To be a better material Tensile uses a range of stainless steel wire rope products for green facades and other applications.
Stainless steel is considered than plastic or timber, due to its superior strength and longevity.
Steel wire rope also requires little in the way of ongoing attention, making it a good low-maintenance choice for green facades and other structures.
What is wire rope?
Wire rope is made from multiple strands of stainless steel wire. It is defined by two numbers – with the first referring to the number of strands and the second to how many wires are in each strand. For example, 7 x 19 wire rope refers to seven strands with 19 wires in each strand.
Wire rope also comes with a range of connector combinations, and is generally very cost-effective to make.
Tensile uses several types of steel wire for green facades and other structures:
- 1 x 19: high-strength wire, typically used in vertical wire balustrades.
- 7 x 7: this is the most common type of wire we use. As the name suggests, it consists of seven strands with seven wires in each one. This product provides a good combination of strength and elasticity, which means that as well as being very strong, it allows for plenty of movement. The maximum diameter of this rope is usually 8mm.
- 7 x 19: this one is not often used, but does provide excellent strength and flexibility and is especially useful if a cable of more than 8mm in diameter is required.
Examples of wire rope applications
Wire rope can be used in a number of ways.
- Webnet – this type of wire mesh is used for a variety of applications, including fall protection, railings, safety enclosures, and structures for facades. It is made from 316-grade stainless steel in 1 x 19, 7 x 7 and 7 x 19 constructions, and can be laced into various aperture sizes from 20mm to 400mm. As well as being durable, it is low-maintenance, and has capacity for very high impact loads.
- Rope systems – these are used in balustrades and various other applications as well as facades. They come in the same construction sizes as webnet, with cable sizes ranging from 1mm to 26mm, and offer a variety of fittings.
At Tensile, we specialise in the use of wire rope in green infrastructure and other projects across a wide range of industries. Contact us if you would like to know more about the applications for wire rope.
