NUMBER E24-C01

REV. NO. 1
ENGINEERING STANDARD DATE JUN 2001
PAGE 1 OF 4

Cable Trays Installation Requirements

This document is issued by Engineering Standards Section, SABIC R&D Complex, PO Box 42503, Riyadh 11551, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The information contained in this document is the confidential property of SABIC. It can not be disclosed, copied or used for any purpose
without prior approval from SABIC. If you are not authorized to possess this document, please destroy it immediately.
 NUMBER E24-C01
REV. NO. 1
Cable Trays Installation Requirements
DATE JUN 2001
ENGINEERING STANDARD PAGE 2 OF 4

CONTENTS

1. SCOPE ................................................................................................ 3
2. REFERENCES 3
3. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 3
3.1 Outdoor Conditions ........................................................................ 3
3.2 Storage/Transport Conditions 3
4. GENERAL 3
5. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ................................................................... 3
6. RECEIVING AND UNPACKING 3
7. INSTALLING CABLE TRAY 4
 NUMBER E24-C01
REV. NO. 1
Cable Trays Installation Requirements
DATE JUN 2001
ENGINEERING STANDARD
PAGE 3 OF 4

1. Scope
This construction standard defines installation requirements for the installation of cable tray system for
indoor and outdoor locations.

2. References
Reference is made in this standard to the following documents. The latest issues, amendments, and
supplements to these documents shall apply unless otherwise indicated.
SABIC Engineering Standards (SES)
E02-G01 Electrical Design Criteria
E24-S01 Cable Trays
E30-E01 Electrical Safety Standard
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
70 National Electrical Code (NEC)

3. Environmental Conditions
3.1 Outdoor Conditions
3.1.1 Ambient Temperature Range: 1°C to 50°C
3.1.2 Metallic surface temperatures reaching 75°C due to solar radiation.
3.1.3 Corrosive desert atmosphere with blowing sand and dust.
3.1.4 Relative humidity is 0 to 95 percent non-condensing
3.2 Storage/Transport Conditions:
3.2.1 Ambient Temperature: 0°C to 70°C.
3.2.2 Relative Humidity Range: 1 to 95 percent, non-condensing.

4. General
4.1 Any conflict(s) between this specification, SES and industry standards, engineering drawings, and
contract documents shall be resolved at the discretion of SABIC.
4.2 All work shall be done in a neat and workman like manner.
4.3 Any materials furnished by the Contractor shall be purchased new. All material shall be approved by
SABIC or their designated representative.
4.4 Electrical materials shall be UL listed. SABIC shall approve any exceptions. All cable tray and
accessories (such as splice and expansion plates, etc) shall meet the requirements of SES E24-S01.

5. Safety Precautions
All work shall be performed in accordance with SES E30-E01.

6. Receiving And Unpacking

6.1 Contractor shall examine and inspect material upon receipt for damage. Conduct visual inspection as
required to establish the condition of the material.
6.2 Unless a “deficiency report” is received, materials are assumed to be received in good condition and in
the quantity as specified complete with all required fittings.
6.3 If material is to be stored for an additional period, carefully close, repair, and restore shipping crates
and boxes so as to maintain the material in clean, and like new condition, and avoid loss of parts during
storage.
 NUMBER E24-C01
REV. NO. 1
Cable Trays Installation Requirements
DATE JUN 2001
ENGINEERING STANDARD PAGE 4 OF 4

7. Installing Cable Tray

7.1 Cable tray system installations shall meet the requirements of SES E02-G01, paragraph 17,
manufacturer’s instructions and the NEC.
7.2 All hardware and strapping shall be stainless steel.
7.3 Cable tray shall be supplied in standard 7315-mm (24 ft) lengths.
7.4 Cable tray shall be supported on straight horizontal runs at a maximum span of 6100 mm (20 ft) and
within 915 mm (3 ft) of fittings. Vertical cable tray runs shall be supported 2400 mm (8 feet) maximum.
7.5 All cable tray installed outdoors or cable tray installed indoors in areas of possible mechanical damage
shall be fitted with vented covers secured to the tray with stainless steel screws.
7.6 Cable tray fittings shall be of radii for the largest cable installed in the tray system.
7.7 Cable tray connectors shall be rigid straight, adjustable, or expansion type. Connectors shall be
installed with manufacturer supplied hardware and torqued to the manufacturers specifications.
7.8 Standard accessories used to supplement straight sections and fittings shall be dropouts, conduit
adapters, dead-ends, dividers, cable clips, tray to box connectors, and hold-down hardware.
7.9 Cable tray splices shall be made so that connectors between horizontal straight section of cable tray
runs fall between the support point and the quarter point of the span. Splice points shall not be made
directly over support joints.
7.10 Expansion joints shall be installed in each straight run of outdoor cable tray not to exceed 18.2 meters
(60 feet) in length and in each straight run of indoor cable tray not to exceed 36.5 meters (120 feet) in
length.
7.11 Cable tray systems shall be electrically and mechanically continuous without breaks or gaps except as
shown on the drawings.
7.12 All cable tray systems shall be connected to the plant grounding system at intervals of 150 meters
(490 feet) and at each end. Bonding jumpers, heavy duty tinned copper braid, shall be installed at all
expansion connectors. All cable tray systems shall be bonded together at intervals of 150 meters (490 feet)
and at each end.
7.13 The minimum working space around cable trays shall be 1020 mm (40-inches) on at least one side of
a single tray, 1020 mm (40-inches) on both sides of two trays installed parallel to each other. The minimum
vertical separation between trays shall be 510 mm (20-inches).
7.14 Cable shall be secured in vertical runs of cable trays by the use of stainless steel clips. Horizontal runs
of cable shall be secured through the use of black nylon, sunlight resistant cable ties. Cable ties shall be
installed every 1372 mm (54 inches) on horizontal runs and every 457 mm (18 inches) on vertical runs.
7.15 Cable trays shall only be cut along a line of plain metal and not through any perforations. After cutting,
all sharp edges shall be smoothed and where applicable, the finish shall be restored.
7.16 All cable splicing “T” or “Y” tapping within the tray shall be protected with heat shrink jackets.