Improved Productivity and Worker Safety for Bundling,
Fastening, and Identification in Harsh Environments
When strength, vibration, radiation,
weathering, corrosion and temperature
extremes are a factor, the Pan-Steel®
System provides strong, reliable
solutions for use in indoor, outdoor,
and direct burial applications. This
guide provides an overview of key
design considerations and applications
for bundling, fastening, and permanent
identification in harsh environments.
Introduction
APPLICATION
GUIDE
Industrial
Oil Rigs
Reneries
Chemical Plants
Water Treatment
Facilities
Wind Farms
Solar
Nuclear
Using this Guide .................................. 2
Pan-Steel® System ................................ 2 – 3
Permanent Identification System ..................... 14
Compliance with Industry Standards
Pan-Steel® System Approvals ....................... 15
Panduit Difference
Mining
Ships
Submarines
Cell Towers
Aerial Support
Telecommunications
Transportation
OEM
Complete Solution from Panduit...................... 16
www.panduit.com
Introduction
Using this Guide
Applications
This section includes product recommendations for typical applications,
always verify product suitability based on your specific requirements and
key selection criteria
Key Selection Criteria
Utilize material and strength charts to help select the Panduit products required
to deliver superior performance in your application
Select the appropriate tools to speed installation time, and take advantage of
our lowest installed cost solutions
Consider Panduit permanent identification solutions to help provide legibility in
harsh environments; the complete system includes marker plates, tags and ties
and is available for use with On-site Custom Marking Tools or through our
Factory Custom Marking Service
Selection Guides
Organized by part number, use each chart to assist with your product selection
Pan-Steel® System
Reliable system performance:
Delivers strength, long life and resistance to chemicals, vibration,
radiation, weathering, and extreme temperatures
Increased job site safety:
Features rounded edges to prevent installer injury and damage to
cable bundles or finished product
Lowest installed cost:
Includes reliable, ergonomic tooling and an innovative cable tie design
to provide fast and reliable installation
Effectively identified workplace:
Offers the most comprehensive selection of on-site and factory custom
marking products in the industry
Standards compliance:
Meets and exceeds the most stringent industry standards
2
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Stainless Steel Cable Ties
This section includes product recommendations for typical applications,
always verify product suitability based on your specific requirements and
key selection criteria
Retained Tension Ties
Panduit retained tension ties deliver a durable, secure fastening solution for mechanical
applications. The system delivers the highest retained tension in the industry, providing
tight fastening of rigid materials in high vibration and harsh environments.
Stainless Steel Strapping
Panduit coated and uncoated stainless steel strapping is the ultimate solution for
large mechanical applications. The buckle design and installation tools offer a quick
and safe installation.
Aluminum Cable Ties
Panduit aluminum cable ties are used to bundle and identify cabling or secure
aluminum marker plates and tags to cabling and devices. Aluminum cable ties are a
lightweight, flexible bundling, and permanent identification solution.
Permanent Identification
The widest range of permanent identification solutions available includes stainless
steel and aluminum cable ties, marker plates and tags in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Factory custom marking service delivers embossed or laser etched identification.
On-site marking tools are excellent for quick and easy identification in the field.
Installation Tools
Panduit cable ties and industry leading installation tools work together to provide
repeatable high performance at the lowest installed cost. Ergonomic tools are available
for low, medium, and high volume applications. Reliability is designed into every tool.
Strong, safe, and reliable solutions for
long service life and lowest installed cost
in harsh environments
Total Installed Cost Comparison
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Panduit
Self-Locking Cable Ties
Panduit stainless steel cable ties and permanent identification solutions
can deliver a useable life greater than 30 years. The combined value of
material cost, labor savings, and improved safety results in the lowest
total installed cost.
$
$
$
$
Competitor B
Strapping
Safety Occurrence
Labor Cost
Material Cost
www.panduit.com
3
Applications
Panduit offers a wide variety of metal cable bundling, mechanical fastening, and
permanent identification solutions to meet your specific application requirements.
Common applications include:
Cable Tray, Outdoor – Oil Rigs, Refineries
Description: Electrical or Communication Cabling secured to cable
tray in harsh environment.
Selection Criteria: Strength, cable protection and
corrosion resistance.
