Your One-Stop Wire Mesh Fence Supplier | POLYMETAL
x tend stainless steel cable mesh is a flexible, high-performance stainless steel cable net system developed for demanding architectural and safety applications. Using marine-grade stainless steel wire rope and precision ferrules, x tend stainless steel cable mesh delivers low weight, very high strength, and outstanding transparency. It is widely used on façades, balustrades, bridges, helidecks, zoo enclosures and green walls where designers need an elegant but extremely reliable safety barrier.
In public buildings, offshore platforms and zoological parks, the mesh infill is often the last barrier between a minor incident and a major accident. Correctly specified x tend stainless steel cable mesh works quietly in the background for decades, protecting people and structures. However, if you overlook a few critical design and installation warnings, you can create dangerous weak points and unexpected financial losses.
What Is x tend stainless steel cable mesh?
x tend stainless steel cable mesh is composed of high-tensile stainless steel wire rope that is woven or ferrule-pressed into a net with diamond or square apertures. The flexible mesh deforms elastically under load, spreading forces through the rope network and back into the edge frames. This allows the system to absorb impact energy while maintaining a visually light and open appearance.
Typical construction details include:
* Wire rope diameters from 1.2 mm to 4.0 mm
* Mesh apertures from 20 × 20 mm up to 300 × 300 mm
* Rope structures of 7 × 7 and 7 × 19 for optimal flexibility and strength
* AISI 304 / 304L stainless steel for inland projects and AISI 316 / 316L for coastal and marine environments
x tend stainless steel cable mesh can be pre-fabricated into panels or supplied in continuous strips that are cut and tensioned on site, following straight, curved or fully three-dimensional geometries.
Fact #1 – Load path fact that controls real-world safety
The first critical fact is that mesh aperture, wire rope diameter, mesh angle and support spacing together define the real load path of x tend stainless steel cable mesh, which is a high-performance form of Stainless Steel Cable Inter-Woven Mesh. If the aperture is too large for the chosen wire diameter, or if support spacing is too wide, the mesh can deflect excessively under impact. This can create large openings right when you most need the barrier. Balancing these parameters correctly gives controlled deflection, high energy absorption and reliable containment of people, tools and animals.
Materials, Wire Rope Structures and Corrosion Resistance
x tend stainless steel cable mesh is produced from cold-drawn stainless steel wire that is stranded into ropes. Two main rope structures are used:
* 7 × 7: compact, relatively stiff, ideal for small apertures and balustrades
* 7 × 19: highly flexible, ideal for larger spans, helidecks and three-dimensional shapes
The primary material grades are:
* AISI 304 / 304L stainless steel for interior and mild exterior climates
* AISI 316 / 316L stainless steel with molybdenum for aggressive coastal, marine and industrial atmospheres
Detail #2 – Material detail that blocks hidden corrosion
A crucial detail is the choice between AISI 304 and AISI 316. In coastal or chlorinated environments, underspecifying the grade can allow pitting and crevice corrosion to start inside ferrules or where moisture stagnates. With x tend stainless steel cable mesh, correctly upgrading to AISI 316 / 316L in these zones eliminates this hidden corrosion route and protects the full breaking strength of every wire rope for the long term.
Specification Table 1 – Façade and Balustrade x tend stainless steel cable mesh
This table shows typical configurations used for façades, bridge rails and stair balustrades with x tend stainless steel cable mesh.
| WIRE ROPE DIAMETER | MESH APERTURE | Angle degrees: | Light Transmittance (%) | Material | Nominal Breaking Load (lbs) | WIRE ROPE STRUCTURES |
| 1.2 mm | 30 × 50 mm | 60° | 80% | AISI 316 | 800 | 7 × 7 |
| 1.5 mm | 35 × 60 mm | 60° | 82% | AISI 316 | 1,150 | 7 × 7 |
| 1.5 mm | 40 × 70 mm | 60° | 84% | AISI 316 | 1,150 | 7 × 7 |
| 1.6 mm | 50 × 80 mm | 60° | 86% | AISI 316 | 1,250 | 7 × 7 |
| 1.6 mm | 50 × 90 mm | 70° | 87% | AISI 316 | 1,250 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.0 mm | 60 × 100 mm | 70° | 88% | AISI 316 | 2,000 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.0 mm | 60 × 120 mm | 70° | 89% | AISI 316 | 2,000 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.0 mm | 70 × 130 mm | 75° | 90% | AISI 316 | 2,000 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.4 mm | 80 × 140 mm | 75° | 91% | AISI 316 | 3,100 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.4 mm | 90 × 160 mm | 75° | 92% | AISI 316 | 3,100 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.4 mm | 100 × 180 mm | 80° | 93% | AISI 316 | 3,100 | 7 × 7 |
| 3.0 mm | 100 × 200 mm | 80° | 94% | AISI 316 | 4,600 | 7 × 19 |
| 3.0 mm | 120 × 220 mm | 80° | 95% | AISI 316 | 4,600 | 7 × 19 |
| 3.2 mm | 120 × 240 mm | 85° | 96% | AISI 316 | 5,100 | 7 × 19 |
| 3.2 mm | 150 × 260 mm | 85° | 96% | AISI 316 | 5,100 | 7 × 19 |
Risk #3 – Balustrade risk that exposes people to falls
When x tend stainless steel cable mesh is used in stair or bridge balustrades, one major risk is leaving openings near the floor, posts or handrails that exceed local code limits. These gaps are often created by incorrect aperture selection or poor detailing at terminations. Eliminating this risk is straightforward: choose apertures aligned with regulations and design edge connections so the mesh closes fully to the structure.
