Vertiv SR2N04020NAA1 20kW Row-Based Data Center Cooling System

Overview

The Vertiv SR2N04020NAA1 is a row-based cooling solution sized for dense rack environments where air distribution must stay close to the heat load. Sold under the SR2-4XIT family, this configuration covers two rows with a single cooling unit per row, delivering up to 5 kW per row and a combined 20 kW system capacity — without a redundant cooling path. That tradeoff is deliberate: if your thermal density falls within the 5 kW-per-row ceiling and downtime risk is acceptable during maintenance windows, the SR2N04020NAA1 trades redundancy for a lower capital footprint.

The rack envelope is 600 mm wide × 1200 mm deep × 1722 mm tall — standard 600×1200 data center aisle dimensions that slot into most existing hot-aisle/cold-aisle layouts without structural modification. At 364.1 kg, this is a fully loaded mechanical system; floor load planning and proper anchoring are prerequisites before delivery.

Key Features

• 20 kW Combined System Capacity: Two rows, each handling up to 5 kW (10 kW max per row under burst conditions), give you a defined thermal ceiling to plan rack loads against. If your average rack draw stays at or below 5 kW per row, this system keeps pace with the load without oversizing the cooling plant.
• One Cooling Unit Per Row: Each of the two rows gets a dedicated cooling unit rather than sharing capacity. This means localized heat rejection — a row spike in one aisle doesn't pull cooling resources from the other.
• No Redundancy Configuration: The SR2N04020NAA1 ships in a single-path cooling architecture. Budget-conscious deployments or secondary data rooms where scheduled maintenance windows are feasible benefit from the lower unit count. If N+1 redundancy is a site requirement, this SKU is not the right selection.
• 600 mm × 1200 mm Rack Form Factor: Standard EIA rack width and a 1200 mm depth accommodate most 1U–4U enterprise hardware. The 1722 mm height (approximately 40U equivalent) fits under standard 2.4 m raised-floor ceiling clearances common in retrofitted server rooms.
• 364.1 kg System Weight: At this mass, floor loading calculations must be completed before site prep. Most data center-grade raised floors support 1,000–1,200 kg/m²; confirm your floor rating against the installed footprint before committing to placement.
• Single Configuration SKU: The SR2N04020NAA1 ships in exactly one factory configuration — no field-selectable options or build variants. What you order is what arrives, simplifying procurement and delivery logistics for straightforward rollouts.
• A100 Input Breaker: The system is sized for an A100 input breaker, indicating the electrical service requirement on the input side. Verify that your panel capacity and branch circuit wiring match before installation to avoid commissioning delays.
• 5A/N Per Breaker Rating: Individual breaker sizing at 5A/N sets the circuit protection granularity within the system. This limits per-branch current draw and informs how load should be distributed across PDU circuits within each row.

Integration and Compatibility

Row-based cooling systems like the SR2N04020NAA1 are designed to operate within structured hot-aisle containment or cold-aisle containment architectures. Without containment, row cooling loses efficiency as bypass air mixes with return air streams — containment is not optional for this class of equipment to perform at rated capacity. The 600×1200 mm rack profile aligns with Vertiv's broader rack and containment accessory ecosystem, allowing blanking panels, containment doors, and overhead cable trays to be sourced within the same product family.

Integration with building management systems (BMS) or data center infrastructure management (DCIM) platforms depends on the specific controller module installed — consult Vertiv's configuration documentation for the SR2-4XIT family to confirm available communication interfaces before planning your monitoring stack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the maximum cooling capacity of the SR2N04020NAA1?

A: The SR2N04020NAA1 delivers up to 5 kW per row, with a maximum row capacity of 10 kW and a combined system capacity of 20 kW across the two-row configuration.

Q: Does the SR2N04020NAA1 include redundant cooling units?

A: No. This SKU is explicitly configured without redundancy — one cooling unit per row, no N+1 backup path. If your site requires redundant cooling, you'll need to select a different configuration within the SR2-4XIT family.

Q: What are the physical dimensions of the SR2N04020NAA1?

A: The rack measures 600 mm wide × 1200 mm deep × 1722 mm tall and weighs 364.1 kg fully configured. Floor load planning is required before installation.

Q: How many rows does this system cover?

A: The SR2N04020NAA1 covers two rows, with one cooling unit dedicated to each row.

Q: What input breaker does the SR2N04020NAA1 require?

A: The system is designed for an A100 input breaker. Confirm that your electrical panel and branch circuit wiring support this before scheduling installation.

Q: Is the SR2N04020NAA1 suitable for hot-aisle containment deployments?

A: Row-based cooling systems are engineered to work within containment architectures. Without hot-aisle or cold-aisle containment, bypass air mixing will significantly reduce effective cooling capacity. Containment is strongly recommended to achieve rated 5 kW/row performance.

Jerry Tildsen

The SR2N04020NAA1 is a deliberate spec — not a compromise. The 5 kW-per-row ceiling is the number that defines whether this unit belongs in your project. If your rack density math puts average draw at or below 5 kW per row and you have a realistic maintenance window strategy, the no-redundancy configuration saves you a cooling unit without sacrificing day-to-day performance. Where I see this deployed most effectively is in secondary data rooms and edge deployments where IT staff are on-site regularly and true 24/7 unattended uptime isn't the design requirement.

Technical Highlights:

• 5 kW/Row Capacity (10 kW Max Row): The SR2N04020NAA1's 5 kW continuous per-row rating sets a hard planning ceiling — load your racks beyond it and you'll thermally overrun the unit. Build in at least a 15–20% headroom buffer when calculating expected rack draw.
• 364.1 kg System Weight: This is a substantial mechanical load. Raised floor tiles need to be rated and properly supported under the footprint; assuming a standard 600×1200 mm footprint, point load concentration is a real commissioning risk if sub-floor structure hasn't been assessed.
• A100 Input Breaker Requirement: The A100 input spec means your electrical design needs to account for this at the panel level before the unit arrives on site. Late discovery of a mismatched breaker rating is one of the most common causes of delayed commissioning on row-cooling installs.

Deployment Considerations:

• Hot-aisle or cold-aisle containment is not optional for this system to perform at its rated 20 kW combined capacity — without containment, bypass air recirculation will reduce effective cooling well below the nameplate rating.
• The no-redundancy design means any cooling unit failure in either row immediately puts the served racks at thermal risk. Have a documented response plan (emergency portable cooling, load migration) before commissioning in any environment where hardware failure tolerance is low.

The SR2N04020NAA1 is well-suited to edge data rooms, secondary IT closets, and distributed enterprise deployments where rack density is moderate, staff access is regular, and budget constraints make a redundant cooling path a harder business case to justify.