Electrical conduit

An electrical conduit is a tube used to

protect and route electrical wiring in a
building or structure. Electrical conduit
may be made of metal, plastic, fiber, or
fired clay. Most conduit is rigid, but flexible
conduit is used for some purposes.
 This illustration shows electrical
conduit risers, looking up inside a fire-
resistance rated shaft, as seen
entering bottom of a firestop. The
firestop is made of firestop mortar on
top and mineral wool on the bottom.
Raceways are used to protect
electrical cables from damage.

Conduit embedded in concrete

structure for distribution of electrical
cables throughout this highrise
apartment building

Electrical conduit and bus duct in a

building at Texaco Nanticoke refinery

Conduit is generally installed by

electricians at the site of installation of
electrical equipment. Its use, form, and
installation details are often specified by
wiring regulations, such as the US National
Electrical Code (NEC) and other building
codes.

Comparison with other

wiring methods
Electrical conduit provides very good
protection to enclosed conductors from
impact, moisture, and chemical vapors.
Varying numbers, sizes, and types of
conductors can be pulled into a conduit,
which simplifies design and construction
compared to multiple runs of cables or the
expense of customized composite cable.
Wiring systems in buildings may be subject
to frequent alterations. Frequent wiring
changes are made simpler and safer
through the use of electrical conduit, as
existing conductors can be withdrawn and
new conductors installed, with little
disruption along the path of the conduit.

A conduit system can be made waterproof

or submersible. Metal conduit can be used
to shield sensitive circuits from
electromagnetic interference, and also can
prevent emission of such interference from
enclosed power cables. Non-metallic
conduits resist corrosion and are light-
weight, reducing installation labor cost.
When installed with proper sealing fittings,
a conduit will not permit the flow of
flammable gases and vapors, which
provides protection from fire and
explosion hazard in areas handling volatile
substances.

Some types of conduit are approved for

direct encasement in concrete. This is
commonly used in commercial buildings to
allow electrical and communication
outlets to be installed in the middle of
large open areas. For example, retail
display cases and open-office areas use
floor-mounted conduit boxes to connect
power and communications cables.
Both metal and plastic conduit can be bent
at the job site to allow a neat installation
without excessive numbers of
manufactured fittings. This is particularly
advantageous when following irregular or
curved building profiles. Special tube
bending equipment is used to bend the
conduit without kinking or denting it.

The cost of conduit installation is higher

than other wiring methods due to the cost
of materials and labor. In applications
such as residential construction, the high
degree of physical damage protection may
not be required, so the expense of conduit
is not warranted. Conductors installed
within conduit cannot dissipate heat as
readily as those installed in open wiring, so
the current capacity of each conductor
must be reduced (derated) if many are
installed in one conduit. It is impractical,
and prohibited by wiring regulations, to
have more than 360 degrees of total
bends in a run of conduit, so special outlet
fittings must be provided to allow
conductors to be installed without damage
in such runs.

Some types of metal conduit may also

serve as a useful bonding conductor for
grounding (earthing), but wiring regulations
may also dictate workmanship standards
or supplemental means of grounding for
certain types. While metal conduit may
sometimes be used as a grounding
conductor, the circuit length is limited. For
example, a long run of conduit as
grounding conductor may have too high an
electrical resistance, and not allow proper
operation of overcurrent devices on a fault.

Types
Conduit systems are classified by the wall
thickness, mechanical stiffness, and
material used to make the tubing.
Materials may be chosen for mechanical
protection, corrosion resistance, and
overall cost of the installation (labor plus
material cost). Wiring regulations for
electrical equipment in hazardous areas
may require particular types of conduit to
be used to provide an approved
installation.

Metal

Rigid metal conduit (RMC) is a thick-

walled threaded tubing, usually made of
coated steel, stainless steel or aluminum.

Galvanized rigid conduit (GRC) is

galvanized steel tubing, with a tubing wall
that is thick enough to allow it to be
threaded. Its common applications are in
commercial and industrial construction.[1]
It is designed to protect wire and
connectors.

Intermediate metal conduit (IMC) is a

steel tubing heavier than EMT but lighter
than RMC. It may be threaded.

Electrical metallic tubing (EMT),

sometimes called thin-wall, is commonly
used instead of galvanized rigid conduit
(GRC), as it is less costly and lighter than
GRC. EMT itself is not threaded, but can be
used with threaded fittings that clamp to
it. Lengths of conduit are connected to
each other and to equipment with clamp-
type fittings. Like GRC, EMT is more
common in commercial and industrial
buildings than in residential applications.
EMT is generally made of coated steel,
though it may be aluminum.
EMT Weights and Dimensions (North America)

EMT is available in t rade sizes 1/2" t hrough 4", and 10′ and 20′ lengt hs.

Some manufact urers also produce EMT in a range of colors for easy syst em ident ificat ion.