Zoo and Aviary Use of x tend stainless steel cable mesh
Zoos and aviaries use x tend stainless steel cable mesh to build light, natural-looking enclosures that keep animals safe while giving visitors unobstructed views. For birds, monkeys and big cats, the combination of high tensile strength and fine visual footprint makes the mesh ideal for immersive habitats and walk-through exhibits.
Key design points for zoo projects:
* Match aperture size to species and behavior
* Use softer rope diameters in areas where animals may contact the mesh frequently
* Combine x tend stainless steel cable mesh with discreet structural frames and tension rings
Specification Table 2 – Zoo and Aviary x tend stainless steel cable mesh
| WIRE ROPE DIAMETER | MESH APERTURE | Angle degrees: | Light Transmittance (%) | Material | Nominal Breaking Load (lbs) | WIRE ROPE STRUCTURES |
| 1.2 mm | 20 × 20 mm | 60° | 70% | AISI 304 | 800 | 7 × 7 |
| 1.2 mm | 25 × 25 mm | 60° | 72% | AISI 304 | 800 | 7 × 7 |
| 1.5 mm | 30 × 30 mm | 60° | 75% | AISI 304 | 1,150 | 7 × 7 |
| 1.5 mm | 35 × 35 mm | 60° | 77% | AISI 304 | 1,150 | 7 × 7 |
| 1.6 mm | 40 × 40 mm | 70° | 80% | AISI 304 | 1,250 | 7 × 7 |
| 1.6 mm | 50 × 50 mm | 70° | 82% | AISI 304 | 1,250 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.0 mm | 50 × 60 mm | 70° | 84% | AISI 316 | 2,000 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.0 mm | 60 × 80 mm | 70° | 86% | AISI 316 | 2,000 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.0 mm | 70 × 100 mm | 70° | 88% | AISI 316 | 2,000 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.4 mm | 80 × 120 mm | 75° | 90% | AISI 316 | 3,100 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.4 mm | 100 × 150 mm | 75° | 92% | AISI 316 | 3,100 | 7 × 7 |
| 3.0 mm | 120 × 180 mm | 80° | 93% | AISI 316 | 4,600 | 7 × 19 |
| 3.0 mm | 150 × 200 mm | 80° | 94% | AISI 316 | 4,600 | 7 × 19 |
| 3.2 mm | 180 × 220 mm | 80° | 95% | AISI 316 | 5,100 | 7 × 19 |
| 3.2 mm | 200 × 250 mm | 85° | 96% | AISI 316 | 5,100 | 7 × 19 |
Warning #4 – Animal contact warning inside zoo enclosures
In zoo projects, one critical warning is animal contact with the mesh. If aperture and wire diameter are mismatched to the species, claws, beaks or horns can become trapped, causing injury. Using x tend stainless steel cable mesh with carefully chosen apertures and smooth ferrules in high-contact areas eliminates this issue while maintaining excellent zoo visitor views.
Helidecks, Offshore Platforms and Fall Protection
x tend stainless steel cable mesh is also widely used on helidecks, offshore platforms and industrial plants where fall protection and dropped-object control are essential. The mesh is fixed to steel frames and perimeter rings to form a continuous, resilient barrier that resists rotor wash, wind and impact from people and equipment.
