Middle Atlantic Forward 3INCHW Wire Lace Fits 44U-45U1PC - FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45

Middle Atlantic FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45 Forward Vertical Wire Lace Bar for 44U–45U Racks

Overview

The Middle Atlantic FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45 is a forward-mount vertical wire lace bar engineered to bring structured cable management to full-height 44U and 45U open-frame and enclosed racks. At 3 inches wide and spanning 78.84 inches from top to bottom, it provides a continuous routing channel for power, data, and low-voltage cable runs that run the full height of a security or AV rack enclosure. If you're commissioning a surveillance head-end, access control panel rack, or network distribution cabinet and need a clean, serviceable cable path on the front vertical rail, this is the component to reach for.

Middle Atlantic is a Middle Atlantic rack systems and cable management manufacturer with a long track record in the security and AV integration space. The FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45 fits within their Forward Vertical Wire Grid Lace product line, designed specifically for integrators who want rack-front cable discipline without sacrificing access to patch panels, switches, or other front-serviceable gear inside a rack accessories enclosure.

Key Features

• 3-Inch Width for Real Cable Volume: At 3 in (7.6 cm) wide, this lace bar handles substantial cable bundles — not just a pair of patch leads. In a 44U rack fully loaded with PoE switch uplinks, NVR video outputs, access control wiring, and audio runs, you need a channel wide enough to keep bundles separated by type without forcing technicians to re-route on every service visit.
• Full 44U/45U Height Coverage — 78.84 Inches Tall: The 78.84 in (200.3 cm) overall height matches industry-standard 44U and 45U rack enclosures precisely. Ordering the wrong length is one of the most common field mistakes in rack builds — this unit removes the guesswork for full-height cabinets.
• Forward-Mount Orientation: The "forward" designation means this bar mounts at the front vertical rail position, not mid-depth or rear. That matters for cable routing discipline: power and low-voltage runs that enter from overhead or underfloor can be directed straight to the front face, keeping the cable path predictable for future techs servicing the rack.
• Steel Construction, 9 lbs: At 9 lbs (4.1 kg), this is a full-steel unit — not a lightweight plastic channel that flexes under a loaded cable bundle. Steel construction means it won't deform when cinched with hook-and-loop straps or cable ties across a dense run of Cat6 and 18/2 wire. The material choice matters in racks that see long deployment cycles without disassembly.
• Minimal Rack Depth Footprint — 0.56 Inches: The 0.56 in (1.4 cm) depth profile keeps the lace bar from intruding on usable rack depth. In a rack where you're already managing cable bend radii and front-to-rear clearance for 1U patch panels and switches, a sub-inch-depth channel is a meaningful advantage.
• Mounting Hardware Included: The FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45 (often searched as FWD LACE WB3 44 45) ships with mounting hardware, so installation can proceed without a separate trip to source rack screws or cage nuts. That may seem minor, but on a multi-cabinet deployment it adds up.
• Black Finish, UPC-Labeled: The black finish integrates cleanly with standard rack aesthetics in security operations centers and equipment rooms. The UPC label supports barcode-driven inventory and asset tracking workflows — relevant for integrators managing large equipment deployments across multiple sites.

Integration & Compatibility

The FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45 is designed for standard 44U and 45U rack enclosures. The 3-inch width and forward-mount orientation make it compatible with Middle Atlantic's own rack enclosure line as well as third-party EIA-compliant open-frame and enclosed rack enclosures in the same RU range. Pair it with horizontal cable managers, patch panel blanks, and rear vertical lace bars to build a fully structured cabling environment inside the cabinet.

For security integrators deploying NVR-based surveillance racks, combining this lace bar with a managed PoE switch and properly routed camera drop cables at the front vertical keeps the front of the rack clean and audit-ready. Access control panels, power distribution units, and intercom head-end equipment all benefit from a consistent front-vertical cable path established before gear is populated.

Review the cable management planning guide if you're specifying rack infrastructure for a multi-cabinet installation — correct lace bar width and height selection at the design stage prevents rework on the bench.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What rack sizes does the FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45 fit?

A: The FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45 is sized for 44U and 45U rack enclosures, with an overall height of 78.84 inches (200.3 cm). It is not the correct choice for 42U, 40U, or shorter racks — verify your rack's RU count before ordering.

Q: Does the FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45 include mounting hardware?

A: Yes, mounting hardware is included with the unit.

Q: What material is the FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45 constructed from?

A: The lace bar is steel construction, finished in black. It weighs 9 lbs (4.1 kg).

Q: How wide is the cable channel on the FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45?

A: The lace bar is 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide, providing a substantial routing channel suitable for high cable-density racks.

Q: What is the rack depth impact of installing this lace bar?

A: The FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45 adds only 0.56 inches (1.4 cm) of depth at the mounting position, minimizing intrusion on usable rack depth clearance.

Q: Is this a front-mount or rear-mount cable management bar?

A: This is a forward-mount (front vertical rail) unit, as indicated by the "FWD" designation in the model number. A separate rear lace bar would be required for rear vertical cable routing.

Jerry Tildsen

The spec that most integrators overlook on this unit is the 0.56-inch depth profile. In a loaded 44U security rack — NVR, managed PoE switch, access control panel, UPS — front-rail clearance is always tighter than the CAD drawing suggests. The FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45 adds less than 9/16 of an inch at the forward rail, which means cable dress doesn't push your patch panel or switch handles into binding territory.

Technical Highlights:

• 78.84 in Height: Exact fit for 44U/45U enclosures — full vertical coverage in a single piece means no splicing or stacking of shorter sections, which creates weak points in the cable path under load.
• 3 in (7.6 cm) Channel Width: Wide enough to segregate power, data, and low-voltage bundles side by side without forcing them into a single compressed run that makes future moves, adds, and changes painful.
• Steel at 9 lbs: The weight is a good signal here — at 9 lbs for a near-79-inch bar, this is a solid steel extrusion, not a stamped lightweight channel. It won't flex when cable ties are cinched tight on a 40+ camera drop run.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm your rack is a true 44U or 45U before ordering — the 78.84 in height is specific to this range. A 42U rack (typically ~73.5 in usable) will leave this bar extending beyond the rail, and it won't mount flush.
• This is a forward-mount unit only. If your rack design calls for rear vertical cable management as well, you'll need a separate rear lace component — the FWD-LACE-WB3-44-45 does not cover both rail positions.

The right deployment for this bar is a full-height security operations rack — 44U or 45U — where you're running camera feeds, access control wiring, and network patch cables simultaneously down the front vertical and want a single continuous steel channel to keep them separated and serviceable for the life of the installation.