Nominal Wt . per 100 Ft . Nominal Out side Nominal Wall

EMT Sizing
(30.5m) Diamet er Thickness

USA Met ric lb. kg in. mm in. mm

1/2 16 30 13.6 0.706 17.9 0.042 1.07

3/4 21 46 20.9 0.922 23.4 0.049 1.25

1 27 67 30.4 1.163 29.5 0.057 1.45

1
35 101 45.8 1.51 38.4 0.065 1.65
1/4

1
41 116 52.6 1.74 44.2 0.065 1.65
1/2

2 53 148 67.1 2.197 55.8 0.065 1.65

2
63 216 98 2.875 73 0.072 1.83
1/2

3 78 263 119.3 3.5 88.9 0.072 1.83

3
91 349 158.3 4 101.6 0.083 2.11
1/2

4 103 393 178.2 4.5 114.3 0.083 2.11

Aluminum conduit, similar to galvanized

steel conduit, is a rigid tube, generally used
in commercial and industrial applications
where a higher resistance to corrosion is
needed. Such locations would include
food processing plants, where large
amounts of water and cleaning chemicals
would make galvanized conduit
unsuitable. Aluminum cannot be directly
embedded in concrete, since the metal
reacts with the alkalis in cement. The
conduit may be coated to prevent
corrosion by incidental contact with
concrete. Aluminum conduit is generally
lower cost than steel in addition to having
a lower labor cost to install, since a length
of aluminum conduit will have about one-
third the weight of an equally-sized rigid
steel conduit.[2]
Non-metal

Plastic tubing for use as electrical

conduit

PVC conduit has long been considered the

lightest in weight compared to steel
conduit materials, and usually lower in
cost than other forms of conduit.[3] In
North American electrical practice, it is
available in three different wall
thicknesses, with the thin-wall variety only
suitable for embedded use in concrete,
and heavier grades suitable for direct
burial and exposed work. Most of the
various fittings made for metal conduit are
also available in PVC form. The plastic
material resists moisture[4] and many
corrosive substances, but since the tubing
is non-conductive an extra bonding
(grounding) conductor must be pulled into
each conduit. PVC conduit may be heated
and bent in the field, by using special
heating tools designed for the purpose.

Joints to fittings are made with slip-on

solvent-welded connections, which set up
rapidly after assembly and attain full
strength in about one day. Since slip-fit
sections do not need to be rotated during
assembly, the special union fittings used
with threaded conduit (such as Ericson)
are not required. Since PVC conduit has a
higher coefficient of thermal expansion
than other types, it must be mounted to
allow for expansion and contraction of
each run. Care should be taken when
installing PVC underground in multiple or
parallel run configurations due to mutual
heating effect of densely packed cables,
because the conduit will deform when
heated.

Reinforced thermosetting resin conduit

(RTRC) or fiberglass conduit [5] is light in
weight compared to metallic conduits,
which contributes to lower labor costs. It
is sometimes referred to as FRE which
stands for "fiberglass reinforced epoxy",
however this term is a legally registered
trademark of FRE Composites.[6] It may
also provide lower material cost. RTRC
conduit can be used in a variety of indoor
and outdoor applications.[3] Fiberglass
conduit is available in multiple wall
thicknesses to suit various applications
and has a support distance very similar to
steel. High temperature, low smoke, no
flame, classified area (Class I Division 2),
and zero halogen versions are also
manufactured for specialty applications
such as subway tunnels and stations and
in the US can meet NFPA 130
requirements.[7] Like other non-metallic
conduits, a bonding conductor may be
required for grounding. Joints are epoxy-
glued, which requires some installation
labor and time for joints to set. RTRC
conduit may not be bent in the field and
appropriate fittings must be used to
change directions, nor is RTRC conduit
approved to support luminaires.

Rigid nonmetallic conduit (RNC) is a non-

metallic unthreaded smooth-walled tubing.

Electrical nonmetallic tubing (ENT) is a

thin-walled corrugated tubing that is
moisture-resistant and flame retardant. It
is pliable such that it can be bent by hand,
and is often flexible although the fittings
are not. It is not threaded due to its
corrugated shape, although some fittings
might be.

Flexible

Flexible metallic conduit used in an

underground parking facility

Flexible conduits are used to connect to

motors or other devices where isolation
from vibration is useful, or where an
excessive number of fittings would be
needed to use rigid connections. Electrical
codes may restrict the length of a run of
some types of flexible conduit.

Flexible metallic conduit (FMC, informally

called greenfield or flex) is made by the
helical coiling of a self-interlocked ribbed
strip of aluminum or steel, forming a
hollow tube through which wires can be
pulled. FMC is used primarily in dry areas
where it would be impractical to install
EMT or other non-flexible conduit, yet
where metallic strength to protect
conductors is still required. The flexible
tubing does not maintain any permanent
bend, and can flex freely.
FMC may be used as an equipment
grounding conductor if specific provisions
are met regarding the trade size and length
of FMC used, depending on the amperage
of the circuits contained in the conduit. In
general, an equipment grounding
conductor must be pulled through the FMC
with an ampacity suitable to carry the fault
current likely imposed on the largest circuit
contained within the FMC.

