Is The Cable Railing Safe?

Is the cable railing safe
Many people have a question when choosing a cable railing, “Is the cable railing safe? “
 
The reason why there is such a question is because the wire diameter of the cable railing looks very thin, giving people the illusion of insecurity.
 
In fact, cable railing has become popular in recent years because the safety of cable railing has been proven, and in 2001 was included in the international building code.
 
Cable railings built according to the rules of the code can meet the requirements for safety.
 
The latest online version of the International Residential Code (IRC) 2021 can be viewed at this link.
 
While each state/city has its own Residential Code, they are all based on the International Residential Code (IRC). They all have online versions available for review.

Specific rules to follow

Cable railings are subject to the sphere rule, which is not unique to cable railings, but is a rule that all railing systems need to follow.

What is the 4" Sphere Rule

The 4-inch sphere rule means that all open spacing in a railing system cannot allow a 4-inch (102mm) sphere to pass.
 
This is to avoid children’s heads getting stuck between these railings.
 
So the spacing between two adjacent cables we recommend is strictly limited to 3 ⅛”.

What is the 6" Sphere Rule

We already know that the IRC mandates the 4″ sphere rule as the limit for open space spacing for all railing systems.
 
The one exception to this rule is the triangular open area on stairs formed by the riser, treads, and the bottom of the balustrade, which cannot allow a 6-inch sphere to pass through.
4 inch sphere rule
In addition to the sphere rule, although there is no explicit regulation of cable tension, but the same should apply to the rules of the railing.
 
That is, the guardrail system must be able to withstand a force of at least 200 pounds that is applied within 2 inches of the top edge, in any direction and at any point along the edge, and that does not cause the top edge of the guardrail to deflect downward to a height of 39 inches below walking/working level.
 
Because the cable is fastened to the ends of the railing, so to ensure that it can form a sufficient force of tension, one end must be adjustable.
 
So that if the 4-inch ball test fails after installation, you can continue to adjust the fasteners to increase the cable tension until the 4-inch ball test is successful.
 
The Fayevorite cable railing kit is made of high quality T316 stainless steel. the Fayevorite stemball will securely hold the steel cable to one end of the railing. The other end of the cable is held in place by a fayevorite threaded terminal stud, which ensures a tight fit while also allowing for tension adjustment.
fayevorite 20 pair stemball and threaded end

Conclusion

Cable railings are popular for their simple design and unobstructed views.
 
The cable railing is built according to the International Residential Code (IRC) rules to ensure adequate safety.
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