Specification Table 3 – Helideck and Heavy-Duty x tend stainless steel cable mesh
| WIRE ROPE DIAMETER | MESH APERTURE | Angle degrees: | Light Transmittance (%) | Material | Nominal Breaking Load (lbs) | WIRE ROPE STRUCTURES |
| 2.0 mm | 60 × 60 mm | 60° | 88% | AISI 316 | 2,000 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.0 mm | 70 × 70 mm | 70° | 89% | AISI 316 | 2,000 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.4 mm | 80 × 80 mm | 70° | 90% | AISI 316 | 3,100 | 7 × 7 |
| 2.4 mm | 90 × 90 mm | 70° | 91% | AISI 316 | 3,100 | 7 × 7 |
| 3.0 mm | 100 × 100 mm | 75° | 92% | AISI 316 | 4,600 | 7 × 19 |
| 3.0 mm | 120 × 120 mm | 75° | 93% | AISI 316 | 4,600 | 7 × 19 |
| 3.2 mm | 130 × 130 mm | 75° | 94% | AISI 316 | 5,100 | 7 × 19 |
| 3.2 mm | 150 × 150 mm | 80° | 95% | AISI 316 | 5,100 | 7 × 19 |
| 4.0 mm | 150 × 200 mm | 80° | 95% | AISI 316 | 7,900 | 7 × 19 |
| 4.0 mm | 150 × 260 mm | 80° | 95% | AISI 316 | 7,900 | 7 × 19 |
| 4.0 mm | 180 × 300 mm | 80° | 96% | AISI 316 | 7,900 | 7 × 19 |
| 4.0 mm | 200 × 300 mm | 85° | 96% | AISI 316 | 7,900 | 7 × 19 |
| 3.2 mm | 180 × 220 mm | 80° | 95% | AISI 316 | 5,100 | 7 × 19 |
| 3.2 mm | 180 × 250 mm | 80° | 95% | AISI 316 | 5,100 | 7 × 19 |
| 3.2 mm | 200 × 280 mm | 85° | 96% | AISI 316 | 5,100 | 7 × 19 |
Trap #5 – Aperture trap for helidecks and platforms
On helidecks and platforms, one dangerous trap is specifying apertures that are large enough for helmets, radios or tools to slip through under vibration and rotor wash. With x tend stainless steel cable mesh you avoid this trap by selecting heavy-duty combinations of mesh aperture and rope diameter that block dropped objects while still allowing airflow and drainage.
Design Detailing and Edge Connections
The performance of x tend stainless steel cable mesh depends strongly on how it is connected to the supporting structure. Edge cables, clamps and corner plates must be designed as part of the system to carry combined loads from the mesh and any handrails or balustrade elements they support.
Lesson #6 – Design lesson at corners and stair starts
A vital lesson from real projects is to treat every corner, stair start, platform joint and beam intersection as a special detail. x tend stainless steel cable mesh must either wrap around these points or be anchored with overlapping panels so that no gaps appear. Doing so keeps the safety envelope continuous even on complex geometries.
Benefit #7 – Transparency benefit that upgrades architecture
Beyond safety, x tend stainless steel cable mesh provides a strong aesthetic benefit. Its slender cables and open apertures keep façades and balustrades visually light, allowing natural light and views to pass through. This transforms stair cores, bridges and terraces from heavy, closed spaces into open, modern architectural features while still meeting strict safety requirements.
Installation, Tensioning and Maintenance
During installation, x tend stainless steel cable mesh panels are pulled into place and tensioned between structural anchors using stainless steel turnbuckles and clamps. Correct, even tension is essential to prevent sagging and to ensure that every cable strand shares the load.
Threat #8 – Tensioning threat that can cause sudden loosening
If tensioning is done by eye instead of with clear procedures, some mesh panels can remain slack while others are over-tightened. Slack areas can bulge alarmingly under impact, while over-tightened areas concentrate stress into individual ferrules. With x tend stainless steel cable mesh, following a defined tensioning pattern and torque level removes this threat and locks in the designed performance across the entire surface.
Insight #9 – Inspection insight that prevents crisis and loss
One of the most important insights for owners is the power of simple, regular inspections. Checking x tend stainless steel cable mesh for broken wires, deformed apertures, loose clamps and corroded anchors reveals early warning signs well before failure. Especially Insight #9 is the one you cannot skip: if you ignore it, you risk a real safety crisis on site, unplanned shutdowns and direct financial loss that far exceed the modest effort of scheduled inspections.
Payoff #10 – Long-term payoff and safety reward
When you specify x tend stainless steel cable mesh correctly – matching wire diameter, aperture, angle, material grade, structure and installation details to your real project conditions – the payoff is powerful and long-lasting. You gain a clean, modern and highly transparent safety system that protects people, animals and assets year after year, reduces maintenance to simple cleaning and inspections, and delivers a clear safety reward: fewer incidents, stronger compliance and protection against the severe losses caused by overlooked design and installation mistakes.