Product Recommendations:
• Coated Heavy 316 Stainless Steel Metal Locking Tie
(apply at lowest tension setting)
www.panduit.com
7
Key Selection Criteria
Steel
Steel
Variables such as exposure to extreme temperatures, salt spray, and weather have
differing effects on the performance of stainless steel and aluminum. Each of these
factors contributes to the useful life of a cable tie, marker plate, or tag. Use the following
sections as a guide to select the optimum Pan-Steel® Solution for your application.
• Performance in harsh environments
• Strength for application
• Workplace safety and abrasion protection
• Lowest installed cost
• Effective identification
• Compliance with industry standards
Panduit
stainless steel
cable ties
perform
exceptionally
well in
temperature,
chemical, and
environmental
Performance in Harsh Environments
Materials
Stainless steel: Recommended for harsh environment and general purpose
applications where strength and/or resistance to severe conditions are required.
Aluminum: Recommended in applications where light weight and flexibility are
required. It is also well suited for use with aluminum cable tray to avoid corrosion from
dissimilar metals.
Loop
Material
201
Stainless
Steel
304
Stainless
Steel
316
Stainless
Steel
Coated
316
Stainless
Steel
Aluminum
Tensile
StrengthUVResistance
BestBestBestGoodGoodNot
BestBestBestGoodBetterNot
BestBestBestBestBestNot
BetterGoodBetterGoodGoodBestUL94V-2
GoodBestGoodGoodGoodBestNone
Extreme
Temps
Salt
Spray Chemicals
Contact with
AluminumFlammability
None
Recommended
None
Recommended
None
Recommended
extremes.
Material Selection for Temperature Resistance
The following are recommended operating temperature ranges for stainless steel and
aluminum. The operating temperature for uncoated and coated stainless steel is
-112°F (-80°C) to 1,000°F (538°C) (Uncoated), -76°F (-60°C) – 572°F (300°C) (Nylon)
and -40°F (-40°C) to 302°F (150°C) (Polyester). The operating temperature for Aluminum is
-112°F (-80°C) to 212°F (100°C).
Temperature Rating
1200
1000
800
600
400
Temperate Rating
200
0
-112
8
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201
Stainless
Steel
304
Stainless
Steel
Stainless
Steel
Nylon 11
Coated
Stainless
Polyester
Coated
Stainless
Aluminum316
Loop Tensile Strength (Lbs.)
Weather Conditioning
Material Selection for Salt Spray Resistance
Panduit cable ties were subjected to salt spray testing for 2,000 hours at 95°F (35°C).
Both materials showed no signs of corrosion. The 316 Stainless Steel had trace surface
staining and is recommended for mission critical applications. The 304 Stainless Steel
had moderate surface staining and is recommended for general applications.
2,000 Hours95°F (35°C)
Material Selection for Weather Exposure
Panduit cable ties were exposed to weather for prolonged lengths of time outside
our manufacturing facility in Illinois, USA, without loss of performance or signs of
corrosion. Loop tensile strength increased from year one to year four and remained
stable over time.
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Year 0Year 11
Year 4Year 7
Years of Exposure
316 Stainless
Steel Coated
304
Stainless Steel
316
Stainless Steel
Effective Identication
Panduit offers the broadest range of permanent identification solutions in the industry to
withstand and provide legibility in harsh environments. Safe, quick, and easy to install,
permanent identification solutions include stainless steel and aluminum marker plates,
tags, marking tools, and ties to deliver improved productivity and workplace safety.
On-site Custom Marking Tools provide portability for permanent identification and
demand. Panduit also offers a Factory Custom Marking Service for embossed or laser
etched marker plates, tags, and ties to speed installation time and reduce labor costs.
This global custom marking service provides rapid response and quick product
availability to keep projects on schedule and within budget.
www.panduit.com
9
Frequency (Hz
Hammer Drop (ft.
Strength (Lbs.)
Retained Tension (Lbs.)
Torque (ft.- Lbs.)
Rotational Torque
Split Mandrel
The split mandrel test fixture is
used to measure loop tensile
strength and retained tension
of an installed cable tie.
