Cable railings

Cable railings or wire rope railings are safety rails that use horizontal or vertical cables in place of spindles, glass, mesh etc for infill.

Uses

This type of railing is favored in areas where view of the landscape or ocean would be impaired by other types of railings. Wood railings with spindles, for example, can obstruct views where as cables can nearly disappear. Glass railing provide a similar function however cable railings are replacing glass panel railings due to their lower maintenance and reduced sun glare.Cable railings were initially favored for contemporary architecture however they have become popular on all types of homes due to the variety of cable rail post styles now available.

Post construction

Cable railing requires very rigid frames compared to many other types of railings due to the forces applied to the end posts by tensioning the cables. Cables must be tensioned to provide a rigid as possible condition to satisfy building code requirements. Common frame types are constructed of steel, stainless steel, extruded aluminum or wood.

Cables and tensioning

Cable is very strong in tensile strength and is a suitable in-fill material for a railing ("guard" in ICC codes). Typical diameters are 1/8", 3/16" for residential and 3/16" and 1/4" for commercial applications. There are many different types cable and strand (also referred to as wire rope). Cable and strand is available in galvanized carbon steel, type 304 stainless steel, or the highly corrosion resistant, type 316 stainless steel (best for coastal areas).The most common cable construction is 1-19 type construction strand (see illustration). This type of stainless strand is designed not to stretch like other constructions and has long been used for yacht stays and guy wires and has proven outdoor durability an strength.

Cable flexibility

Cable flexibility is an important consideration in designing a cable railing. The old UBC (Uniform Building Code) and newer ICC (IBC and IRC) codes state that a 4” sphere shall not pass through any portion of a barrier on a guardrail rail. In a horizontal or vertical cable rail, the cables, once tensioned must be rigid enough to prevent deflecting enough for a 4 inch ball to pass. Factors influencing this rigidity are: the tension of the cable, intermediate posts (or cable spacers)spacing, the diameter of the cable, top rail cap material and the cable to cable spacing.

Cable Tension: An incredible amount of tension is generated on the end posts when ten or more cables, each tensioned at 200-400 Ibs. over a height of 36" to 42” exists. Many people do not understand the amount of the tension applied to the posts. Poorly designed end posts will result in a railing where the cables cannot be properly tensioned without an unacceptable amount of cable deflection. End posts to which the tensioning hardware attaches must be constructed so that they will not deflect perceptively as the cables are tensioned.

Post Spacing: Intermediate posts are posts which provide mounting for the top rail and have a vertical row of holes to support the cable as it passes through them. Since the post to post spacing is a primary driver of cable rigidity, the post to post spacing is very important (typically between 36" and 42").

Cable Diameter: The next variable is the diameter of the cable. Cables can be 1/8, 3/16 or 1/4 inch diameter. The larger the diameter, the more rigid (and costly) the cable.

Top rail: Top rail material must be strong as it is being compressed by the combined cable forces. Common top cap materials are the stronger species of wood or metal. Composite lumber is not suitable.

Cable to cable spacing: Spacing of the cables vertically is critical to minimize deflection of the cables. Most manufacturers recommended maximum vertical spacing of 3-inch free opening between cables when they are installed.

All of the above factors work together to minimize the deflection of the cable to prevent a 4” sphere from passing between the cables when they are properly tensioned in a well-designed frame.

Summary

A well designed cable railing system will enhance the view from a deck with minimal obstruction. Cable railing is a favored choice for both interior and exterior residential and commercial applications, such as parking decks, balconies, and public walkways.

References

*"Fine Homebuilding" magazine
*Ultratec's "Guide to Cable Railing Construction"

External links

* [http://www.ottercreekforestproducts.com/stainless-steel-railings-interior.html Interior Cable Railing Examples]
* [http://www.keuka-studios.com/cable_railing_gallery.html Residential Cable Railing Examples]
* [http://www.stainless-railing.com/casino-stainless-railing.html Commercial Cable Railing Examples]