Cooper B-Line recently reported results of what it describes as extensive laboratory testing, which showed that its metallic cable ladder system can maintain its normal load-carrying capacity even when the system's structural steel supports are reduced by as much as two-thirds. The company says its testing showed the ladder systems "are able to be supported by fewer structural steel supports than are typically applied in heavy industrial environments," and company president Daniel Castillo added that this capability "provides end users with a system to reduce engineering complexity, procurement and installation costs."
The company points to five features in particular that enable this reduced support requirement.
- I-Beam side rail design. "This unique feature allows the system to carry up to 2.3 times more load than a traditional C-channel side rail," Cooper B-Line says.
- Ability to maximize options for proper materials selection while meeting each application's design criteria.
- Standard splice plates' ability to enhance the system's structural integrity and maximize splice-to-rail engagement for load-carrying optimization.
- Specialty splices' ability to enhance structural integrity while accommodating for thermal expansion and contraction in variable-climate applications.
- Fitting design that features tangents up to 100mm to maximize the system's strength.
A resource center on Cooper B-Line's website includes a material- and labor-savings calculator, test reports, and recommended support drawings. You can access the resource center here.