APC by Schneider Electric AR3155W NetShelter SX 45U Free-Standing Rack Enclosure
Overview
The APC by Schneider Electric AR3155W is a 45U free-standing open-frame rack enclosure from the NetShelter SX line — the white-finish variant sized at 750mm wide by 1070mm deep. If you're deploying network, security, or AV equipment in an environment where aesthetics matter (lobbies, conference rooms, or open IT closets), the white powder-coat finish sets it apart from the standard black datacenter cabinet without compromising the structural integrity you'd expect from commercial-grade steel construction. For integrators sourcing APC by Schneider Electric rack solutions, the AR3155W fits within the established NetShelter SX ecosystem, so accessories, blanking panels, and PDUs designed for that line carry over directly.
At 45U, this cabinet handles a full rack's worth of 1U and 2U devices — switches, NVRs, patch panels, UPS units — without requiring any intermediate expansion. The 750mm internal width exceeds the standard 19-inch EIA-310E rail spacing, leaving room on each side for cable management accessories and high-density wiring without bending radii violations. The 1070mm depth accommodates deep servers and large UPS units that frequently cause problems in shallower 800mm or 900mm cabinets. If your equipment list includes any 2-post-unfriendly deep appliances, the 1070mm depth is the spec to check first.
Key Features
- 45U Capacity: Forty-five rack units of usable space means you can populate a complete network closet — core switch, access switches, patch panels, NVR stack, and a rack-mount UPS — in a single enclosure. No mid-project expansion required for most mid-size deployments.
- 750mm Internal Width: Exceeds standard 19-inch EIA-310E rail spacing, giving you meaningful side clearance for structured cabling and horizontal cable managers without crowding equipment airflow paths.
- 1070mm Depth: Deep enough for full-length servers, large rack-mount UPS units, and high-density AV or surveillance appliances that routinely exceed the 700–800mm depth of lighter-duty cabinets. Measure your deepest appliance before ordering — 1070mm handles almost everything short of specialized telecom gear.
- White Steel Construction: Commercial-grade steel frame with white powder-coat finish. Suitable for network rack enclosure deployments in customer-facing or architecturally sensitive spaces where a standard black cabinet would be visually intrusive.
- Free-Standing Design: No wall anchoring required for installation. Position it anywhere with adequate floor load capacity. Free-standing also means it can be relocated without structural remediation — useful in leased spaces or evolving floor plans.
- UL 2416 and UL 60950-1 Listed: UL 2416 covers IT equipment rack and cabinet safety; UL 60950-1 covers safety for information technology equipment installed inside. Both listings matter for insurance compliance, code inspections, and enterprise procurement sign-off — especially in regulated environments like healthcare or financial services.
- EIA-310E Compliant Rail Spacing: Standard 19-inch mounting rails means every standard 1U/2U rack-mount device installs without adapters or custom brackets. Compatibility with the full universe of rackmount equipment is guaranteed at the rail level.
Integration and Compatibility
The AR3155W integrates with APC's NetShelter SX accessory ecosystem — side panels, roof panels, blanking panels, and rack PDUs sized for the SX line are all compatible. If you're building out a complete rack solution, pair this with an APC rack-mount UPS and a metered or switched PDU for power distribution and monitoring in a single managed stack. The EIA-310E rail compliance means third-party rackmount equipment from any vendor installs without modification. The white finish is specific to this variant — if your deployment requires matching black enclosures elsewhere in the facility, verify the AR3155W against the standard black NetShelter SX equivalent before committing to a mixed-finish installation.
For integrators planning a rack infrastructure deployment, the 1070mm depth and 45U height combination positions the AR3155W for mid-to-large deployments where both vertical density and equipment depth are constraints. It is not the right choice for shallow wall-mount applications or under-desk installations — for those, a smaller wall-mount enclosure in the NetShelter WX line would be more appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the rack unit capacity of the AR3155W?
A: The AR3155W provides 45U of usable rack space, suitable for a full complement of 1U and 2U network, security, and computing equipment.
Q: Is the AR3155W compatible with standard 19-inch rackmount equipment?
A: Yes. The AR3155W is EIA-310E compliant, which means it uses standard 19-inch rail spacing. Any standard rackmount device installs without adapters or custom brackets.
Q: What certifications does the AR3155W carry?
A: The AR3155W is listed to UL 2416 (IT rack and cabinet safety) and UL 60950-1 (information technology equipment safety). These listings support code compliance and enterprise procurement requirements in regulated environments.
Q: Why is the AR3155W white instead of the standard black?
A: The white finish is specific to this variant of the NetShelter SX line. It is designed for deployments in customer-facing, architectural, or office environments where a standard black datacenter cabinet would be visually out of place.
Q: Does the 1070mm depth accommodate full-length servers and large UPS units?
A: Yes. The 1070mm internal depth handles most full-length servers and rack-mount UPS units. Verify the depth of your deepest appliance prior to ordering — most commercial rack equipment falls well within this dimension.
Q: Can the AR3155W be used with APC NetShelter SX accessories?
A: Yes. As part of the NetShelter SX family, the AR3155W is compatible with SX-line accessories including side panels, blanking panels, and APC rack PDUs sized for the SX platform.
The AR3155W is one of those enclosures that gets specified for a very specific reason: the white finish. When a security or AV integrator is putting a rack in a lobby, boardroom, or open office environment, the standard black datacenter aesthetic is a nonstarter. The 45U capacity and 1070mm depth are identical in function to the black NetShelter SX equivalent — you are paying for the finish and the optics, not a different cabinet.
Technical Highlights:
- 1070mm Depth: This is the deciding spec for deep-appliance builds. Most rack-mount UPS units in the 3–10kVA range run 850–1000mm deep; the 1070mm clearance handles them without forcing a cable-crush fit at the rear door.
- UL 2416 Listing: Required by many enterprise and healthcare procurement policies. If your client's facilities team is asking for UL-listed enclosures specifically, this spec closes that conversation — it's on the label, not just a marketing claim.
- EIA-310E Rail Compliance: Standard 19-inch mounting means zero adapter cost across the build. Every patch panel, switch, NVR, and PDU drops straight in on Day 1 and on every future refresh cycle.
Deployment Considerations:
- The white finish requires more attention to cable management aesthetics — black cable lacing hides inside a black cabinet; in white, messy routing is visible through any ventilation cutouts or open sections. Budget time for clean dressing.
- Verify floor load capacity before positioning. A fully populated 45U cabinet with UPS, servers, and switches can exceed 500kg depending on the load — this is a free-standing unit, not a wall-mount, and the floor underneath it needs to support it.
The AR3155W is the right call for a high-visibility IT or security rack installation — a school administration office, a financial branch lobby, or a healthcare reception area — where the enclosure is in plain sight and the standard black cabinet would generate a facilities complaint within a week of installation.
