Panduit NK2BXWH-A NetKey 2-Port Surface Mount Box
Overview
The Panduit NK2BXWH-A is a 2-port surface mount box from the Panduit NetKey™ copper cabling line, designed for locations where a flush wall plate isn't practical — think cubicle partitions, exposed concrete pillars, equipment enclosures, or anywhere you're terminating a drop cable without a standard junction box behind the wall. The ABS housing accepts two standard keystone modules and carries a plenum rating, so it's code-legal in air-handling ceiling spaces without swapping for a separate plenum-rated housing. At 1.95 in × 1.12 in (49.5 mm × 28.6 mm) and 3.65 in overall length, the NK2BXWH-A (often searched as NK2BXWH A) is compact enough to sit unobtrusively on a workstation panel or wall surface without protruding significantly.
Key Features
- Plenum-Rated Housing: The ABS construction meets plenum air-handling requirements, which matters in open-ceiling commercial spaces. You won't need a separate plenum-rated enclosure or a fire-rated sleeve around the assembly — the box itself qualifies, simplifying your inspection signoff.
- 2-Port Keystone Capacity: Accepts any two standard keystone modules — Cat6A, Cat6, fiber LC, or multimedia inserts from the NetKey™ family. Running a data drop alongside a phone or VoIP jack to the same outlet? Both fit in one box, one clean footprint, without a multi-gang plate.
- Three Mounting Options: The box ships ready for adhesive tape, screw mounting, or an optional magnet — no single mounting method forced on you. Adhesive works fast on smooth surfaces like cubicle panels; screw mounting is the right call on permanent drywall or masonry; magnet attachment suits temporary installs or equipment that moves periodically.
- Integrated Label Window: An adhesive label area is built into the housing so you can mark port assignments, circuit IDs, or VLAN tags directly on the face of the box. In dense structured cabling environments, this cuts troubleshooting time when someone needs to trace a connection six months after install.
- White (Blanc) Finish: The white ABS color blends with standard office wall finishes, drop ceilings, and white cubicle panels. Matched to Panduit's broader NetKey™ faceplate and surface raceway color family, so mixed installations stay visually consistent.
- RoHS Compliant: The NK2BXWH-A meets RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) requirements, which is a procurement gate for many enterprise and government facilities. No additional compliance documentation needed for RoHS-restricted projects.
- Compact Form Factor: At 1.12 in tall and 1.95 in wide, this is one of the smaller 2-port surface housings on the market. On a high-density cubicle wall with multiple drops, the reduced footprint means you can stack installations closer together without crowding.
- ABS Material: The housing is molded from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), which strikes the right balance for an indoor surface mount application — lightweight, dimensionally stable, and impact-resistant enough for everyday handling in office or light commercial environments. It won't warp or discolor under typical indoor temperature ranges.
Integration & Compatibility
The NK2BXWH-A is built to accept standard keystone modules from Panduit's NetKey™ system, including copper Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6A jacks, as well as multimedia and fiber keystone inserts. If you're sourcing from Panduit's copper-systems catalog, any standard 8P8C keystone snap-in will seat correctly. The competitive cross-reference includes KSSMB2-88 and UNSMB-2P-WH, so if you're standardizing an existing install that used alternative brands and want to shift to Panduit, the NK2BXWH-A is the direct functional replacement — same port count, same mounting footprint class.
This box is appropriate for copper horizontal cabling terminations in TIA-568 structured cabling systems. Because it's plenum-rated, it can be deployed in plenum ceiling spaces alongside Cat6 or Cat6A runs without creating a code violation at the outlet end. Pair it with a surface raceway system for a fully surface-mounted copper pathway, or use it as a standalone outlet where a single drop terminates without a raceway.
What's in the Box
- 1× Panduit NK2BXWH-A 2-Port Surface Mount Box (white)
- Adhesive label (pre-applied for port ID)
Note: Keystone modules are sold separately. Mounting hardware (screws) and optional magnet are field-supplied or available separately. Carton quantity is 10 units per carton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the NK2BXWH-A plenum rated, and what does that mean for my installation?
