FRP cable trays are widely deployed in chemical, municipal, electric power and other fields by virtue of their superior properties including corrosion resistance, electrical insulation and lightweight structure. Nevertheless, various defects frequently occur during procurement, installation and on-site service, compromising project quality and service life.
Improper material selection is the most prevalent issue at the purchasing stage. Many buyers place orders blindly without considering actual service environments. Conventional resin-based cable trays applied under outdoor ultraviolet exposure or heavily corrosive working conditions tend to suffer from ageing cracking, colour fading and surface pulverisation. Meanwhile, low-cost alternatives often feature insufficient wall thickness and are produced without standard pultrusion processes, resulting in poor load-bearing capacity. Such trays sag and deform after cable laying, posing potential safety hazards. Purchasers shall select appropriate resin grades matching specific working conditions and verify product wall thickness as well as load parameters.
Numerous common misconceptions exist during installation and construction. First, disregard for thermal expansion properties leads to omitted expansion joints for long-distance laying; temperature fluctuations consequently cause tray extrusion deformation and joint cracking. Second, non-standard support spacing fails to comply with specifications: horizontal support spacing ranges from 1.5 m to 3 m while vertical spacing shall not exceed 2 m, resulting in unbalanced structural stress. In addition, indiscriminate use of ordinary metal supports without insulation separation impairs the intrinsic insulating performance of FRP trays.
A widespread misunderstanding in routine operation assumes corrosion resistance equates to maintenance-free service. After long-term operation, fasteners tend to loosen and tray surfaces accumulate dust and dirt; outdoor-mounted products are also susceptible to ageing damage. Regular inspection, fastener tightening and surface cleaning are therefore required. Protective fittings can be fitted for outdoor installations to extend tray service life and secure reliable cable operation.
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