Outdoor enclosures for 5G & telecommunications

Enclosure technology for network expansion

With network densification, active equipment is moving out of the air-conditioned indoor room: 5G radio sites, small cells, fibre distribution cabinets and edge nodes sit on the pole, on the façade or directly at the roadside. There, the enclosure has to do more than keep out water and dust (IP 54/55) — it is permanently exposed to UV, frost and summer heat, withstands vandalism and stone impact (IK10) and must not let the built-in electronics overheat over 15 to 20 years. Close to active radio equipment, electromagnetic compatibility comes on top.

For this, ZPAS supplies the SZD aluminium series — light, corrosion-resistant and dimensionally stable, double-walled for passive thermal insulation and with integrable ventilation, cooling or heat pump. Because every site is different, the cabinets are built on a project basis: as a series for the rollout of thousands of radio sites or as a one-off custom design with prepared cut-outs, 19″ level, cable entries and EMC-compliant surface — direct from our own production.

Typical applications in mobile and fibre networks

Requirements in the telecoms environment — clearly classified

Radio sites place their own demands on the enclosure. We implement them on a project basis and state openly what is standard and what is designed specifically for the order:

Key technical data

5G sites in practice: dense, hot and everywhere

The 5G rollout is fundamentally changing the requirements for outdoor enclosures. Instead of a few large exchanges, many small sites are emerging — on the pole, on the façade, at the roadside, on the roof. Each of them needs a power supply, baseband equipment, transmission equipment and usually a battery for bridging. The enclosure has to accommodate this equipment on a small footprint and still remain accessible for maintenance — with a 19″ level, well-thought-out cable routing and doors that can be opened even in tight surroundings.

The second challenge is heat. Baseband units and rectifiers run around the clock; at the same time, the sun additionally heats free-standing cabinets. Batteries, in turn, age rapidly if they are kept too warm for long periods. A 5G cabinet therefore needs a climate concept that separates the two: equipment compartment and battery compartment, each with suitable temperature control. Across thousands of sites, the energy consumption of cooling becomes a real cost factor — the AHP heat pump works here with a COP of up to 5 and provides heating in winter with the same unit.

On top of this come EMC requirements — radio equipment and sensitive transmission equipment in a confined space —, the demand for access protection (multi-point locking, optionally monitored door contacts) and network operators’ practice of expanding sites in stages: the bayable SZD system can be extended without replacing the existing cabinet.

Decisive for planners: no two 5G sites are alike. Plinth or pole mounting, access from one or both sides, a special size for the location — at ZPAS, exactly this variety is everyday series production, not the exception. You put together the basic design in the outdoor cabinet configurator; our design department takes care of custom versions.

Why ZPAS for 5G & telecommunications

ZPAS is a European manufacturer of enclosure and cabinet systems with over 50 years of experience and its own design department (80+ engineers). For mobile and fibre projects, this means: any special size, series for the rollout or one-off, with prepared equipment (thermal management, 19″ level, cable entry, EMC surface) — ready for operation from the factory. You can put together your specific design — dimensions, degree of protection, climate control and accessories — in just a few minutes in the outdoor cabinet configurator.

Planning checklist: outdoor enclosures for 5G sites

For radio sites, these points determine the design and operating costs — ideally clarify them before ordering:

• Location & dimensions: How much floor space is available on the pole, on the façade or on the roof? Special sizes are standard at ZPAS, but require design lead time.
• Heat balance: Add up the power loss of baseband, transmission equipment and rectifiers — plus the solar load at the site. The climate concept follows from this.
• Battery compartment: Control the temperature of the batteries separately from the warm equipment compartment — two climate zones noticeably extend battery life.
• Energy costs: With many sites, calculate the consumption of the climate control — the AHP heat pump cools and heats with a single unit (COP up to 5).
• EMC & earthing: Radio equipment and sensitive transmission equipment need a clean earthing and shielding concept.
• Access: multi-point locking, the operator’s profile half cylinder, optionally monitored door contacts for remote monitoring.
• Expansion: Choose a bayable system if the site grows in expansion stages — this saves replacing the existing cabinet.

For rollouts, ZPAS supplies identical series cabinets with complete documentation; deviations at individual sites (dimensions, mounting, climate control) are handled as variants of the same series.

Frequently asked questions — outdoor enclosures for 5G & telecommunications

Are the enclosures EMC-proof for operation close to active antenna equipment?

Yes, by design. For use directly next to active radio equipment, we supply a shielded version with a conductive, chromated aluminium surface and matching shielding and earthing concepts. The specific design is project-based — tell us your requirements and we will adapt the surface and construction accordingly.

How energy-efficiently can the active equipment be cooled?

Depending on the heat load, the range extends from passive ventilation and filter fans to air/air heat exchangers and the patented AHP heat pump with a coefficient of performance (COP) of up to 5. Across thousands of radio sites, this is a significant operating cost factor. The cooling & heating capacity calculator determines the right design.

Can UPS and battery modules be integrated?

Yes. We supply ventilated cabinets for emergency power and battery backup at the radio site, thermally separated from the active equipment on request. Dimensions, mounting levels and ventilation are designed for the specific modules and the heat load.

Are the cabinets bayable and expandable later?

Yes. The SZD series is bayable: a site starts with one cabinet and is extended with further cabinets as needed — mechanically and visually joined into a cabinet row, without replanning. The enclosure concept thus grows with the expansion of the site.

Which mounting types are possible — pole, plinth or wall?

All three: depending on the site, SZD cabinets are placed on a plinth or foundation, fixed to a pole or mounted on a wall. Brackets and cable entries are prepared for the mounting type at the factory — including drilling template and documentation for the installer.