Strength for Application
Cable tie design, material selection, and installation tooling determine the resulting
strength of a system. Use the following table as a guide to determine the strength of
various Panduit stainless steel cable ties and strapping for your applications.
Loop Tensile Strength
MLT Ties and Strapping
Retained Tension
MRT and MRS Ties
Loop Tensile Strength Performance
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
StandardExtra-
Light
Heavy
HeavySuper-
Cross Section
Retained Tension Performance Comparison
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
*Representative sample, actual results may vary.
Heavy
Extra-
Heavy 15
Loop Tensile Strength:
Rated load based on
statistical analysis with
additional margin. Tested
mean based on sum of
loop tensile strength
over sample size.
Rated Load
Heavy
Tested Mean
Retained Tension:
Measured in pounds of residual
force remaining on object after tie
is installed.
Panduit Retained Tension
Tie (Heavy)
Metal Licking Tie
Band Clamp
Pinch Ear Clamp
Rotational Torque
MRT and MRS Ties
100
80
60
40
10
G-Force
20
0
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Vibration Test
Test
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Panduit
MRT Tie
Competitor
Punch Style
Cable Tie
Competitor
Pinch
Ear Clamp
Rotational torque:
Measured in pounds of force required to
cause deflection of the tie or strapping
when applied to a non-resistant object.
Vibration and Shock:
Electrical cables were secured to cable tray using Panduit stainless steel cable ties. The cable
assemblies were subjected to multiple levels of severe vibration and shock loading. No damage
occurred to the cable ties or cable insulation jacket, which prevented short circuits from occurring.
Shock Test
123
Test
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
G-Force
Hammer Drop (ft)
G-Force
21
6
6
)
5
4
3
2
1
0
Hz
G-Force
)
5
4
3
2
1
0
Lowest Installed Cost
Cycles to Failur
Test 1Test 3
Test 2
PanduitGS4MT
Competitor A
Thread Force (Lbs.)
Installation Time
Time to Install
Assembly
Competitor A
Assembly
Factors that influence installation time include assembly time, thread force, and reliability
of tooling. Panduit tools and ties combine to speed installation time and deliver the lowest
installed cost. Use the following tables as a guide to select Pan-Steel® solutions and tooling.
Controlled Tension Installation Tool Life Cyle Comparison
Reliability
The following is an example of Life Cycle
Comparison Data demonstrating the superiority
of Panduit tooling, with a very low failure rate,
versus a leading competitor. Life Cycle
Performance may very depending on
environment and use.
Thread Force
Thread force is the measurement of force
required to insert the end of a cable tie into
the head. Panduit cable ties feature low
thread force for extremely fast installation,
improved productivity, and worker safety.
e
160,000
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
Thread Force Comparison
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Panduit
Competitor B
Manufacturer
Panduit GS4MT
Assembly Time
Panduit ties, strap, and banding
are fast to assemble and install
versus standard banding.
Workplace Safety and Abrasion Protection
Panduit stainless steel solutions feature fully rounded edges and a flush cutoff to protect
the bundle from abrasion during and after installation. Both of these features are also
critical to ensuring worker safety.
On the job injuries due to laceration caused by a sharp edge or poor cut-off have several
associated costs. The Occupational Health and Safety Organization (OSHA) reports that
dollars spent on direct injuries are a fraction of the total costs of a lost time incident, other
costs incudes:
• Productive time lost by an injured employee and impacted supervisors
• Cost of continuing all or part of the employee’s wages
• Increased workers’ compensation insurance rates
• Time to hire or to retrain other individuals to replace the injured worker
• Time and cost for repair or replacement of any damaged equipment or materials
• Clean up and start up of operations interrupted by the accident
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
Time (minutes)
15
10
5
0
Panduit
65%
Savings
MLT
51%
Savings
Panduit
Strap
(Pre-Assembled)
12%
Savings
Banding
Panduit
MLT
8%
Savings
Panduit
Strap
(Coil)
Time to Install
Competitor
B Strapping
Panduit
Competitor A
Cross sectional view of Panduit
tie body versus competitor
- magnified 150X -
The costs associated with these factors can approach $10,000 per laceration.
