Certified Arborist Test Cabling Bracing and Support Systems 1

Question 1

What cable material does the ISA specify as the standard for static high cabling installations in trees?

Accepted Answer

Galvanized Extra High Strength (EHS) wire rope

Answer

ISA Best Management Practices specify Galvanized Extra High Strength (EHS) wire rope for static cabling systems because of its superior tensile strength, corrosion resistance, and long service life compared to alternatives.

Question 2

According to ISA Best Management Practices, how frequently should installed cabling and bracing systems be inspected?

Accepted Answer

Annually and after any significant storm or loading event

Answer

ISA guidelines recommend annual inspections of cabling and bracing systems, with additional inspections following major storms, because hardware can corrode, cables can lose tension, and the tree's growth can alter load dynamics over time.

Question 3

When a cabling system is installed on a tree with co-dominant stems, what complementary pruning practice is most commonly recommended to reduce stress on the cable?

Accepted Answer

Performing crown reduction on the supported stem or limb

Answer

Crown reduction of the supported stem decreases its weight and wind-sail effect, directly reducing the dynamic load transferred to the cable and anchoring hardware during storm events.

Question 4

What is the primary structural advantage of a triangulated (three-point or multi-point) cabling system over a simple two-point system?

Accepted Answer

It distributes loads in multiple directions, resisting movement from any compass point

Answer

A triangulated system ties three or more stems together so that lateral loads from any direction are shared across multiple cable runs, whereas a two-point system only resists movement in the plane of the single cable.

Question 5

What is the purpose of a turnbuckle included in a static cabling system?

Accepted Answer

To adjust and set cable tension during and after installation

Answer

A turnbuckle provides a means to tension the cable to the specified tautness at installation and to re-tension it during subsequent inspections as the tree grows and hardware seats into the wood.

Certified Arborist Test Practice Test

Certified Arborist Test Practice Test

Certified Arborist Test Cabling Bracing and Support Systems 1