The primary factor forcing on-site assembly is an insurmountable physical or logistical barrier. A standard 49 RU rack has a usable internal height of 85.75 inches (49 RU x 1.75 inches/RU). When including the frame, top, bottom, and casters, the total external height typically exceeds 90 inches (7.5 feet or 2.29 meters). An elevator with a 7-foot (84-inch or 2.13-meter) ceiling cannot physically accommodate the assembled rack's height, even when tilted. This physical constraint makes pre-assembly and delivery impossible, thus forcing the rack to be built in its final location. CertEmpire.com

1. AVIXA. (2020). CTS Certified Technology Specialist Exam Guide, Third Edition. McGraw-Hill.

pp. 201-202.

This section on "Conducting a Site Survey" emphasizes identifying logistical and physical

constraints, such as "pathways for moving equipment," which includes the size of doorways,

hallways, and elevators, as critical data points that dictate installation strategy.

2. Middle Atlantic Products. (2023). BFR Series Freestanding Basic Frame Rack, BFR-49-32

Spec Sheet. Legrand AV.

Official vendor documentation for a typical 49 RU rack specifies an "Overall Height" of 91.16

inches (231.5 cm or ~7.6 feet), confirming that a fully assembled 49 RU rack will not fit into a

7-foot (84-inch) elevator.

3. AVIXA. (2017). ANSI/AVIXA 2M-2010, Standard Guide for Audiovisual Systems Design and

Coordination Process. p. 26.

This standard outlines the Construction Documents Phase, which includes verifying "pathways for

equipment and cabling." A site evaluation that reveals an elevator is too small directly impacts

these documents and forces a change in the installation plan, such as on-site assembly.