Panduit PWBWFNEZ Wire Basket Waterfall — 5-Pack
Overview
The Panduit PWBWFNEZ is a steel wire basket waterfall fitting sold in packs of five, designed to transition cables down from a wire basket tray run to equipment below — the kind of controlled drop needed at server rack entries, patch panel enclosures, and structured cabling distribution points. The electro zinc finish delivers corrosion resistance appropriate for the typical conditioned data center and IDF/MDF environments where these fittings live. If you're building out a wire basket cable management system and need a clean, code-compliant exit point from the basket to rack-mounted gear, this is the fitting class to source.
Key Features
- Steel Construction with Electro Zinc Finish: The base steel gives the waterfall structural rigidity to support cable bundles without deformation under load. The electro zinc coating resists surface oxidation in the ambient humidity typical of mechanical and server rooms — so the fitting doesn't corrode and create a maintenance problem years into the installation.
- UL Classified for Equipment Grounding Conductor Use: The PWBWFNEZ meets UL classification for suitability as an Equipment Grounding Conductor per NEC Sections 392.3(C) and 392.7(B). In plain terms: when properly bonded, the basket and its fittings can serve as the ground path — eliminating the need to run a separate EGC inside the tray, which simplifies the grounding design and satisfies the inspector on commercial projects where NEC compliance is mandatory.
- Pack of Five: The PWBWFNEZ ships in a five-unit package. Wire basket installations typically require multiple waterfall exits along a run — at each rack, each enclosure, each equipment drop point. Buying in packs reduces per-unit cost and keeps spares on hand for future adds without reordering.
- Silver / Electro Zinc Color: The silver electro zinc appearance is consistent with standard wire basket tray aesthetics, so the waterfall integrates visually with the rest of the basket run. Useful where the tray system is exposed and facility managers care about a finished look.
- Competitor Cross-Reference 67020039: If you're sourcing from a spec that calls out a competing part number, 67020039 maps directly to the PWBWFNEZ. Substitution is straightforward when the Panduit Panduit wire basket line is already in use on the project.
Integration and Compatibility
The PWBWFNEZ is engineered for use within Panduit's wire basket tray ecosystem. Wire basket waterfall fittings function as exit accessories that guide cable bundles from the horizontal basket run downward to termination points — typically at the top of a network rack or open-frame enclosure. For proper installation, the waterfall should be bonded to the basket tray grounding system to take full advantage of the UL-Classified EGC rating under NEC 392. Consult Panduit's basket tray installation guide for torque specifications on bonding hardware and for guidance on which basket widths and channel depths this fitting is rated to pair with. If your project requires a full suite of cable management accessories — splices, bends, risers, and drops — verify fitting compatibility across the basket series before specifying.
What's in the Box
- 5x Panduit PWBWFNEZ Wire Basket Waterfall Fittings (electro zinc steel)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the PWBWFNEZ used for?
A: The PWBWFNEZ is a wire basket waterfall fitting that transitions cables from a horizontal wire basket tray run down to equipment below — typically at rack or enclosure entry points in structured cabling installations.
Q: How many units come in a package of PWBWFNEZ?
A: Each order of the PWBWFNEZ includes five waterfall fittings.
Q: Is the PWBWFNEZ NEC compliant for use as an Equipment Grounding Conductor?
A: Yes. The PWBWFNEZ carries a UL Classification for suitability as an Equipment Grounding Conductor in accordance with NEC Sections 392.3(C) and 392.7(B), which governs cable tray use as a grounding path on commercial electrical installations.
Q: What material and finish is the PWBWFNEZ?
A: The PWBWFNEZ is constructed from steel with an electro zinc finish, resulting in a silver appearance and resistance to surface corrosion in typical indoor environments.
Q: Does the PWBWFNEZ cross-reference to any competitor part numbers?
A: Yes. The PWBWFNEZ cross-references to competitor part number 67020039.
The PWBWFNEZ is one of those fittings that gets specified without much thought and then causes a code conversation on the rough-in inspection when the EGC documentation isn't available. The UL Classification covering NEC 392.3(C) and 392.7(B) is the spec that matters here — it's what lets you use the basket tray assembly itself as the grounding conductor rather than pulling a separate EGC wire through the tray, and the PWBWFNEZ waterfall fitting needs to be part of that bonded assembly for the classification to hold.
Technical Highlights:
- UL EGC Classification (NEC 392.3(C)/392.7(B)): Allows the wire basket system to serve as the Equipment Grounding Conductor path — eliminates a separate grounding conductor run inside the tray and satisfies NEC inspection requirements when properly bonded.
- Electro Zinc Steel Construction: Steel core handles the mechanical load of a full cable bundle exiting the basket; the electro zinc coating prevents surface oxidation in conditioned spaces where bare steel would eventually corrode at contact points.
- 5-Unit Pack Quantity: Sized for real project economics — a single row of racks in a standard MDF typically needs four to eight waterfall exits, so one or two packs covers the run without excess.
Deployment Considerations:
- For the UL EGC classification to apply, the waterfall fitting must be mechanically bonded to the basket tray run using Panduit's approved bonding hardware — an unbonded fitting doesn't carry the NEC 392 grounding path benefit and will create a gap in the grounding continuity the inspector is checking.
- Confirm the basket width and channel profile on your specific tray series before ordering in quantity — Panduit offers multiple basket widths and the waterfall geometry needs to match the tray cross-section for a flush, secure fit.
The PWBWFNEZ is the right call on commercial data center build-outs and enterprise IDF/MDF rooms where NEC 392 compliance is enforced on permit and where the contractor needs documented UL evidence for the grounding path — not for light-duty open office cable drops where a simpler fitting will do.