www.panduit.com
11
Product Selection Guides
Pan-Steel® Stainless Steel Ties
Self-Locking Head Construction
*Aggressive locking head
Quicker locking, tighter
installation
*Lead In Design
Wider entrance
for easier
threading
*Innovative
displacement lock
Assures superior
locking strength
Unique locking ramp
Assures locking in
any position
Extended
retaining tab
Increases
overall tie
strength
*Patented
Retained Tension Ties
(MRT and MRS Series)
*Displacement
Lock Assures
superior locking
strength
**Lead In Wider
entrance for easier
threading
Relief Slots For improved
bundle conformance
*Aggressive Locking Head
Quicker locking, tighter
installation
Unique
Locking Ramp
Assures
locking in
any position
*Patented
**Patent Pending
Additional Features of 360°
Radial Seal Retained Tension Ties
(MRS Series Only)
Extra Long Body
Improves bundle
conformance
**Patent Pending
12
**Front Tab
Improves bundle
conformance
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Cable Ties
Variables such as chemical concentration, temperature, stress and ultra-violet light have
differing effects on stainless steel. Each of these factors contributes to the useful life of
a cable tie or tag.
Cable tie selection depends on the resiliency of the object in your application. MLT ties
are ideally suited for resilient Cable Bundling Applications. MRT application ties,
MRS ties and strapping are recommended for non-resilient Mechanical
Fastening Applications.
Use the following table as a guide to select the appropriate tie for your applications.
*Diameter (In.) **Diameter (mm).
Representative offering only, consult www.panduit.com for complete listing of product.
304SSNatural 3.5089.0 0.75 19.0233X
316SSNatural 3.5089.0 0.75 19.0233X
304SSNatural 3.5089.0 0.75 19.0203X
316SSNatural 3.5089.0 0.75 19.0203X
304SSNatural 3.5089.0 0.38 10.0201X
316SSNatural 3.5089.0 0.38 10.0201X
304SSNatural 1.7244.0 0.75 19.083X
316SSNatural 1.7244.0 0.75 19.083X
304SSNatural 1.7244.0 0.38 10.081X
316SSNatural 1.7244.0 0.38 10.081X
Aluminum Natural 3.50 89.00.75 19.0203X
Aluminum Natural 3.50 89.00.54 13.7162X
304SSNatural 3.5089.0 0.75 19.0263X
316SSNatural 3.5089.0 0.75 19.0263X
304SSNatural 1.7244.0 0.75 19.0103X
316SSNatural 1.7244.0 0.75 19.0103X
304SSNatural 1.00* 25.0** N/AN/A51X
304SSNatural 1.50* 38.0** N/AN/A5, 6, 53X
304SSNatural 2.13* 54.0** N/AN/A6, 12, 83X
BrassBrass 1.00* 25.0** N/AN/A51X
BrassBrass 1.50* 38.0* N/AN/A5, 6, 53X
BrassBrass 2.13* 54.0** N/AN/A6, 12, 83X
In.mmIn.mmStandard Heavy
(4.77mm)
Characters
per Line
Recommended
Tie Cross
Section
Max.
Lines
MEHT187
MIM
PES197
On-Site Custom Marking Tools
Part Number
MEHT187
MIM094
MIM125
MIM187
PES197
Hand or
TabletopVolumeMarking TypeMarker MaterialsCharacter Fonts
HandLowEmbossingMetal Tape: Stainless
Steel, Aluminum
TabletopMediumIndentingMarker Plates or Tags:
Stainless Steel,
Aluminum, Brass
TabletopHighEmbossingMarker Plates: Stainless
Steel, Aluminum
3/16 (4.77mm)
3/32 (2.38mm)
1/8 (3.18mm)
3/16 (4.77mm)
3/16 (4.77mm)
Custom Marking Service
Panduit Factory Custom Marking Service simplifies identification with high quality,
made-to-order custom embossed marker plates and tags or laser etched cable ties,
marker plates, and tags. To select and order custom embossed marker plates and tags
use on-line order form (C2-0677) at www.panduit.com/permanentid. Panduit offers fast
turn around on custom marking orders worldwide. Partner with Panduit to create an
effectively identified workplace.
14
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Compliance with Industry Standards
Panduit stainless steel cable ties, strapping, and installation tools meet and exceed the
most stringent industry standards. Refer to the following chart for approvals and
corresponding products. Contact Panduit for additional information and approvals.
