Cable Tray is a metallic or non-metallic structural system used to support, protect and manage cables, which is widely used in electric power, communication, construction and industrial fields. Its main role is to lay cables in an orderly manner, to ensure that the cable is safe, neat and easy to maintain, while meeting the requirements of fire, corrosion, load-bearing and so on.

The main use of cable tray

1. Cable support and protection

Carrying the weight of the cable: the bridge provides mechanical support to prevent the cable from sagging or being damaged by external forces due to self-weight.

Protective effect:

Anti-mechanical damage: to avoid the cable being squeezed, friction or accidental damage.

Dust and moisture prevention: Closed type bridge (such as trough type, tray type with cover) can reduce dust and moisture intrusion.

Fire-retardant: metal bridge (steel, aluminium alloy) has fire-retardant performance, and part of it adopts fire-retardant coating or composite material.

2. Cable management and wiring

Neat wiring: the bridge makes the cables arranged in an orderly manner to avoid clutter, easy to identify and maintain.

Flexible expansion: cables can be added or replaced at any time to adapt to future expansion needs (e.g. data centres, factories).

Layered laying: cables of different voltage levels or purposes can be arranged in layers (e.g. strong power and weak power separation) to reduce interference.

3. Adapt to different environments

Industrial environment: chemical plants, power stations and other places need to be corrosion-resistant (such as galvanised, stainless steel bridge).

Outdoor installation: waterproof and UV-proof bridge is suitable for open-air environment (e.g. photovoltaic power station, bridge).

Data centre: High-density cabling requires bridges with good heat dissipation and electromagnetic shielding performance.

4. Improve safety and compliance

Code compliance: meets electrical installation standards (e.g. GB 50217, IEC 61537, NEC standards).

Reduce the risk of fire: metal bridges can stop the spread of fire, and some are designed with fireproof partitions.

Anti-electromagnetic interference (EMI): shielded bridge can reduce signal interference, suitable for communication and medical equipment.

Main types of cable trays and applicable scenarios

Type Characteristics Typical application

Step type Open structure, good heat dissipation, low cost Power cable, plant, substation 

Tray type Bottom closed, strong protection Data centre, office building, shopping malls 

Trough type Fully closed, dustproof and moisture-proof Chemical industry, hospitals, precision laboratories 

Grid type Lightweight and flexible, well ventilated IT server room, weak power system (optical fibre, network cable) 

Large span Strong load-bearing, large span (3~12 metres) Large factory buildings, airports, stadiums