ANSI A300 (Part 3)-2006 Supplemental Support Systems
(includes Cabling, Bracing, Guying, and Propping)

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This part of the A300 standards applies to installation and maintenance of tree support systems, including cabling, bracing, and guying.  Part 3 Supplemental Support Systems addresses: 

• Tools and equipment 
• Cabling objectives
• Types of cabling systems
• Bracing objectives 
• Dead-end bracing
• Through-bracing 
• Guying established trees
• Guying newly transplanted trees
• Tree-to-ground guying 
• Tree-to-tree guying 
• Propping trees and branches
• Hardware sizing and selection tables 

A300 Part 3 Supplemental Support Systems standards provide four basic cabling methods:

• Direct: Direct cabling consists of a single cable between two tree parts, e.g., two limbs, two stems, or a trunk and a limb (direct system with one cable shown).
  

• Triangular: Triangular cabling consists of connecting tree parts in combination of threes. This method should be preferred, when maximum support is required (one triangular system shown).
  

• Box: Box cabling consists of connecting four or more tree parts in a closed series. This system should be used only when minimal direct support is needed.
  

• Hub and Spoke: Hub and Spoke cabling consists of a center attachment (hub) with spans (spokes) of cable radiating to three or more leaders. Hub and Spoke cabling should only be used when other installation techniques cannot be installed.
  

Advisory Notices:  1. Supplemental Support Systems need periodic inspections by an arborist. Scheduling inspections shall be the responsibility of the tree owner.  2. Supplemental support systems are used to provide additional support or limit movement of a tree or tree part.  They do not provide primary support to a tree.

A300 Part 3 Supplemental Support Systems standards provide installation standards:

If cables in your trees are not two thirds of the way up as shown, it may be time to get your system updated.

Learn more about supplemental support systems!

What's New in Cabling, Bracing, and Guying (PDF - 166 KB) - a TCI magazine article written by Michael Roche, a TCIA-accredited tree care company owner.