Middle Atlantic Horiz Rack 4U+5U 36D - VWM-4-5-36K-PW

Middle Atlantic VWM-4-5-36K-PW Vertical Wall Mount Rack, 9RU, 36-Inch Height

The Middle Atlantic VWM-4-5-36K-PW is a 9-rack-unit steel wall mount enclosure designed for installations where floor space is at a premium — think server closets, IDF rooms, access control head-end locations, and security equipment rooms where a full floor rack is impractical. At 36 inches tall with a 27.8-inch usable depth and a UL-rated 150-lb load capacity, it handles a real mix of gear: NVRs, PoE switches, access control panels, and patch infrastructure, all in a compact wall-hung footprint. This is part of Middle Atlantic's wall rack line, engineered and assembled in the USA with TAA-compliant credentials that matter for government and federally funded projects.

Overview

The VWM-4-5-36K-PW ships in a putty wrinkle powder coat finish — not a cosmetic choice, but a functional one. Wrinkle coat hides surface wear and minor contact marks over the life of the installation, which matters in mechanical rooms and closets that see regular service access. The full solid door keeps dust and casual interference out while still giving technicians a clean front panel for cable management. Constructed from steel throughout, this enclosure is built to stay on the wall without flex or rattle under full load — something cheaper sheet-metal alternatives rarely deliver.

Key Features

• 9 Rack Units (4U + 5U configuration): Provides enough space to house an NVR, a PoE switch, and a patch panel in a single wall-mounted enclosure — eliminating the need for a separate floor rack in small to mid-size deployments. The 4U + 5U split naming reflects the modular zone layout within the 36-inch height.
• 150 lb UL-Rated Load Capacity: UL listing on the load rating means this isn't a self-reported marketing number — it's a tested, third-party verified figure. At 150 lbs, you can fully populate this rack with commercial-grade equipment without engineering a separate wall-blocking reinforcement structure, provided the wall substrate is adequate.
• 27.8-Inch Usable Depth: The overall enclosure is 12 inches deep, but the usable rail-to-door depth of 27.8 inches accommodates full-depth 1U and 2U appliances, including most NVRs and managed switches. This is the spec to check against your deepest piece of equipment before ordering.
• 10-32 and Cage Nut Rail System: Dual rail compatibility means you're not locked into a single hardware standard. Use 10-32 threaded rails directly for lighter gear, or drop cage nuts for equipment that ships with M6 cage nut screws — the flexibility to handle both is a real time-saver on mixed-hardware installs.
• 25mm x 150mm Swing Handle: The oversized swing handle is a practical detail — easier to open with one hand when you're holding a laptop or cable tester. It retracts flush when not in use, so it doesn't project into narrow corridors or adjacent cabinetry.
• Putty Wrinkle Powder Coat Finish: GREENGUARD-certified finish (per CSA listing) means this enclosure meets indoor air quality standards — relevant for installs in occupied office space, schools, or healthcare environments where off-gassing from coatings is a compliance concern.
• Forward Compatible Design: Middle Atlantic's forward-compatible architecture means accessories, panels, and blanks from the broader VWM family integrate without retrofitting. If the installation scope grows — additional zones, a UPS shelf, cable management trays — the existing enclosure supports the expansion without replacement.
• TAA Compliant, Made in USA: TAA compliance is a hard requirement for GSA Schedule purchases and many federal, state, and municipal contracts. Country of origin is documented as USA, satisfying Buy American Act provisions where applicable.
• Steel Construction, 70.4 lb Unit Weight: At 70.4 lbs unloaded, this is a two-person wall mount — plan accordingly. The weight reflects genuine steel gauge rather than thin-wall stampings; it's a meaningful indicator of long-term structural integrity on a wall-hung installation.

