difference between cable tray and cable ladder

Just names for the same thing, you could use the name you like.

Khristro

cable ladder is just a type of cable tray.
There are four different types of cable trays.

1- Ladder Type
2- Trough Type
3- Channel Type
4- Solid Bottom Type

First, the country where you live, you should try to get a copy of the code of practice as you've asked an international forum to give you a code of practice. I'm from the UK, and the code may not suit your country.

Cable ladder or cable tray? Depends on the size of cable you intend to install, its weight and route. You have stated that cable ladder is OK for your application, it would not be acceptable in the UK if heavy cable are used.

As for tracing cable during trouble shooting..... most installed cables have cable markers at each end of termination, why you would want to look at the cable or trace cables I think is just your way of doing it and it might not be covered in a code of practice.

Cable ladders are lighter construction and are used for light weight cables such as communications, controls, fire systems cables, computer cables etc, whereas cable tray is of a more solid construction and heavier, is used for power cables, large multi-core cables that once installed are not really looked at again

It depends on the size of the Ladder Tray. I have used ladder Tray in industrial settings where there were multiple runs of cables that consisted of 3 750KCM and 1 bare 350KCM conductors. This cable weighed 10 lbs/ft. and when dropped to the MCC required 1) 4" rigid conduit per cable and we ran 3) sets to each MCC. It took 3) tuggers, 2) cherry pickers, and 45) men to pull these.

Other instances when filled the air can only pass above and below requiring de-rating.

Ladder tray is mainly used for various reasons:

1. easy to install and run cables
2. accessibility after the fact
3. it allows dirt, rain, snow and etc to pass through so that foreign material doesn't damage cables during subsequent pulls.
4. provides cable supports for vertical runs
5. cost effective

Both are cable containments. But there is difference.

Cable Ladder:

1- it is of stronger built. 2- configuration is easy. 3- Air circulation is free hence derating of cable currrent carrrying capacity is not required.3- Less accessories are required.4- can carry more load 5- can get cable drops through the rungs and an extra riser is not required.5- cable ladders are used in industrial concerns or in the basements etc, which are not public areas.

CABLE TRAY. 1-cable trays are although perforated upto70%, but air flow is not as free as in the cable ladders hence derating factor has to apply for the cables currrent carrying capacity.2- cables in the cable tray are mechanically safer than in the cable ladder.3- cable tray is aesthatic and are used in public areas. 4- cable trays are available in different colours to match with the building fabric.

It depends on what you are wanting to do.

There are:

1. solid trays
2. washdown-proff trays
3. ladder trays
4. basket trays

They can be made of aluminum,steel, and even plastic.

More information is required.