Busway distribution [/ˈbuswai ˌdɪstrəˈbjuʃən/] n - Busway (or busbar) is a prefabricated overhead track of enclosed copper or aluminum conductors that runs the length of a row of racks. Rather than pull a dedicated conduit for every cabinet, you click a tap-off box onto the busway wherever a rack wants power.

It stands as an alternative to the Remote power panel approach for carrying circuits from the Power distribution unit to the Rack power distribution unit:

• Busway [/ˈbʌswæi/] n - power runs overhead; capacity is added by snapping on a tap-off. Ideal for high-density, oft-changing halls.
• RPP + conduit [/ˈrpp ˈkɒndʌɪt/] n - power runs through panels and fixed conduit. Simpler, but every change is an electrician’s errand.

The flexibility matters because rack power densities keep climbing; busway lets operators re-provision a row without rewiring it. Each rack still typically draws from two independent busways (an A bus and a B bus) to satisfy Redundancy topologies, and both share the building’s Grounding and bonding system. The bus carries standard The Current That Comes in Threes, and the per-tap metering supports Power usage effectiveness tracking.

Part of The Engines of the Hall.