Bridge and wireway are both facilities used for cable laying, but there are significant differences in their structure, use, and installation methods. The following is a detailed comparison of them:

1. Definition and Usage 

Comparison Items Bridge Tray Cable Trunking 

Definition Open or semi-enclosed metallic/non-metallic support structure for carrying and protecting cables. Totally enclosed trough-like channel, mainly used for fixing and protecting wires and cables.

Uses Suitable for large-capacity cable laying (e.g. power cables, communication fibre-optic cables), commonly used in industry, data centres, large buildings. Suitable for small-scale wiring (such as lighting lines, weak power lines), common in office buildings, residential, shopping malls.

2. Structure and Classification 

(1) The main types of bridge 

Step type bridge: open structure, good heat dissipation, suitable for large diameter cables.

Trough type bridge: fully enclosed structure, dustproof and anti-interference, suitable for precision wiring.

Tray type bridge: semi-closed structure, taking into account the protection and heat dissipation.

Grid-type bridge: metal grid design, light and ventilated, suitable for data centres.

(2) Main types of trunking 

PVC trunking: insulated, lightweight, low cost, suitable for indoor dry environment.

Metal trunking (e.g. galvanised steel, aluminium alloy): fireproof, pressure resistant, suitable for industrial or outdoor environments.

In-ground trunking: buried in the ground, used in offices, showrooms and other places.

3. Main Differences and Comparisons 

Comparison Items Bridge Tray Wireway 

Structure Open/semi-closed (e.g. ladder type, trough type) Fully closed (e.g. PVC trunking, metal trunking) 

Load carrying capacity Strong (can support multiple large diameter cables) Weak (suitable for a small number of wires or small cables) 

Heat dissipation Good (especially for open-type bridge trays) Poor (easy to build up heat in closed environments) 

Protection Fair (open-type bridge trays are not dust-proof) Good (fully closed, dust-proof, rodent-bite proof) ) 

Installation method Hanging, wall mounting, bracket fixing Exposed wall mounting, concealed floor mounting 

Scenarios Power engineering, data centres, factories Home renovation, offices, shopping malls Lighting 

Costs Higher (materials + installation complexity) Lower (simple construction) 

4. How to choose?

Situations for choosing a bridge 

Large capacity cables (e.g. power backbone, fibre optic cables) need to be laid.

Environmental requirements Good heat dissipation (e.g. data centres, substations).

Flexibility to add or remove cables is needed (bridges are easy to maintain at a later stage).

Choice of trunking 

For small-scale cabling (e.g. socket lines, network cables).

Need Aesthetics and concealment (e.g. office, home improvement).

Environmental requirements Dustproof, anti-interference (such as precision instruments room).

5. Frequently Asked Questions 

Q1: Can I mix bridge and trunking?

Yes, e.g.: 

Use bridge (big cable) for trunk line and wireway (small wire) for branch line.

Use grid-type bridge (good heat dissipation) in the machine room, and use PVC trunking (beautiful) in the office area.

Q2：What is the difference between metal trunking and bridge?

Metal trunking is generally a small, fully enclosed structure suitable for a small number of wires; 

Metal bridges (e.g. trough bridges) are larger, suitable for multiple cables and may have an open design.

Q3: Do I use bridge or trunking for home improvement?

Usually use PVC trunking (low cost, easy to install), unless there are special needs (e.g. centralised cabling for multiple wires in a smart home).

Summarise 

Bridge: industrial grade, big cable, open type, good heat dissipation, suitable for machine room and factory.

Wireway: civil grade, small wires, fully enclosed, beautiful, suitable for home, office.

Selected according to the actual needs, can also be used in combination (such as the trunk bridge + branch trunking). If you need more specific installation examples or specification parameters, you can further add!