When designing a cable management system for your new or existing facility, consider using a fiberglass (FRP/GRP) cable tray over traditional materials. Non-metallic cable trays provide superior protection in harsh environments where corrosion resistance and long life span are important factors.
There are many who still believe that steel outweighs the competition, which is true in that steel does, quite literally, outweigh fiberglass. However, fiberglass provides the same strength-to-weight ratio at just one-third the weight of steel. This allows for an easier, more cost-effective installation. In addition, this weight savings provides tremendous life cycle cost savings. In addition to being resistant to corrosion, the fiberglass cable tray is also non-conductive and non-magnetic, therefore reducing shock hazards.
Fiberglass Cable Trays for Industrial Environments
Fiberglass cable trays are made for durability. Because of this, they’re primarily used for harsh environments that would corrode other materials. This includes marine, industrial, chemical, and construction environments.
Enduro’s fiberglass cable trays have also been used to house communications, fiber optics, and hydraulic tubing. As they’re designed for optimal safety and longevity, our clients in this industry consistently choose Enduro to serve this need.
Enduro’s fiberglass cable trays are designed for quality and performance for the long haul. Depending on your needs, you can choose a perforated tray or solid tray and then add additional slots for straps to keep cables in order if needed. These fiberglass cable tray systems have channels that organize the cables and keep them from bunching and rubbing together--a problem that can spell trouble for cables anywhere.
Where some companies are building new facilities and need to design their safety features from the ground up, other clients need to retrofit old applications to protect their assets for the long term. A factory might be discovering potential hazards of their antiquated steel trays. Our goal is to get them up to speed with what they need and ensure that the solution is the perfect fit.
Benefits of a Fiberglass Cable Tray
The benefits of using a fiberglass cable tray over steel are unmatched, depending on the application. A few key advantages of FRP cable tray include:
- Corrosion-resistant
- High strength
- High durability
- Lightweight
- Fire retardant
- Easy installation
- Non-conductive
- Non-magnetic
- Does not rust
- Reduce shock hazards
- High performance in marine/coastal environments
- Available in multiple resin options & colors
- No special tools or hot-work permit required for installation
Fiberglass cable trays are also referred to as fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) cable trays, non-metallic cable trays, and glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) cable trays. They are tested to meet NEMA FG-1 standards and meet all self-extinguishing requirements. Enduro cable trays are UL listed, ABS approved; additionally, Enduro, as a whole, is ISO 9001:2008 certified.
Our fiberglass tray also meets NEMA 20C rating for 100 pounds per foot over a 20-foot span. This means that due to its unique manufacturing process, Enduro's fiberglass cable tray can load more than 100 pounds per linear foot with a twenty-foot span. For more information about NEMA class ratings please download our catalog.
Switch to Fiberglass Cable Trays
Why switch to fiberglass cable trays? While metal trays have endured for a century for their durability, they are still conductive and prone to rust and corrosion. Cable coating technologies have evolved to better contain electrical currents, but that doesn’t mean that we should be more lenient with what we use to organize the cables themselves.
Fiberglass is made to last 25-30 years and will not deteriorate. It’s also referred to as “glass wool” and dates back to 1932. It was originally used as safe, flame-resistant insulation. The fiberglass we know today was actually invented by accident. In an attempt to weld two pieces of glass together, a compressed air stream hit the blocks and turned the blocks into fibers. After many years of refinement, this material has also been used for airplanes, cars, and boat parts due to its unfailing durability.
Using fiberglass cable tray systems will ensure that your work locations are ahead in the race with safety no matter the working conditions. Additionally, they are an investment that will outlast most of your equipment and can be re-used when you’re ready to upgrade the facilities.
If you still don’t believe that a fiberglass cable tray system is the best solution for harsh conditions, take a look at a few of our project case studies like this one from a Chlor-Alkali facility. We also encourage you to contact us and speak to an expert who can answer your questions and provide a custom solution for your need.