Are stainless steel cable trays used for bridging

Stainless steel cable trays require dedicated grounding connections rather than traditional bridging plates to ensure proper electrical continuity and safety.

Bridging and Grounding

Unlike galvanized steel trays, which may use bridging plates or anti-loosening washers for conductive connections, stainless steel cable trays should use special grounding bolt holes at connection points to achieve proper grounding and bridging . This ensures that the tray system maintains electrical continuity and meets safety standards, particularly in corrosive or high-humidity environments where stainless steel is preferred .

Installation Considerations

• Connection Hardware: Use bolts provided by the manufacturer with anti-loosening nuts; avoid using anti-loosening washers alone .
• Conductive Connections: For cross-connections, insulated multi-strand copper wires with crimped tinned copper connectors can be used, with a minimum cross-sectional area of 4.0 mm² .
• Avoid Bridge Plates: Bridge connection plates should not be used to fix bolt holes on stainless steel trays, as this can compromise grounding integrity .

Advantages of Stainless Steel Trays

Stainless steel trays are highly corrosion-resistant and maintain structural integrity in harsh environments, such as chemical plants, marine settings, or areas exposed to de-icing salts . Proper grounding and bridging are essential to leverage these benefits while ensuring electrical safety.

Summary

In short, stainless steel cable trays do need bridging in the form of dedicated grounding connections, but traditional bridging plates used for galvanized trays are not recommended. Following manufacturer guidelines for grounding bolt holes and anti-loosening hardware ensures both safety and long-term durability of the tray system .