Illinois Consolidated (A McLeod USA Company), a member of Siemon's global network of certified installers based in Matoon, Illinois is convinced that the Siemon Perimeters™ Raceway System has solved their raceway installation dilemmas.
When Siemon introduced the Perimeters Raceway System in 1998, Consolidated was using hinged plastic raceway systems manufactured by Siemon competitors. When it was time to replenish the raceway stock in preparation for the next job, they gave Siemon Perimeters a try. "Our installers were so impressed with the value-added features built into this raceway product line, we received immediate feedback from the field requesting that we stick with this product for future installs," said Tony Grimes, Cabling System Design Engineer/Supervisor. "In addition, installers would receive compliments from end-users about how nice the raceway installation looked in their new offices."
Unique to the Perimeters system is its symmetrical hinge design, which hinges open from either side and locks in the open position. This forms a trough that retains cables within the extrusion while loading them. Some other hinged raceway designs have a hinge that allows the cover to swing open, but it doesn't lock in the open position. As a result, the weight of multiple cable runs may cause the cables to fall out of the raceway during installation.
"The other big advantage of Siemon raceway," claims Rick Sowers, Supervisor/Project Manager, "is the raceway cover can be hinged open from either side or completely removed." This feature eliminates the problem of installing a hinged raceway at the intersection of the wall and the ceiling, which can interfere with access to the latch, because when the cover is closed the latch is positioned against the ceiling. Siemon's raceway solves that problem, because it can be opened using the more accessible latch on the opposite (bottom) side of the raceway.
"Our installers were so impressed with the value-added features built into this raceway product line, we received immediate feedback from the field requesting that we stick with this product for future installs…"
"The ability to install and remove the raceway cover by sliding it over the base has allowed us to install raceway in tight spaces behind obstructions such as heat pipes or conduit. In these spaces, typical hinged raceway cannot be opened because of the clearance between the wall and the obstruction," adds Sowers. Siemon's raceway cover can be easily slid into place behind an obstruction which eliminates the need to cut or re-route the raceway to fit around the obstruction.
According to Grimes, Consolidated has also saved cost and scrap using Siemon Perimeters raceway system because it is available in lengths that are sufficient to make a complete vertical run from the ceiling to the outlet. Most other raceway systems are only available in 6 ft (1.8 m) lengths causing the installer to cut a second length of extrusion to reach the outlet in a vertical drop. Then they require an extra fitting to be used to cover the seam.
"Siemon did their homework when designing this system," remarks Kurt Vogel, Supervisor/Project Manager, who points to the product's design details, including the outside corner fitting, which minimizes the gap between the wall and the fitting on outside corners that aren't perfectly 90 degrees. "I haven't seen too many corners that are exactly 90 degrees and the slightest imperfections in outside corners exaggerate the space between the fitting and the wall." says Vogel, "With Siemon's design, one side of the outside corner fitting is shorter than the other, so the fitting can be installed so the longer side meets the wall while the shorter side helps to minimize any gaps."
And although Consolidated doesn't install electrical cables, they are reassured knowing that the Siemon system is UL compliant. Installers should be aware that although most raceway extrusions may be UL approved, unless each fitting has the UL symbol, the entire raceway system will fail to be in compliance and it will likely be unsafe to install electrical cables within.
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