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Can anyone please let me know if there are any guidelines for cable tray/cables laying in a Manufacturing/Process Industry?

We have Heavy sized Power Cables (HT), Power Cables (3 Phase, 440 Volts, LT), Instrumentation Cables (Signal as well as 230 V AC Control Power Cables), Communication Cables (Ethernet/Profibus/DeviceNet/AS-i. etc.).

Which cables should be laid below, and which ones should be at the top? What is the distance between the cable trays?

Any info/guidelines, please share.

You can get information from Cable Tray Institute at http://www.cabletrays.com/

Bruce

Cable trays should be arranged with the power/high current carrying cables on top, with progressively lower noise level trays below that. Lowest noise level trays (T/C extension wire, communication, etc.) are usually covered trays, and are the lowest down in the "stack". It is easier to install and maintain a "Protectowire" type fire detection system on the power cable trays, if they are on top of the "stack". Vertical spacing should allow for adequate access, in my facility it is about 18 inches.

Responding to Sastry MRKS' 03-Jan (17:53) query... try ANSI/IEEE Std-1986:

"Guide for the Design and Installation of Cable Systems in Power Generating Plants!"

Regards,
Phil Corso (cepsicon@aol.com)