Integration and Compatibility

The VWM-4-5-36K-PW integrates into any standard 19-inch rack equipment ecosystem. The 10-32 and cage nut rail system is compatible with virtually all rack-mount network video recorders, PoE switches, patch panels, and access control hardware. The 27.8-inch usable depth comfortably accommodates full-depth 1U appliances; verify the depth of any specific 2U or deeper appliances against that figure before specifying. For PoE switch installations feeding IP camera systems, this enclosure provides a clean, secure, wall-mounted home for the switch and NVR together — a common small-site security head-end configuration. The REACH and RoHS documentation supports EU and international deployment compliance, and the GREENGUARD certification facilitates specification in education and healthcare builds. Pair this enclosure with appropriate wall-blocking and lag hardware rated for the combined 220+ lb loaded weight (enclosure plus equipment plus cabling). Consult a wall mount rack installation guide for blocking requirements specific to your wall construction type.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the VWM-4-5-36K-PW TAA compliant?

A: Yes. The VWM-4-5-36K-PW is TAA compliant with a documented Federal Ops Country of Origin of USA, making it eligible for GSA Schedule and federally funded projects subject to Trade Agreements Act requirements.

Q: What is the UL-rated load capacity of the VWM-4-5-36K-PW?

A: The UL-rated load capacity is 150 lbs (68 kg). This is a UL-tested figure, not a self-reported estimate, providing a reliable benchmark for equipment planning.

Q: How deep is the usable interior of the VWM-4-5-36K-PW?

A: The usable depth is 27.8 inches (70.6 cm), sufficient for full-depth 1U appliances. The overall enclosure depth is 12 inches (30.5 cm) — the larger usable depth reflects the swing-out design of the enclosure body relative to the wall.

Q: What rail hardware does the VWM-4-5-36K-PW use?

A: It supports both 10-32 threaded rails and cage nut hardware, providing compatibility with virtually all standard 19-inch rack-mount equipment regardless of the mounting screw standard the manufacturer ships with.

Q: Is the VWM-4-5-36K-PW GREENGUARD certified?

A: Yes. The enclosure carries a GREENGUARD certification (per CSA listing), meaning the powder coat finish meets indoor air quality emission standards — a relevant credential for occupied spaces in education, healthcare, and commercial office environments.

Q: How many rack units does the VWM-4-5-36K-PW provide?

A: The enclosure provides 9 rack units (9RU) total within a 36-inch height, configured as a 4U upper zone and 5U lower zone.

Eden Phillips

The spec I always flag first on a wall rack is the usable depth versus the nominal enclosure depth — and on the VWM-4-5-36K-PW, those numbers diverge significantly: 12 inches of wall projection, but 27.8 inches of usable interior depth. That swing-out body design is what lets you fit a full-depth NVR or managed switch without bumping into the door, and it's what separates this enclosure from the shallow-body alternatives that look similar in a spec table but can't actually close the door on a loaded 1U appliance.

Technical Highlights:

• UL-Rated 150 lb Load: Third-party tested, not manufacturer-claimed — at full population (NVR + switch + patch panel + UPS shelf), staying under 150 lbs is achievable on a typical small-site head-end. Plan cable weight too; it adds up faster than most integrators expect.
• 9RU in 36-Inch Height: The 4U + 5U zone configuration gives you a natural break point for power distribution above and active equipment below (or vice versa), which simplifies cable routing and future service access compared to an undifferentiated 9RU column.
• Steel Construction at 70.4 lbs Unloaded: This is a structural indicator. Lightweight wall racks under 40 lbs unloaded are typically thin-gauge; at 70.4 lbs, the steel gauge here will hold alignment over years of service — no rack lean, no rail sag.

Deployment Considerations:

• At 70.4 lbs unloaded plus up to 150 lbs of equipment, you're mounting 220+ lbs to a wall. Verify blocking in the wall — a single layer of drywall with no backing will not hold this. Steel stud or wood blocking centered on the mount points is non-negotiable.
• The 25-inch width is wider than some integrators expect from a wall rack; confirm rough-in clearance on both sides before finalizing the mount location, particularly in narrow IDF closets.

The VWM-4-5-36K-PW is a strong specification for small commercial security head-ends — a typical deployment being a single-building access control and IP camera system where you need an NVR, a PoE switch, and an access control panel in a locked, wall-mounted enclosure in a back-of-house mechanical or IT closet. The TAA compliance and GREENGUARD certification extend its reach into government facilities and occupied commercial spaces where those credentials are a contract requirement.