Cable Bridges
Teksten forneden er maskineoversat fra den tyske originaltekst.
Useful information about cable bridges
Workplaces, electrical devices and machines are not always on the wall or in areas where it is possible to supply cables for power supply, network, telephone or similar connections directly. For more information on cable bridges, please refer to our guide.
-
What are cable bridges?
-
Which versions are available and what must be taken into account when selecting cable bridges?
-
Cable bridges for indoor and outdoor areas
Workplaces, electrical devices and machines are not always on the wall or in areas where it is possible to supply cables for power supply, network, telephone or similar connections directly. Typical examples are free-standing desks in the office, presentation technology for conferences and meetings, electronic displays on trade fair stands or in sales rooms, audio and video equipment for events, but also technical equipment in the production, laboratory, test field or workshop. Cables lying around on the floor where people have to walk around can be dangerous tripping hazards and must therefore be avoided as an important measure of accident prevention. The legislator has prescribed this in the Labor Regulations (§3 (1) ArbStätV/Annex 1.5). This is primarily intended to prevent personal injury caused by falls such as bruises or bone fractures. However, it is often also the case that, in the event of such an accident, property damage is not insignificant Devices with the cable are torn from the work table and fall on the floor. If it is not possible to lay the cables under the carpet, in the corresponding cable ducts or from the ceiling, only a suitable cable bridge will help.

Cable bridges prevent cables lying around on the floor from becoming trip hazards.
What are cable bridges?
A cable bridge is a flat bottom cable channel made of metal, rubber or plastic , for example Aluminum, PVC, polyurethane, etc., into which the cables are inserted and which is shaped so that it does not represent a trip hazard. For this purpose, the upper side is designed in a flat upward curve, so that a person running above it cannot hang here with his foot. Of course, the material is slip and slip-proof. If necessary, the surface of the surface may also be provided with riffelings as an anti-slip surface. In some cases, cable bridges are also colored in such a way, e.g. bright yellow, that they clearly stand out from the color of the ground and can be recognized so well. In order to prevent the laid cable bridge from being moved, some versions on the underside are equipped with adhesive tape, which is used to fix the channel on the floor. Most cable bridges use the cables from the top, but there are also versions where the cables are inserted from the bottom. Others have closed cable ducts through which the cables must be routed.

PVC cable bridge semi-circular with three cable channels

Which versions are available and what must be taken into account when selecting cable bridges?
Cable bridges are available in different designs, so that a suitable solution is available for practically every application. The most important selection criteria are the number of cables to be laid in the channel and the distance to be bridged. There are versions for one, but also for up to seven cables. The maximum length is usually within the single-digit meter range . If larger distances are to be bridged, certain versions can be connected to each other. A plug-in mechanism, a suitable coupling or connecting pin connect the individual cable channels firmly with each other. Couplings are also available in corner design, so that the cable routing can also be laid around the corner. Some plastic and rubber versions are flexible and can also be bent within certain limits . In addition, end pieces are also offered as additional accessories, which close the cable bridge at the end, whereby the corresponding number of cables are provided with bushings.
Cable bridges for indoor and outdoor areas
The so-called tunnel band is available as an alternative to a fixed cable bridge. It is a robust adhesive tape with a pocket-shaped plastic foil on the top, through which the cable is pulled. The whole thing is then glued on to the floor. With such tunnel bands, even complicated routing processes of the laying paths can be realized. This solution is extremely flexible and quick to install, which is why it is often used for short-term laying of cables on stage, for example, at concert events, or when a projector is placed in the auditorium for a presentation.
Another important selection criterion is the expected load on the cable bridge. In the usual office or living environment, only the footfall load of people running across the canal actually occurs. In this case, plastic or rubber versions are usually sufficient. For barrier-free areas, for example Wheelchair users, there are special cable bridges with long, flat ramps that can be easily overcome by a wheelchair or roller shutter. sind.
In outdoor, production and laboratory areas, much higher loads can occur, e.g. Motor vehicles, trucks, forklift trucks, lifting trucks or similar vehicles that must cross the cable bridges. So-called heavy-duty cable bridges are available for this purpose. Because cable bridges in outdoor areas can also be exposed to sunlight, make sure that the plastic is UV-proof. In laboratory and production areas, cable bridges must in some cases also be resistant to oils a

nd acids.
For thick cables or hoses, there is the so-called hose bridge . This ensures that even a vehicle that rolls over the obstacle can overcome the obstacle without squeezing the hose or the cable.
All technical data, such as number of cables, length, material, load capacity and area of application inside and/or outside, are specified for each cable bridge.