| Cable Tray is NOT A WIREWAY and is viewed as | | | | transverse members and provide solid side rail |
| a support for cables. This provides the designer | | | | protection and system strength with smooth |
| and user many benefits. Cable tray is the | | | | radius fittings and a wide selection of materials |
| pathway of choice for most electrical work, both | | | | and finishes. Generally used in applications with |
| for power and datacom. | | | | intermediate to long support spans of 12 feet to |
| Ladder Cable Tray consists of two longitudinal side | | | | 30 feet and as power cable or control cable |
| members connected by individual transverse | | | | support system. |
| members, and is designed for use as a power | | | | Channel Cable Tray: |
| cable or control cable support system. | | | | Channel Cable Support Systems consist of a |
| When metal ladder cable trays came of age, they | | | | one-piece, ventilated or solid bottom channel |
| were used to support the new armored shielded | | | | section, providing an economical support for cable |
| power cables that were permitted outside the | | | | drops and branch cable runs from the backbone |
| conduit environment. Utilities and industrial | | | | cable tray system. Generally used for installations |
| companies initiated the use of expanded metal | | | | with limited numbers of tray cable when conduit is |
| and solid trough-styled trays for supporting power | | | | undesirable and single power cable or multiple |
| and control cable. | | | | control or signal circuit cables are being supported. |
| Cable trays quickly proved their worth as a safe, | | | | Support frequency with short to medium support |
| dependable and cost-effective solution to routing | | | | spans of 5 to 10 feet. |
| and supporting cables. Installed cost savings of | | | | Trough Cable Tray: |
| over 50% on project after project drove the | | | | Consists of a ventilated or solid bottom contained |
| market for metal cable trays to over 80 million | | | | within longitudinal side members. Provides |
| dollars. | | | | moderate ventilation with added cable support |
| In any electrical installation, the structure type | | | | frequency and with the bottom configuration |
| used to support, fasten, direct, and protect the | | | | providing cable support every 4 inches. Available in |
| installed wire and cable runs is critical. That's why | | | | metal and nonmetallic materials. Generally used |
| choosing the appropriate pathway is so important. | | | | with control and instrumentation cables in |
| This article provides some useful guidelines use | | | | moderate heat generating applications with short |
| cable tray systems. | | | | to intermediate support spans of 5 feet to 12 |
| Following are the tools used for cable tray | | | | feet. |
| installations: Metal cutting saw, touch-up material, | | | | Fiberglass Cable Tray |
| leveling device, tape measure, C-clamp, torque | | | | Fiberglass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) cable |
| wrench, ratchet wrench, nylon laser, sealant for | | | | support systems provide reliable cable support in |
| cut edges, dust mask, cutting saw carbide or | | | | corrosive applications. Both polyester and vinyl |
| diamond tipped, appropriate safety equipments | | | | ester resin are available and all components |
| and other required accessories. | | | | incorporate U.V. inhibitors and a surfacing veil to |
| Types of Cable Tray: | | | | resist corrosive elements and meet ASTM E-84 |
| Ladder Cable Tray: | | | | smoke density rating; Polyester 680, Vinyl Ester |
| Ladder Cable Support Systems consist of two | | | | 1025 Class 1 Flame Rating and self-extinguishing |
| longitudinal side members connected by individual | | | | requirements of ASTM D-635. |