Certified Arborist Test Cabling Bracing and Support Systems 3

Question 1

What is a propping system in arboricultural support, and when is it used instead of cabling?

Accepted Answer

A vertical or angled support post or beam placed beneath a heavy limb to support it from below — used when cables cannot be installed above (no suitable upper anchors) or as a supplement to cabling for very heavy limbs

Answer

A system of underground concrete supports designed to prevent tree uprooting in flood-prone areas

Answer

A wire support system used to keep young trees vertical during establishment — identical to staking systems

Answer

A rope system that suspends a damaged branch from neighboring trees until it can be removed

Question 2

What is the purpose of a 'guy wire' support system for transplanted trees, and when should it be removed?

Accepted Answer

Guy wires provide temporary support to newly transplanted trees to prevent wind toppling during establishment, and should be removed after 1-2 growing seasons once the root system has established adequate anchorage

Answer

Guy wires are permanent structural supports installed to compensate for genetically weak root anchorage in ornamental tree cultivars

Answer

Guy wires are heavy steel cables installed on mature trees to prevent wind throw — they should remain permanently once installed

Answer

Guy wires are used exclusively for correcting lean in trees — they are never used for transplanting support

Question 3

How does an arborist calculate cable tension requirements for a cabling system, and what safety factor is applied?

Accepted Answer

Calculations consider the weight of the failure part, the angle and geometry of the cable relative to the defect, the distance from the defect to the anchor, and the dynamic loading factor — resulting in a required cable WLL typically with a safety factor of at least 2:1 applied to the calculated peak load

Answer

Cable tension is estimated visually based on the apparent weight of the cabled limbs — no calculation is needed for standard applications

Answer

Cable tension is determined by the cable manufacturer's recommendations based on cable diameter alone — geometry and loading are not calculated in field conditions

Answer

Tension calculations are only required for cabling systems on trees with documented structural failures — preventive systems require no calculation

Question 4

What distinguishes a 'supplemental support system' from a 'life support system' in ANSI A300 Part 3 terminology, and why does this distinction matter?

Accepted Answer

A supplemental support system augments the tree's own structural capacity but the tree could potentially remain standing without it; a life support system is the only thing keeping a critically compromised tree from failing — creating different management implications and ethical obligations

Answer

Supplemental support systems use cables; life support systems use bracing rods — the hardware type defines the category

Answer

Supplemental support systems are temporary; life support systems are permanent — installation duration is the defining characteristic

Answer

Supplemental support refers to systems installed on young trees during establishment; life support refers to systems on mature declining trees — tree age defines the category

Question 5

What is the proper documentation protocol after installing a cabling or bracing system, and why is documentation important?

Accepted Answer

Written documentation must record the system design rationale, hardware specifications (size, type, manufacturer), installation heights and positions, the defect being addressed, work performed, recommendations for follow-up inspection, and any limitations or conditions that could affect the system's adequacy

Answer

A brief verbal communication to the property owner summarizing the work performed is sufficient documentation

Answer

Documentation is only required when the property owner requests it in writing — arborists are not otherwise obligated to document supplemental support installations

Answer

A photograph of the completed installation is the only documentation needed — written records are not required by any standard

Question 6

What is the 'load path' concept in evaluating a tree's structural integrity, and how does it apply to cabling system placement?

Accepted Answer

Load path is the route through which forces (gravity, wind) are transferred from where they are applied through the tree's structure to the ground — identifying interruptions or weaknesses in this path directs cabling placement to support the compromised structural element

Answer

Load path refers to the route that maintenance crews take when inspecting a cabled tree — it has no structural significance

Answer

Load path is the direction in which a cable should be oriented relative to the prevailing wind to maximize effectiveness

Answer

Load path is the path that water takes through the xylem of cabled stems — hydraulic conductivity is what the term describes