R&M 19″ 1U PC Patch Panel 24-Port/u, Cat. 6A, Gray, Empty (R813486)

The R&M 19″ 1U PC Patch Panel 24-Port/u is an unpopulated, Category 6A-ready structured cabling panel built to hold up to 24 unshielded RJ45 connection modules, supporting Class EA transmission channels with up to four plugged connections. It occupies a single 1U of standard 19-inch rack space and combines a fiber-glass-reinforced polycarbonate front with a galvanized steel body, finished in medium gray (NCS 2502-B) with blue-chromatized steel. As an empty panel, it ships without pre-installed modules, giving installers the flexibility to populate ports as Cat6A circuits are actually needed. This panel suits Nairobi data centers and enterprise network rooms preparing for 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T) infrastructure without committing to a fully populated panel on day one.

Design and Construction

The panel body combines polycarbonate, fiber-glass-reinforced, halogen-free plastic (UL94 listed) with a steel frame (DC01, 1.5mm), giving it both the flame safety rating expected in commercial cabling and the structural rigidity needed for a densely loaded 1U rack space. The front is finished in medium gray (NCS 2502-B), with the steel body in blue, chromatized finish. An integrated cable tie shelf helps manage patch cord slack directly at the panel, keeping cable runs tidy as the rack fills up. Labeling fields with exchangeable labeling strips are built into the panel face, supporting clear, ongoing port identification as circuits are added.

Category 6A Readiness

This panel is prepared to accept R&M’s unshielded Category 6A RJ45 connection modules, supporting transmission channels up to Class EA performance with as many as four plugged connections per channel. Category 6A modules compatible with this panel are backward compatible with Category 6 and Category 5e, and support 10GBASE-T applications in accordance with IEEE 802.3 at up to 500 MHz over a full 100-metre channel — a meaningful step up in bandwidth headroom compared to standard Cat6 patch panels, suited to networks anticipating higher throughput demands.

Modularity and Termination

As an empty panel, ports are populated and terminated individually, meaning installers aren’t locked into a single factory configuration and can fit modules as circuits are commissioned. This individual-termination approach also means a fault or change on one port doesn’t require disturbing neighboring, already-terminated connections — a practical advantage in active production networks where minimizing downtime during maintenance matters.

Color Coding and Infrastructure Management

The panel’s ports are prepared for a visual color coding system, supporting R&M’s snap-in coding clips for at-a-glance circuit identification, along with compatibility with automated infrastructure management systems for larger deployments that track port-level connectivity electronically.

Installation Characteristics

The panel is built to standard 19-inch, 1U rack-mount dimensions and includes a 19″ fastening kit for direct installation into standard equipment racks or cabinets. The integrated cable tie shelf and labeling fields are designed into the panel body itself, reducing the need for separate cable management accessories at the point of installation.

Supported Applications

• Enterprise and data center structured cabling, preparing for 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T) over a Class EA channel
• Phased Cat6A rollouts, where ports are populated incrementally as higher-bandwidth circuits are commissioned
• High-density server room racks, where individual port termination and integrated cable management support ongoing moves, adds, and changes
• Future-proofed office and campus networks, upgrading horizontal cabling ahead of anticipated bandwidth growth

Who This Patch Panel Is Best Suited For

• Data center and enterprise network architects planning Cat6A infrastructure to support current and future 10 Gigabit Ethernet demand
• Cabling contractors on phased Cat6A upgrade projects, populating ports incrementally rather than purchasing a fully loaded panel upfront
• IT infrastructure managers in Nairobi commercial buildings standardizing on R&M’s Cat6A ecosystem for compatibility with existing R&M modules and management tools
• Facilities anticipating future bandwidth growth, such as media, healthcare imaging, or high-density office environments where Cat6 headroom is becoming insufficient
• Network teams managing dense, frequently modified racks, benefiting from individual port termination and integrated cable tie management during ongoing maintenance

Specifications