A: Yes, the NK2BXWH-A carries a plenum rating. Plenum spaces are the open areas above drop ceilings used for HVAC air return — building codes require materials in these spaces to meet stricter flame and smoke propagation standards. A plenum-rated surface mount box means you can terminate a plenum cable run at this box without introducing a non-compliant component at the outlet end. No fire-rated sleeve or secondary enclosure required.
Q: What keystone modules fit in the NK2BXWH-A?
A: The NK2BXWH-A accepts two standard keystone modules. It is designed for Panduit's NetKey™ keystone family, which includes Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A copper jacks, fiber LC inserts, and multimedia keystones. Standard 8P8C snap-in keystones from other manufacturers that conform to the same keystone footprint will generally fit, but compatibility with third-party modules should be confirmed before committing to a large installation.
Q: What mounting methods does the NK2BXWH-A support?
A: Three mounting options are available: double-sided adhesive tape (for smooth surfaces like cubicle panels or equipment enclosures), screw mounting through the base (for permanent drywall or masonry installations), and an optional magnet attachment for temporary or repositionable deployments. The magnet is not included and must be sourced separately.
Q: Is the NK2BXWH-A RoHS compliant?
A: Yes. The NK2BXWH-A meets RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) compliance requirements. This is documented in the product specifications and satisfies procurement requirements for RoHS-restricted enterprise, healthcare, and government projects.
Q: What are the dimensions of the NK2BXWH-A?
A: The NK2BXWH-A measures 1.95 in wide (49.5 mm), 1.12 in tall (28.6 mm), and 3.65 in in overall length. It is a compact surface mount housing suited for high-density installations where minimal wall protrusion is a priority.
Q: What is the competitor cross-reference for the NK2BXWH-A?
A: The NK2BXWH-A is a direct functional equivalent to the Leviton KSSMB2-88 and the Legrand/On-Q UNSMB-2P-WH. If you are migrating an installation standardized on those models to Panduit NetKey™, the NK2BXWH-A provides the same 2-port configuration in a comparable form factor.
The NK2BXWH-A earns its place on any project where you need a plenum-rated 2-port outlet but a standard wall plate isn't an option. I've specified this box repeatedly for open-plan office refreshes where cubicle panels need data and VoIP drops without tearing into the building infrastructure — the three mounting options (tape, screw, magnet) are the practical differentiator here. At 3.65 in long and 1.12 in tall, it sits flat and unobtrusive, and the white ABS finish matches standard office cubicle panel surfaces without requiring a paint match.
Technical Highlights:
- Plenum Rating: Code-legal for air-handling ceiling spaces out of the box — no secondary fire-rated enclosure required at the outlet end. This is the spec that determines whether you can use this housing at all in your project; if the space is plenum, you need this, not a standard-rated box.
- Compact Footprint (1.95 in × 1.12 in): Noticeably smaller than some competing 2-port surface housings, which matters when you're stacking multiple drops on a narrow cubicle riser or equipment column where space between outlets is limited.
- RoHS Compliance: Satisfies the hazardous substances procurement gate for enterprise, healthcare, and EU-bound projects without requiring a special product variant or documentation request.
Deployment Considerations:
- Keystone modules are sold separately — budget and specify them alongside the NK2BXWH-A. The housing is empty on arrival; a common oversight on first orders is forgetting to include the jacks in the BOM.
- The adhesive tape and magnet mounting options are convenience features, not structural anchors. In high-traffic areas where the box might be knocked, screw mounting is the right call. The optional magnet is also field-sourced, not included, so plan for it separately if your design calls for repositionable outlets.
For a commercial office refresh or healthcare facility where plenum compliance is mandatory and the runs terminate at furniture rather than walls, the NK2BXWH-A is the right housing — not just a convenient one. Pair it with NetKey™ Cat6A keystones and a surface raceway for a fully code-compliant, cleanly finished horizontal copper pathway.
