Network Communications News (NCN) April 2016 | Page 20

F E AT U R E

cable management systems

and commercial applications. After
fabrication, a steel component is
immersed in a bath of molten zinc;
the zinc forms an alloy with the steel
component, protecting it from corrosion.
When installed in external
environments, such as petrochemical
plants, the dissipation rate of the zinc
will increase, but in most situations hot
dip galvanising remains an extremely
effective corrosion resistant finish.

Deep galvanising
A deep galvanised finish boasts all of
the characteristics of post galvanizing,
but with a much thicker zinc coating. In
more corrosive environments, such as
marine and offshore, this can increase
the lifecycle of the coating by as much
as three times when compared to a
standard hot dip galvanised finish.
Due to the silicon bearing steels, the
chemistry of the galvanising process
changes, resulting in the zinc coating
continuing to increase in thickness as
long as the steel remains immersed.
Cable management specification should be tailored to the specific requirements of each installation.

Electroplated zinc
Commonly known as zinc-plate or bright
zinc plated (BZP).
The electroplating process is
generally used when an attractive and
bright decorative finish is required.
In the context of cable management,
this finish usually applies to wire
mesh and the general fixings used
throughout other ranges. As the name
suggests, the components have an
electric current passed through them
while immersed in a bath of zinc
ions. Components can be coloured
if necessary by adding dye to the
process. This finish is generally used

Nigel Leaver has worked
in cable management
for almost 30 years and
joined Legrand 21 years
ago in a customer service
role. After becoming a
customer service manager,
he moved into technical
support and quotations
before being appointed as
lead marketing manager
for Legrand’s cables
management business
eight years ago.

for low corrosive internal applications,
such as offices, where a low degree of
corrosion resistance is acceptable.

Pre-galvanised
Commonly known as pre-galv –
galvanised before the manufacture of
the component.
During the production of sheet
steel, a zinc coating can be applied
immediately after its manufacture,
resulting in pre-galvanised steel; an
aesthetically pleasing material suitable
for non-arduous environments. As
pre-galvanised (or mill galvanised) steel
is generally cut into shape during the
manufacturing process, the edges of the
finished components will have no zinc
coating. With this in mind, together with
the relatively light zinc coating provided
by the process, it is recommended to
only use pre-galvanised steel in indoor
or low corrosive environments, such as a
warehouse or factory setting.

Post-galvanised
Commonly known as hot dipped
galv (HDG) – galvanised after the
manufacture of the component.
Post-galvanised provides an
excellent and economical protective
finish for use in many industrial

Stainless steel
Stainless steel is often regarded as
maintenance free and the solution to
effectively avoiding corrosion. Although
these properties do come at a premium,
the initial outlay may be justified if
the cable management product is to
be installed in a particularly corrosive
environment or in a location where
the cost/inconvenience of gaining
maintenance access is prohibitive.
Stainless steel can also be utilised
in applications where hygiene is an
important factor due to its excellent
resistance to various chemicals, which are
frequently used for cleaning purposes,
and its surface smoothness which helps to
minimise soiling or contamination.
In truth, cable management
specification is tailored to the specific
requirements of each installation.
Therefore, it’s vital that the correct
cable management system and finish
is selected from the outset. With this
in mind, installers, contractors and
consultants need to consider the
corrosive properties of the installation
environment during specification to
ensure the application requirements
can be met for many years to come.
It is always advisable to approach a
reputable manufacturer who not only
offers an extensive range of cable
management systems, but can provide
expert technical support, pre and post
installation.

20

19-20 Cable Management .indd 20

17/03/2016 15:49