurisdictions. This is the specific standard most AHJs reference for data center and communications room equipment anchorage.
Integration and Compatibility
The WRK-44SA-27LRD integrates directly into standard 19-inch rack ecosystems. The 10-32 threaded rail pattern accepts the full range of rack-mount network video recorders, managed PoE switches, UPS units, and patch panels without adapter hardware. At 44RU, this rack is sized for mid-to-large surveillance head-ends — a 32-channel NVR, a managed network switch, a 2U UPS, and patch infrastructure can coexist with room for expansion. Open-frame design is compatible with hot-aisle/cold-aisle airflow management and overhead cable tray routing commonly used in structured rack deployments. For rack accessories such as horizontal cable managers, blanking panels, and power strips, verify 19-inch compatibility and 10-32 thread pattern before ordering. Consult your seismic anchorage hardware supplier for floor-anchoring kits specific to ASCE 7-10 compliance in your jurisdiction — the rack itself is rated, but installation anchorage is a separate scope item.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the WRK-44SA-27LRD TAA compliant?
A: Yes. The WRK-44SA-27LRD is TAA compliant and manufactured in the USA, making it eligible for federal, state, and municipal procurement under Trade Agreements Act requirements.
Q: What is the seismic load rating on the WRK-44SA-27LRD?
A: The WRK-44SA-27LRD carries a UL-listed 2500 lb seismic load capacity and is rated to ASCE 7-10. This is the standard referenced by most authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) for equipment room installations in seismic zones.
Q: Does this rack have a rear door?
A: No. The WRK-44SA-27LRD is an open-frame design with no rear door. This supports high-airflow environments but does not provide rear cable security. If rear physical security is required, evaluate an enclosed cabinet variant.
Q: What rail threading does the WRK-44SA-27LRD use?
A: The rack uses standard 10-32 threaded rails, compatible with the vast majority of 1U and 2U rack-mount security, networking, and server hardware without requiring cage nuts.
Q: What is the static weight capacity of the WRK-44SA-27LRD?
A: The static weight capacity is 10,000 lbs (4,535.9 kg). The UL-listed seismic load capacity is 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg) — the figure that governs code-compliant installations in seismic zones.
Q: What is the usable depth of the WRK-44SA-27LRD?
A: Usable depth is 25.75 inches (65.4 cm). Overall depth is 27.63 inches (70.2 cm). Verify your deepest rack-mount component against the 25.75-inch usable figure before finalizing your equipment layout.
The WRK-44SA-27LRD is one of the few open-frame racks I'll specify without hesitation in seismic Zone 3 and Zone 4 jurisdictions — the UL-listed 2500 lb seismic load capacity to ASCE 7-10 is verifiable documentation, not a marketing claim, and that matters the moment your project hits plan check. At 44RU with 25.75 inches of usable depth, it also happens to be practically sized for a surveillance or AV head-end without wasting floor space on a 48RU enclosure you'll never fill.
Technical Highlights:
- UL-Listed Seismic Rating (ASCE 7-10): 2,500 lb seismic load capacity with UL listing and ASCE 7-10 compliance — the specific standard most building departments and AHJs reference for communications room anchorage. Brings the submittal paperwork with it.
- 10,000 lb Static Capacity: The 10,000 lb static load rating is engineering margin, not marketing headroom. A fully populated 44RU rack with enterprise NVRs, switches, and UPS will land somewhere in the 800–1,200 lb range — you're not stressing the frame.
- 25.75 in Usable Depth / 10-32 Threading: The 25.75-inch usable depth covers essentially every standard 1U/2U rack-mount device on the market. 10-32 threading means no cage nut conversions, no adapter rails — just standard rack screws and your equipment goes in.
Deployment Considerations:
- Open-frame means no rear panel security — plan your cable routing and physical access control at the room level, not the rack level. If the room itself is not access-controlled, you need an enclosed variant.
- Seismic compliance covers the rack rating, not the anchorage. Specify your floor-anchoring kit separately per local seismic design category — the rack ships without anchor hardware, and AHJ approval typically requires evidence of both the rack rating and the installed anchor method.
For a government or institutional surveillance equipment room in a seismic zone — federal field offices, utility operations centers, transit authority head-ends — the WRK-44SA-27LRD (often searched as WRK 44SA 27LRD) is purpose-built for exactly that specification: open-frame airflow, code-compliant seismic documentation, and domestic manufacturing for TAA procurement compliance.
