Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-09-26 Origin: Site
The tray itself only does half the job. Cover plates, splice plates, bonding jumpers and other cable tray accessories are what turn a run of open tray into a complete, protected, code-compliant cable management system. Left out or under-specified, these accessories are a common source of exposed cables, loose joints, and failed grounding continuity — issues that show up after installation rather than during design. This guide covers the core accessory categories, what each one does, and what to check when specifying them.
A cable tray system is only as protected and structurally sound as its accessories allow it to be. The tray sections themselves carry and support the cables, but covers, splice connections and grounding components determine whether that protection actually holds up in the field — against weather, against mechanical damage, and against the electrical continuity requirements that most installations are legally required to meet. Treating accessories as an afterthought after the main tray is ordered is one of the most common causes of rework and inspection failures.
Cover plates sit on top of the tray to shield cables from falling debris, direct sunlight, dust, and — in outdoor or wet environments — rain and moisture. Standard cover plates provide basic physical protection, while waterproof cover plates add a sealed or overlapping design specifically engineered to shed water, making them the standard choice for outdoor, rooftop, or exposed industrial cable tray runs.
Cover type matches the exposure — waterproof covers for outdoor or wet locations, standard covers where only dust and impact protection are needed
Cover material and finish match the tray's own corrosion resistance, so the two age at the same rate
Ventilation requirements are confirmed before specifying a fully sealed cover, since some cable types generate heat that needs to dissipate even under a cover
Splice plates (also called connector plates) join two sections of cable tray end to end, maintaining both the physical alignment of the run and the electrical bonding continuity between sections. Because most cable tray runs are supplied in fixed lengths, splice connections occur at regular intervals along any real installation, making them one of the highest-quantity accessory items on a typical project's bill of materials.
Splice plate type matches the tray profile exactly — ladder, perforated, and trough-type trays typically use different splice hardware
Bonding continuity across the splice is verified, particularly on longer runs where multiple splices occur in series
Hardware (bolts, nuts, washers) at each splice is fully tightened to the specified torque, since a loose splice is a common source of both mechanical and electrical issues later
Bonding jumpers maintain electrical continuity across tray sections, splices, and transitions to other equipment, which is a code requirement in most jurisdictions for metallic cable tray systems. Even where splice hardware provides adequate mechanical bonding on its own, many specifications call for a dedicated bonding jumper as a redundant, verifiable ground path — particularly at expansion joints or wherever tray sections are only loosely connected.
Jumper size and material meet the applicable electrical code's grounding conductor requirements for the tray's fault current rating
Jumpers are installed at every required transition point, not just at the main tray-to-ground connection
Barrier strips create a physical divider within a single tray, allowing power and low-voltage or data cables to run in the same tray while maintaining the separation many electrical codes require between different cable categories. This accessory is common in mixed-use installations where space constraints make running fully separate trays impractical.
Divider height and material meet the minimum separation requirements specified by the applicable code for the cable types involved
Barrier placement is planned during design, not added after cables are already installed, since retrofitting a divider into a loaded tray is far more labor-intensive
Include accessories in the initial bill of materials, not as an afterthought once the main tray order is placed — splice plates alone can add up to a significant portion of total hardware count on a long run.
Match every accessory's finish to the tray it's installed on. A mismatched cover or splice plate finish creates a weak point that corrodes faster than the rest of the system.
Confirm grounding and bonding requirements against the local code rather than assuming splice hardware alone satisfies continuity requirements.
Plan barrier strip placement during design if the installation will mix cable categories in the same tray.
Cover plates, splice plates, bonding jumpers and barrier strips are what make a cable tray installation complete rather than just a collection of open channels — they determine whether the system actually protects cables, maintains structural continuity, and meets code requirements over its service life. Specifying these accessories alongside the tray itself, rather than sourcing them separately after the fact, is one of the simplest ways to avoid rework, failed inspections, and premature corrosion at connection points.
Not always — indoor runs in clean, controlled environments may not require covers at all. Outdoor, rooftop, or exposed industrial installations typically do, both for physical protection and, in the case of waterproof covers, to keep cables dry.
Generally no — splice plate dimensions and bolt patterns are specific to each manufacturer's tray profile. Mixing brands at a splice point usually requires a compatible universal connector or professional confirmation that the two profiles align correctly.
Not universally — some codes accept bolted splice connections as adequate bonding on their own, while others require a dedicated jumper regardless. This should be confirmed against the specific electrical code governing the installation rather than assumed from a different project's requirements.
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