Discover the essential terms and components of cable railing systems in one convenient guide. From fittings and mounting styles to tools and installation techniques, this glossary simplifies every detail.
General Terms
Cable Railing System: A guardrail system that uses tensioned cables as the infill for safety and visibility.
Infill: The material used between posts in a railing system (e.g., cables, glass, or mesh).
Tensioning: Tightening cables in a railing system to ensure they are taut, safe, and visually appealing. Proper tensioning prevents cables from sagging or losing their alignment, which can compromise both safety and aesthetics. Tensioning is typically achieved using specialized hardware that allows precise adjustments.
Swaged: A method of permanently attaching a fitting to a cable by compressing or crimping it with a specialized tool. Swaging creates a strong and secure bond, ensuring the fitting cannot be removed without cutting the cable. Swaged fittings are commonly used in professionally installed systems or pre-assembled cable kits.
Swageless: A type of fitting that does not require swaging tools, allowing for on-site assembly of cables and fittings. Swageless fittings use internal components like jaws or wedges to grip the cable securely. They are ideal for DIY installations due to their simplicity and flexibility.
Run: The length of a single continuous cable, spanning from one end post to another, including through intermediate posts.
Pitched Installation: A cable railing for sloped or angled surfaces, such as staircases or ramps.
Level Installation: A cable railing designed for flat, horizontal surfaces like decks or balconies.
LEED Credits: The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program awarded points recognizing the use of environmentally friendly building practices and materials.
Green Building: The practice of creating structures using processes and materials that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life cycle.
Cable Terms
Stainless Steel Cable: Corrosion-resistant cables ideal for durability and aesthetics.
1x19 Cable: A cable made of 19 strands in a single bundle, providing higher rigidity.
7x7 Cable: A construction type of cable made of 7 groups of 7 strands, offering flexibility and strength.
PVC-Coated Cable: A cable coated in PVC for additional protection and a softer touch, often used in marine or child-safe applications.
Cable Diameter: The thickness of the cable, often measured in inches or millimeters (e.g., 1/8-inch cable).
Fittings and Hardware Terms
Tensioning Fittings: Hardware designed to tighten the cable and maintain proper tension. Includes turnbuckles, threaded studs, and Quick-Connect tensioners.
Non-Tensioning Fittings: This type of hardware is used to secure cables but does not adjust tension. It includes fixed-end fittings and stop ends.
Ferrules: Small metal sleeves used to terminate and secure the ends of cables.
Cable Studs: Threaded fittings attached to cables, allowing them to be tensioned or anchored securely.
Turnbuckles: Adjustable fittings that provide fine tensioning for cables.
Lag Eyes: Fittings with an eyelet and threaded lag screw end, used for attaching cables to wood posts or other surfaces.
Lag Clevis: A fitting that combines a lag screw and a U-shaped clevis for securing cables to wood posts, often used in angled or corner applications.
Threaded Bolts: Bolts with a threaded shaft used to secure cable fittings or posts to surfaces, enabling tensioning or structural support.
Anchor Bolts: Heavy-duty bolts embedded in concrete or masonry that provide a strong base for posts or hardware attachment. Hanger Bolts are dual-threaded bolts, with one end designed for wood installation and the other threaded for attaching hardware or fittings.
Push-Lock: A swageless fitting grips the cable securely when pushed into the fitting, used for simple and tool-free installation.
Pull-Lock: A swageless fitting where the cable is pulled through the fitting and locked into place using internal jaws, ideal for tensioning applications.
Jaws: Internal gripping components within swageless fittings that hold cables securely by applying friction or clamping pressure.
Posts and Mounting Styles Terms
Surface-Mounted Posts: Posts mounted on top of a surface, such as a deck or balcony, using base plates and screws.
Through-Post Mount: This is a mounting style in which cables pass completely through the post, with fittings installed on the far side. This method requires precise drilling to ensure alignment and is often used for clean, minimalistic designs.
Surface-Mount-to-Through-Post Mount: A hybrid mounting style where the post is surface-mounted to the deck or base but allows cables to pass through the post (like a through-post mount). This combines the aesthetic benefits of a through-post design with the structural stability of surface mounting.
Fascia-Mounted Posts: Posts attached to the side of a structure are often used to save space on decks or staircases.
Intermediate Posts: Posts placed between end posts to prevent cable deflection and ensure proper spacing.
End Posts: Posts at the start or end of a cable run are designed to bear the tension of the cables.
Corner Posts: Specially designed posts that allow cables to change direction while maintaining tension.