Pan-Steel® System Approvals
Logo (Symbol)AgencySpec/ApprovalRequirement Applicable Products
Underwriters
Laboratories, Inc.
Conformite
European
Amer. Bureau
of Shipping
Bureau
Veritas
Listing E56854Dimensional, tensile,
Low Voltage
Directive 2006/95/EC
MLT cable ties and
MS straps also meet
the requirements from
EN62275
Cert. #
HS118592C
HS373867
HS152579
HS476898
HS118592A
HS118592B
Cert. #
04048/E1
temp., cycling, humidity
CE Marking is required
for products sold within
the European Union.
CE Marking Directives
specify the minimum
performance of these
products. Applying the
CE mark signifies
compliance with
essential
requirements of
specific directives
MechanicalAll MLT ties and MS straps
Material specification,
dimensional, visual
MLT-S, MLT-LH, MLT-H, MLT-
EH15, MLT-SH, MLTDEH,
MLTDSH IN 304 and 316.
MSW38T15, MTW50T15,
MSW63T15, MSBW38,
MSBW50, MSBW63 IN 304
and 316.
MSCW38T15, MSCW50T15,
MSCW63T15, MLTFCS,
MLTFCSH, MLTCH,
MSCNW38T15,
MSCNW5015,
MSCNW63T15 in 316
material
All MLT, MRT,
MRS ties and MS straps
All coated and uncoated
MLT ties. All MS Straps
uncoated and nylon coated
Panduit
®
®
Pan-Steel
Stainless Steel
Systems meet
and exceed the
most stringent
industry
standards.
Det Norske
Veritas
Germanischer
Lloyd
Lloyd’s Register
of Shipping
SAE Int’l
formerly
US MIL
US Coast
Guard
US MilitaryMIL-T-81306A/
Cert. #
E-12387
E-12388
Cert. #
32666-83HH
51796-89HH
Cert. #
89/60123
AS23190 formerly
MS23109E
File No.
16703/46
MS90387-3
Salt mist test,
tensile test,
accelerated aging,
vibration tests
MechanicalAll coated and uncoated
Material specification,
tensile test,
vibration tests
Dimensional, visual,
vibration, temp. cycling,
immersion
MechanicalMLT-H series
MechanicalGS4MT installation tools
All uncoated MLTS, MLTH,
MLTE15, MLTDEH15,
MLMTSH, and MS strap
coated and uncoated
316 material
Stainless Steel MLT ties. MS
Straps uncoated and nylon
coated 316 material
All coated and uncoated
stainless steel MLT ties
and MS strap
MLT-S and MLT-H ties
in 304 and 316 material
cable ties
www.panduit.com
15
•
Industrial
•
Oil Rigs
•
Refineries
•
Chemical Plants
•
Water Treatment Facilities
•
Wind Farms
•
Solar
•
Nuclear
•
Mining
•
Ships
•
Submarines
•
Cell Towers
•
Aerial Support
•
Telecommunications
•
Transportation
•
OEM
WORLDWIDE SUBSIDIARIES
AND SALES OFFICES
Panduit Difference
At Panduit, servicing customers is a top priority. Our world-class sales force and
comprehensive customer service and technical support provide dedicated and
market-focused expertise to assist you in evaluating, designing, implementing,
and purchasing the products and services you need to solve your unique
business challenges.
Customers count on the Panduit service advantage and global product availability
to keep their projects on schedule and on budget. Whether you need product
information, on-site application guidance, answers to technical questions, or a
referral to one of our best-in-class partners, Panduit representatives are highly
trained to provide the required assistance.
The Panduit website (www.panduit.com) provides access to interactive roadmaps,
design tools, product specifications, technical guides and extensive downloads to
help you select, design, and install Panduit solutions. The website also helps you
connect with local Panduit service experts and distributors.
Complete Solutions from Panduit
Panduit harsh environment solutions include the Pan-Steel® System, power and
grounding connectors, identification and safety, abrasion protection, heat shrink,
wiring duct, industrial ethernet, and cable tie solutions. These solutions feature Panduit
world-class quality, rigorously tested to deliver the highest performance, and lowest
total cost of ownership.