Do You Know the Concept and Composition of Cable Trays?

2025-11-24 00:44:18

There is a wide variety of cable trays with inconsistent names across relevant standards, but the terms "tray" and "ladder" have been basically retained. On this basis, some standards have further subdivided categories, such as perforated trays, non-perforated trays, and wire mesh trays. During the construction of cable trays, various issues arise, including product selection and standard implementation. Some of these issues have been debated for a long time without effective resolution.

The Concept and Composition of Cable Trays

China's mechanical industry standard JB/T 10216-2013 Cable Trays for Electrical Control and Distribution defines cable trays as: "The full name of a rigid structural system that supports cables, consisting of straight sections, bends, accessories, and supports/hangers of cable trays or cable ladders."

This standard also specifies the main types of cable trays as: non-perforated trays, perforated trays, wire mesh trays, combined trays, double-sided non-perforated trays, double-sided perforated trays, ladders, and double-sided ladders.

Do You Know the Concept and Composition of Cable Trays?

China Engineering Construction Association standard T/CECS 31-2017 Technical Specification for Steel Cable Tray Engineering defines cable trays as: "A structural system with a certain rigidity, composed of a main body (tray or ladder), accessories, supports/hangers, and other components, used to support cable lines."

This standard also specifies that the main bodies of commonly used cable trays include: non-perforated trays, perforated trays, wire mesh trays, and ladders.

From the terms and definitions of the above two standards, it can be seen that a cable tray is a structural system, not a single component. The common statement that "cable trays include trays, ladders, etc." is not entirely accurate. Overall, the main types of cable tray bodies include various forms such as trays and ladders.

China's national standard GB 50303-2015 Code for Acceptance of Construction Quality of Electrical Engineering in Buildings does not reference the term "cable tray" but directly uses the terms "cable ladder," "cable tray," and "trough." It should be noted that the "cable tray" in GB 50303-2015 refers to the type without a cover, while the "trough" corresponds to the covered non-perforated tray specified in JB/T 10216-2013 and T/CECS 31-2017.