TechMathsData center engineering
Build

Rack & Stack

Rack assembly, rail kits, server and switch mounting, load-balanced placement and labelling to a documented standard.

Get a quote for this serviceOur method
racks per crew per shift
4–6
racks per crew per shift
U positions labelled
100%
U positions labelled
as-built elevation return
Same day
as-built elevation return

What this service is

Rack & stack is where a design becomes physical. We build the rack the way the drawings say it should be built — load distribution, cable entry, airflow direction, PDU assignment, service loops — and we document what we actually installed so the next engineer does not have to guess.

Our crews work from your elevation drawings when you have them, and produce them when you do not. Every unit is placed against a written rack elevation, every device gets a printed label, and every change on site is fed back into the as-built pack before we leave the floor.

Deliverables you receive

  • Rack elevation drawings (as-built, PDF + DWG)
  • Asset register with serial numbers, rack/U position and PDU outlet
  • Photo pack of each completed rack: front, rear, label detail
  • Deviation log — anything that changed on site and why

What is included

  • Rack assembly, levelling, seismic and anti-tip kit where specified
  • Rail kit fitting for server, storage, PDU and shelf hardware
  • Device mounting with correct airflow orientation and cold-aisle alignment
  • Weight and load distribution planning against the rack and floor loading spec
  • Dual-feed PDU assignment and A/B power cord routing
  • Blanking panels fitted on every unused U to protect airflow
  • Machine-printed labels for devices, ports, power feeds and rack ID
  • As-built rack elevation sheets returned as PDF and DWG

What is not included

Stated up front so the scope boundary is never a surprise. Most of these are available as add-ons.

  • Structural floor reinforcement and seismic certification
  • Electrical works upstream of the rack PDU
  • Hardware procurement and warranty registration (available on request)
  • Any works requiring a licensed electrical contractor in-country

Method

How we deliver rack & stack

The same sequence every time, so progress is predictable and deviations are visible the day they happen.

  1. 01

    Elevation review

    We check your drawings against the hardware list, rack internals and power feeds, and raise conflicts before mobilisation rather than on the floor.

  2. 02

    Staging and check-in

    Hardware is unpacked, inspected against the packing list, serials captured and damaged units quarantined before anything enters the live hall.

  3. 03

    Rack build

    Rails, shelves and PDU brackets first, then devices bottom-up by weight, with airflow orientation verified per device.

  4. 04

    Power and labelling

    A/B feed assignment, cord dressing to the rack standard, and printed labels applied as devices go in — not retrofitted at the end.

  5. 05

    Verification

    Position, orientation, feed assignment and labels checked against the elevation, unit by unit.

  6. 06

    As-built handover

    Drawings updated, asset register exported, photo pack attached and deviations logged with the reason.

Tools we use

  • Torque-controlled drivers and calibrated torque wrenches
  • ESD-safe work surfaces, wrist straps and continuous monitors
  • Laser distance measures and rack levelling instruments
  • Thermal label printers and cable-ID print systems
  • Rack elevation and asset capture tooling

Standards we work to

  • TIA-606-D administration and labelling
  • TIA-942 / EN 50600 rack and cabling practices
  • ANSI/ESD S20.20 handling controls
  • Client rack standard where one exists

Where you already run a documented standard, that becomes our method for the duration of the project. We work to your rack standard, label scheme and change-control process by default.

Related work

Where this service has been delivered

All projects

Questions

Rack & Stack — the usual questions

Can you work from our drawings, or do you produce them?

Both. If you have elevations we build to them and return an as-built revision. If you have a hardware list only, we produce the elevation for your approval before the crew mobilises.

How many racks can a crew complete per day?

For a standard 42U build with mixed server and network hardware, a two-person crew typically completes four to six racks per shift including labelling and documentation. Dense storage or high-count network builds run lower.

Do you handle the hardware logistics?

We can receive, check in and store hardware on your behalf, and we capture serial numbers on arrival. Full freight forwarding and customs handling is available as an add-on.

What happens when something on site does not match the plan?

We stop, log it in the deviation log, propose the fix and get your approval before proceeding. Nothing is silently re-planned.

By market

Rack & Stack by country

Standards, safety regimes and test methods differ by market. Open the one you are building in.

Full coverage

Also delivered

Services that usually sit alongside this one

Structured CablingCopper and fibre builds, containment, patching, labelling, certification and test results you can hand to an auditor.Server InstallationPhysical install, ESD-controlled handling, firmware baseline, BIOS/BMC configuration and burn-in before handover.Commissioning & TestingEnd-to-end acceptance testing, documented results and a handover pack that stands up to audit.
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