Low-voltage cable installers must complete jobs on time while delivering top-notch work within industry standards. Traditional plastic cable ties have long been a go-to solution but can burden installation time and quality.
Customers expect the best from their technology, so installers should build systems with the best cable management tools. Below are the top 5 reasons VELCRO® Brand ONE-WRAP® Tape is a superior alternative to plastic cable ties.
1. Your Plastic Ties Aren’t Industry Compliant
ANSI, AVIXA or BICSI low-voltage cable management standards are crucial for installers. Plastic ties often do not comply with these industry standards, some of which specifically call for hook and loop ties.
These standards specify cable tie spacing, how to curve pathways properly and what materials are best to secure valuable cables. They are also adamant about protecting cables from overtightening and even call out hook and loop ties such as VELCRO® Brand ONE-WRAP® Tape. Don’t risk having to re-do an entire installation, because you didn’t use the right ties; do it right every time with VELCRO® Brand ONE-WRAP® Tape. There is also a UL-rated option to align with NEC standards.
2. It’s Tricky to Apply Plastic Ties
Applying and securing plastic ties takes additional time. If you need to loosen or reposition them, it takes even longer to carefully snip and reapply.
Even when secured correctly, this still requires more time to nip the excess tie and clean it. Meanwhile, VELCRO® Brand ONE-WRAP® Tape is a breeze. Apply and move on.
3. There Is Too Much Scrap
Whether you’re applying or removing plastic ties, they leave clutter on the floor. That is a lot of single-use plastic to discard at the end of the day.
With VELCRO® Brand ties, you won’t fill the dumpster with excess material waste, as there is no need to snip them off.
4. It’s a Pain to Adjust Plastic Ties
Cable systems will inevitably need to undergo adds, moves and changes as customers’ needs update and technology evolves. If your cables are secured with hundreds of plastic ties, this process becomes a nightmare. Removing every tie requires surgical precision to snip without cutting a cable. If a cable is damaged, this means backtracking, delaying the project and more scrap. More frequent use of sharp tools in the confinement of cable bundles also increases the added injury risk for the installer.
VELCRO® Brand ONE-WRAP® Tape will turn this nightmare into a dream. Moving and adjusting these hook-and-loop ties takes a fraction of the time, requires no tools and adds the peace of mind that valuable cables and materials will be safe from harm.
5. Plastic Ties Can Over Cinch
The rigid material of plastic ties and the teardrop shape they take once engaged can be brutal against cable jackets. It can be easy to over cinch cable bundles, causing damage to the jackets and restricting data flow within the system.
Softer is better, and VELCRO® Brand Ties are the answer to this problem. The soft, flexible materials of VELCRO® Brand ONE-WRAP® Tape align to the shape of the cable bundle. Cradling the cables like this will eliminate damage and allow them to operate at full strength.
Don’t Let These Common Challenges Happen with Your Installations
Low-voltage cable installations don’t need to be difficult. Some installers have even made them into an art form. To avoid industry violations, damaged cables, unnecessary labo and excess scrap, specify VELCRO® Brand ONE-WRAP® Tape into your projects as the top choice for cable management.
