FRP Cable Trays – A Comparison with Metal Cable Trays

FRP Cable Trays have been gaining enormous popularity among different industrial plants across Indonesia. While many still believes metal cable trays are still prevalent in the context, we are here to compare it with FRP Cable Trays and look into what they both can offer.

1. FRP Cable Trays provide Corrosion Resistance

GRP/FRP - Excellent corrosion resistance against acidic solutions like sea water and most chemicals.

METAL – Very poor corrosion resistance. Galvanic damages are suffered from sea water and other chemical solutions. 

2. Hot Working

GRP/FRP -No Hot working, everything is assembled with simple nuts and bolts.

METAL – Requires a lot of welding among joints, takes a larger time span for installation.

3.Light weight

GRP/FRP – Very Light.To put things into perspective, it weighs Sp.gr. 1.9, 1/4th that of steel, even lighter than Aluminum(sp.gr.2.8), just one person required to lift a big size cable ladder, so very easy and fast Installation, saving time and money.

METAL -Very heavy, 4 times to GRP/FRP, leading to a costlier installation and shipment cost.

4. Fire Retardant

GRP/FRP -Meets most stringent industrial standards, like offshore fire resistance norms as per British, ASTM and UL specifications.

METAL – Easily disintegrates into different forms, when suffer in high temperature.

5. Installation Cost

GRP/FRP – Installation is relatively low for the light weight it provides. It is easier to cut, and fabricate at site thus faster installation and easy site adjustment and modifications.

METAL – Installation cost for metal cable tray is very high. It takes 2-3 person to lift the material, and takes special equipment for cutting and fabrication.

6. Risk of cable damage

GRP/FRP -Very low, as being plastics has much less hardness, mold ability and even its sharp edges cannot damage a cable.

METAL -When any site modification is done, sharp edges are created in metal which can cause damage to cables and pose risk of current.

7. FRP Cable Trays have High insulation and Safe

GRP/FRP -No earthing of cable tray is required as it has high Insulation value. In case of any cable stripping, the tray is safely insulated to prevent accidental electrical shocks.

METAL -Earthing is must, hence cost of earthing increases overall cost, which is not generally considered when evaluating.

8. FRP Cable Trays have high U.V. resistance

GRP/FRP -All GRP/FRP cable Trays are made from very high U.V. additives, in addition to special surface coating Veils for glass blooming prevention, and carbon black paint for additional U.V protection

METAL –Metal Materials have no evident to have U.V. resistance.

9. Antistatic FRP Cable Trays

GRP/FRP - Cable trays are available in antistatic option as well for oil hazardous areas on demand, thus safe even in hydrocarbon atmosphere.

Contact address:

Lot 5181, Batu 12, Jalan Balakong,
43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia

Tel : +603-89616576/77
        +012-3310 652
Fax : +603-89616566
Email : enquiry@aceonfrp.com
Web : www.aceonfrp.com

Indonesia Address:
Jl. Jembatan Dua Raya No. 16-06
Jakarta 14450
Indonesia