In nearly every aspect of our lives, both personally and professionally, there is wiring involved somewhere. It is how we share information with one another, how we communicate with each, and a litany of other applications.
Cable trunking is how those wires are organized and protected. There are serious benefits to implementing cable trunking, not to mention the different types and uses that you’ll find.
Plastic Trunking
Plastic is probably the most popular choice for cable trunking because it’s both cheap and very simple to install. It’s also a bit sturdier than you would think, able to stand up to daily hazards like moisture and dirt. Plastic also comes in both flexible and rigid lengths, depending on whether you need greater routing convenience or improved protection.
Generally speaking, you are going to find cable trunking in PVC and UPVC. That said, you may also find polyamide, polypropylene, and ABS conduit. Flat PVC is quite common in a variety of workplaces like office space. Another major perk of plastic trunking is the range of widths and diameters. No matter what situation or setting you are facing, there is probably plastic trunking that can accommodate.
Metal Trunking
If you need heavy-duty trunking options, it had better start with metal conduit trunking. This type of trunking is very rigid and sturdy, coming in a huge array of diameter sizes to fit the various cable types and sizes that you might come across. Metal trunking is also available in a slim, square, or round profile to fit whatever need you are facing.
For most metal trunking, you are going to be dealing with galvanized steel. Wherever you are going to be contending with moisture, galvanized steel is going to be the best option. For areas where there is little moisture but visible exposure, stainless steel can be a preferred option because it is both durable and looks great.
Used in Office Settings
One of the most common places that you will find cable trunking is in office settings. This is mostly seen with individual computer terminals where wires and devices all need to be connected. Rather than leaving the wires just hanging around, where they can potentially become damaged or turn into a tripping hazard, trunking can provide a neat, safe, and organized situation.
This is also a setting where devices need to be changed out intermittently. Rather than having to untangle wires and attempt to remove them with potential electrical hazards, proper organization can make it easy to swap out devices. More importantly, it prevents the risk of a potential electrical fire from starting because of the congested placement of those wires or cables.
Server Rooms
While these might seem pretty similar to office settings, there are major differences that matter. Cable trunking is critical because there are not only a ton of cables and wires in a small space but there is also increased chance of fire due to the immense heat generated by the servers. Depending on the size of the room, it will only become more complicated to manage without the proper tools to do so.
Cable trunking serves two purposes in a server setting. It ensures that the wires and cables will remain protected from overheating or, in a worst-case scenario, fire. It also helps provide technicians with a more reasonable space from which to work. There can be hundreds of cables and wires in the average server room as it is. Having to sift through a tangled mess means that any repairs or replacements take even longer, potentially resulting in a more expensive fix or extended delays to critical services.
