Technical guide
UL94 V-0 Cable Trunking: Sizes, Packaging and the Questions Buyers Should Ask
What UL94 V-0 means, what it does not mean, and how size and packaging influence a wholesale order.
Understand UL94 V-0 material terminology and compare cable trunking sizes, carton metres, weight and CBM before purchasing.
UL94 V-0 describes a controlled material test
UL 94 uses small-scale laboratory tests to classify the burning behaviour of plastic specimens. In the 50 W vertical test, V-0, V-1 and V-2 classifications consider burning and afterglow time and whether flaming particles ignite cotton. The rating is tied to the tested material formulation and specimen thickness.
It does not by itself describe smoke, toxicity, circuit integrity or the behaviour of an installed cable system. A buyer should ask which component or material carries the classification, at which thickness, and which supporting document is available for the quoted product.
- Ask for the exact material and thickness
- Do not convert a material rating into a system claim
- Check project specifications separately
Choose dimensions by usable capacity and installation
Nominal width and height are the fastest way to compare trunking, but they are not a complete fill calculation. Internal geometry, cover engagement, bends, cable type, separation and local installation rules all influence usable capacity. Leave allowance for pulling, heat and future additions.
FRAME's standard range runs from compact 12 × 12 mm profiles to larger distribution sizes. Adhesive products use a separate reference family even when the nominal dimensions match, while slotted duct and floor profiles are selected for different environments.
Carton metres change with profile size
Small profiles can place hundreds of metres in one carton, while large profiles may contain only a few dozen metres. Therefore a 10,000-metre enquiry is not a single logistics number: the size mix determines cartons, volume, weight and handling.
For example, FRAME lists 16 × 16 mm standard PVC trunking at 304 metres per carton in its carton packing option, while larger references use fewer metres. Buyers should use the current product page and confirmed offer rather than copying quantities from an old catalogue.
- Round requested metres to full cartons
- Compare carton and nylon packing separately
- Confirm current packing on the proforma
Write a specification that purchasing can use
A practical purchase description includes the family, nominal size, profile length, colour, material requirement, packing option, quantity and any supporting document requested by the project. This prevents a technical phrase such as V-0 from becoming the only selection criterion.
When several sizes are required, send one line per reference. FRAME's product pages can be added to a commercial list so dimensions and packing stay attached to the selected item.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers for purchasing teams
Does UL94 V-0 mean that cable trunking cannot burn?
No. It is a flammability classification from a defined small-scale test. It is not a statement that the installed product is non-combustible or suitable for every fire scenario.
Why do carton metres differ by size?
Larger profiles occupy more volume per metre, so fewer two-metre lengths fit in a standard factory carton.
Standards references
