Thickness of cable tray tee

Cable tray tees should be manufactured with sufficient thickness to ensure mechanical strength, rigidity, and compliance with NEMA VE-1 or equivalent IEC standards, typically matching the thickness of the main tray sections.

Material and Standard Considerations

Cable tray tees, whether equal or unequal, are designed to maintain the structural integrity of the cable tray system at junctions . They must be made from materials such as steel, aluminum, or stainless steel, with finishes suitable for the installation environment . For metallic trays, the NEMA VE-1 standard specifies that trays must have adequate mechanical strength and rigidity to support the cable load plus a 20% spare capacity, with a safety factor of at least 1.5 .

Typical Thickness Guidelines

• Steel or aluminum trays: The thickness of tees generally matches the main tray sections to maintain uniform load-bearing capacity and prevent undue deflection .
• Stainless steel mounting channels and supports: Minimum thickness is often 2.5 mm for structural components, which can serve as a reference for tees in similar environments .
• Load and deflection considerations: Cable tray tees must support the static weight of cables and any additional concentrated loads (e.g., 890 N at mid-span) without collapse, and deflection should be limited (e.g., maximum 12 mm for all span lengths), .

Design and Installation Notes

• Tees should be designed to accommodate the same support spacing as the main tray run, typically 1.5 m for rod or bracket-supported systems .
• When ordering, specify the widths of all three branches (W1 x W2 x W3) to ensure proper fit and structural performance .
• Material selection should consider corrosion resistance, environmental exposure, and mechanical properties such as hardness and tensile strength .

Summary

To ensure safety and compliance, cable tray tees should have a thickness equal to or slightly greater than the main tray sections, meet NEMA VE-1 or IEC standards, and be capable of supporting the intended cable load plus a safety margin. Stainless steel tees in demanding environments typically use a minimum of 2.5 mm thickness, with proper design to limit deflection and maintain rigidity .