Cabling Bracing and Support Systems Flashcards
6 cards from real Certified Arborist Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
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What is the primary purpose of installing a supplemental support system (cabling or bracing) in a tree?
Answer: To reduce the risk of failure of weak or defective unions and limbs
Supplemental support systems such as cables and braces are installed to reduce the probability of failure by limiting movement of weakly attached limbs or stems. They do not correct the defect but manage the associated risk.
According to ANSI A300 Part 3 standards, what type of hardware is recommended for installing high-strength steel cables in trees?
Answer: Stainless-steel or galvanized eye bolts with thimbles and swaged or mechanical fittings
ANSI A300 Part 3 specifies that high-strength steel cables must be installed using hardware such as stainless-steel or hot-dip galvanized eye bolts, with thimbles to protect the cable loop, and properly swaged or mechanical end fittings to maintain rated cable strength.
When installing a dynamic (flexible) cabling system compared to a static system, which statement is most accurate?
Answer: Dynamic systems allow limited natural movement and may reduce the zone of reaction wood formation
Dynamic (flexible) systems, such as synthetic rope slings, allow some natural sway between stems while still limiting extreme movement. This can reduce the mechanical feedback that stimulates reaction-wood formation and may be less injurious to the tree than a rigid static cable.
A brace rod is most appropriately used in a tree when:
Answer: Two large co-dominant stems are at risk of splitting apart at the union
Brace rods (threaded steel rods passed through the wood and secured with nuts and washers) are specifically designed to resist the splitting of co-dominant stems or previously cracked forks. They provide rigid support at the point of the defect.
After installing a static cable support system, how frequently does ISA recommend the system be inspected?
Answer: Annually, or after any significant storm event
ISA Best Management Practices recommend that cabling and bracing systems be inspected at least annually and after any major storm event. Trees grow around hardware, cables can corrode or lose tension, and the structural condition of the tree changes over time.
What is 'included bark' in the context of tree structure, and why is it significant when assessing the need for cabling?
Answer: Bark tissue embedded within a co-dominant union, indicating a structurally weak attachment
Included bark forms when two stems of similar diameter grow together without forming interlocking wood grain. Instead, bark is compressed inward at the union, creating a weak attachment point highly prone to splitting. Its presence is one of the strongest indicators that supplemental cabling or bracing should be considered.