Submittal

RKAT05--WW-ENG, Rev 0, 12/2015

Panduit Net-Access™ Cabinet Doors Keep Data Center Equipment Cool and Secure

Figure 7. Force required to penetrate perforated patterns with a #2 Phillips screwdriver.

The data shows that as the percent open area of the perforated pattern increases from 57% to

69%, the force required to penetrate the pattern decreases by 24%. An increase to 80% open area

reduces the force required to half of the 57% open area pattern’s required force. The 80% open

area pattern requires 34% less force to penetrate than the 69% open area pattern.

It is clear that increasing the percent open area of a cabinet door’s perforated pattern has a

negative effect on the door’s effectiveness as a security feature.

Conclusions

This study shows that increasing the percent open area of a data center cabinet door’s perforation

pattern has beneficial and detrimental effects on two of the door’s primary functions: security and

cooling efficiency. While increased percent open area reduces resistance to cooling airflow, it also

reduces the strength of the door and its ability to prevent malicious access to the IT equipment

housed in the cabinet.

The ANSI/BICSI 002-2014 best practice specifies a minimum total open area standard for cabinet

doors, but the percent open area of the perforation pattern is only one factor used to calculate this

value. Panduit Net-Access™ cabinets, with their 69% open area perforation pattern, all exceed the

ANSI/BICSI 002-2014 AFC

minimum value.