Wall Mounted Electrical Cabinets: Benefits And Drawbacks
If you’re a facilities manager, electrician or simply operating in that field – you’ll understand the crucial role electrical enclosures play in ensuring safety, organisation, and accessibility. Especially in areas like data centres and server rooms, where maximising space and safety is paramount.
This is why wall-mounted metal electrical cabinets and GRP kiosks are such popular options across worksites and buildings across the planet. But, are they the right choice for every situation?
In this guide, we’ll use our 25+ years of experience providing enclosure solutions to deep dive into the benefits and drawbacks of wall-mounted cabinets. This is about giving you the information you need to make the decision yourself. If that ends in you wanting an electrical enclosure, then you’re already in the right place!
Advantages of Wall-Mounted Electrical Cabinets:
1. Space Optimisation: A Game-Changer for Cramped Environments
Floor space is a precious commodity, especially in industrial settings where every square foot counts. Traditional floor-standing cabinets, while offering a great storage option, can quickly eat into valuable real estate.
Wall-mounted cabinets, on the other hand, reclaim this precious floor space, freeing it up for critical equipment, workstations, or storage. This space-saving design is particularly beneficial in:
Compact control rooms: Where every inch matters, wall-mounted cabinets allow you to organise your electronics without losing functionality. You can easily maximise control room capacity for crucial monitoring systems while keeping everything readily accessible.
Data centres: Even in the ever-changing world of data storage and centres, space optimisation will always be important. In these rooms, quality airflow and heat dissipation are vital to keeping things running, and wall-mounted cabinets can allow for that by freeing up floor space for additional cooling systems or space.
Utility rooms: Often cluttered with pumps, filtration systems, and electrical panels, utility rooms can benefit significantly from the space-saving advantages of wall-mounted cabinets. These cabinets neatly organise essential electrical components, improving accessibility while freeing up floor space for maintenance tasks.
2. Enhanced Accessibility: Putting Efficiency and Safety at Your Fingertips
Imagine manoeuvring around bulky floor-standing cabinets to access electrical components for maintenance or troubleshooting, climbing high or ducking low to find what you’re looking for. Wall-mounted cabinets eliminate this challenge by placing electrical components at eye level or within easy reach.
This means you can expect faster response times. When every minute counts, quick access to electrical components is crucial. Wall-mounted cabinets allow technicians to identify and address issues promptly, minimising downtime and ensuring operational efficiency.
Not only that, but it can lead to improved work efficiency. Easier access to electrical components fosters a more efficient work environment for electricians and maintenance personnel. They can complete tasks quickly and safely, reducing fatigue and maximising productivity.
3. Safety First: Minimising Risks and Protecting Investments
Safety is paramount in any electrical environment; not just to protect your expensive equipment, but to protect your team, too. Wall-mounted cabinets offer several advantages that contribute to a safer work environment:
Protection from hazards: By elevating electrical components away from potential hazards like spills, floods, and dust accumulation, wall-mounted cabinets act as a physical barrier to the technology within. This helps safeguard it against water damage, short circuits, and fire risks.
Reduced risk of tampering: Positioning cabinets out of reach of children or unauthorised personnel minimises the risk of tampering or accidental contact, particularly important in areas with sensitive electrical systems. By putting equipment behind a locked cabinet, you can avoid potentially major issues in the future.
Enhanced safety: If an important piece of your equipment is sitting on the floor, it risks accidental damage from foot traffic. Elevating these will help protect your equipment from easy-to-avoid collisions.
Compliance with regulations: Many industries have strict regulations regarding the safe installation and accessibility of electrical components. Wall-mounted cabinets can be designed to comply with these regulations, ensuring your facility adheres to safety standards.
4. Cable Management: Keeping Things Tidy and Streamlined
Managing a maze of cables within traditional cabinets – or even without a cabinet at all – can be time-consuming and frustrating. Wall-mounted cabinets, when strategically installed, allow for organised and efficient cable management, which can lead to several benefits:
Reduced clutter: Cables are neatly routed and secured within the cabinet, eliminating unsightly and potentially hazardous clutter on the floor. This improves the overall aesthetics of the space while promoting safety, too.
Improved airflow: Organised cable management ensures proper airflow around electrical components, preventing overheating and equipment failure. This extends the lifespan of your valuable equipment and contributes to efficient operation.
Simplified maintenance: When cables are organised and easily accessible, troubleshooting and maintenance become significantly easier. Technicians can quickly identify and resolve issues, minimising downtime and improving overall system performance.
5. Aesthetics that Matter: Integrating Functionality with Style
Gone are the days of bulky, industrial-looking cabinets dominating your space. Modern wall-mounted electrical cabinets come in a variety of styles and finishes, seamlessly integrating into existing design schemes.
From sleek and minimalist designs to options with tempered glass doors, you can find cabinets that complement your overall aesthetic, even in areas where visual appeal is secondary to safety and function.
While aesthetics aren’t as important as keeping your team safe, a consistent design approach can lead to a more enjoyable workplace while maintaining your company’s branding, too. For example, our GRP enclosures come in a variety of different colours to match different environments.
Potential Drawbacks of Wall-Mounted Electrical Cabinets: A Balanced Perspective
While wall-mounted electrical cabinets offer numerous advantages, it’s essential to consider potential drawbacks before making a decision. While there aren’t many, it’s only fair for us to highlight potential – yet highly avoidable – issues you may encounter.
1. Installation Complexity: Careful Planning is Key
Unlike their floor-standing counterparts, wall-mounted cabinets require careful planning and installation. The weight of the cabinet and its contents must be accurately assessed to ensure the chosen wall can support the load safely and securely.
Why that’s okay: You’re probably used to careful planning if you’re researching wall-mounted cabinets, and this is only a little extra for all the additional benefits they provide. If you can organise a data centre or server room, you can likely organise mounting a cabinet to a wall.
2. Accessibility: Balancing Convenience with Reach
While accessibility is generally improved for maintenance and repairs, reaching high-mounted cabinets might necessitate ladders or special equipment if it’s placed too high, which could be a safety risk.
Why that’s okay: Wall-mounted cabinets can be installed as high or low as your room allows, and if you want to avoid them becoming inaccessible, simply put them at a level that you and others can easily reach them.
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We hope we’ve provided a balanced and fair look at wall-mounted electrical cabinets. If you don’t think these are right for you, we’d encourage you to look at our other solutions. However, if you’re interested in these cabinets, contact us today and we’ll help you with your purchase!