Liquidtight flexible metal conduit (LFMC)

is a metallic flexible conduit covered by a
waterproof plastic coating. The interior is
similar to FMC.
Flexible metallic tubing (FMT; North
America) is not the same as flexible
metallic conduit (FMC) which is described
in US National Electrical Code (NEC)
Article 348. FMT is a raceway, but not a
conduit and is described in a separate NEC
Article 360. It only comes in 1/2" & 3/4"
trade sizes, whereas FMC is sized 1/2" ~
4" trade sizes. NEC 360.2 describes it as:
"A raceway that is circular in cross section,
flexible, metallic and liquidtight without a
nonmetallic jacket."

Liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit

(LFNC) refers to several types of flame-
resistant non-metallic tubing. Interior
surfaces may be smooth or corrugated.
There may be integral reinforcement within
the conduit wall. It is also known as
FNMC.

Underground

Conduit may be installed underground

between buildings, structures, or devices
to allow installation of power and
communication cables. An assembly of
these conduits, often called a duct bank,
may either be directly buried in earth, or
encased in concrete (sometimes with
reinforcing rebar to aid against shear
forces). Alternatively, a duct bank may be
installed in a utility tunnel. A duct bank will
allow replacement of damaged cables
between buildings or additional power and
communications circuits to be added,
without the expense of re-excavation of a
trench. While metal conduit is occasionally
used for burial, usually PVC, polyethylene
or polystyrene plastics are now used due
to lower cost, easier installation, and
better resistance to corrosion.

Formerly, compressed asbestos fiber

mixed with cement (such as transite) was
used for some underground installations.
Telephone and communications circuits
were typically installed in fired-clay
conduit.

Cost comparison
Cost relative to rigid galvanized steel
(RGS) conduit, 3/4 inch (21 metric) size
Type Labor Weight Material cost

RMC 1.0 1.0 1.0

Aluminum 0.89 0.55 0.99

IMC 0.89 0.76 0.84

EMT 0.62 0.42 0.35

PVC 0.55 0.20 0.43

Exact ratios of installation labor, weight

and material cost vary depending on the
size of conduit, but the values for 3/4 inch
(21 metric) trade size (North America) are
representative.[8]
Fittings
Despite the similarity to pipes used in
plumbing, purpose-designed electrical
fittings are used to connect conduit.

Box connectors join conduit to a junction

box or other electrical box. A typical box
connector is inserted into a knockout in a
junction box, with the threaded end then
being secured with a ring (called a lock
nut) from within the box, as a bolt would
be secured by a nut. The other end of the
fitting usually has a screw or compression
ring which is tightened down onto the
inserted conduit. Fittings for non-threaded
conduits are either secured with set
screws or with a compression nut that
encircles the conduit. Fittings for general
purpose use with metal conduits may be
made of die-cast zinc, but where stronger
fittings are needed, they are made of
copper-free aluminum or cast iron.

Couplings connect two pieces of conduit

together.

Sometimes the fittings are considered

sufficiently conductive to bond (electrically
unite) the metal conduit to a metal junction
box (thus sharing the box's ground
connection); other times, grounding
bushings are used which have bonding
jumpers from the bushing to a grounding
screw on the box.[9]

Unlike water piping, if the conduit is to be

watertight, the idea is to keep water out,
not in. In this case, gaskets are used with
special fittings, such as the weatherhead
leading from the overhead electrical mains
to the electric meter.

Flexible metal conduit usually uses fittings

with a clamp on the outside of the box, just
like bare cables would.
Conduit bodies

A conduit body can be used to provide

pulling access in a run of conduit, to allow
more bends to be made in a particular
section of conduit, to conserve space
where a full size bend radius would be
impractical or impossible, or to split a
conduit path into multiple directions.
Conductors may not be spliced inside a
conduit body, unless it is specifically listed
for such use.

Conduit bodies differ from junction boxes

in that they are not required to be
individually supported, which can make
them very useful in certain practical
applications. Conduit bodies are
commonly referred to as condulets, a term
trademarked by Cooper Crouse-Hinds
company, a division of Cooper Industries.

Conduit bodies come in various types,

moisture ratings, and materials, including
galvanized steel, aluminum, and PVC.
Depending on the material, they use
different mechanical methods for securing
conduit. Among the types are:

L-shaped bodies ("Ells") include the LB,

LL, and LR, where the inlet is in line with
the access cover and the outlet is on the
back, left and right, respectively. In
addition to providing access to wires for
pulling, "L" fittings allow a 90 degree turn
in conduit where there is insufficient
space for a full-radius 90 degree sweep
(curved conduit section).
T-shaped bodies ("Tees") feature an inlet
in line with the access cover and outlets
to both the cover's left and right.
C-shaped bodies ("Cees") have identical
openings above and below the access
cover, and are used to pull conductors in
a straight runs as they make no turn
between inlet and outlet.
 "Service Ell" bodies (SLBs), shorter ells
with inlets flush with the access cover,
are frequently used where a circuit
passes through an exterior wall from
outside to inside.

Other wireways

Surface mounted raceway (wire

molding)

This type of "decorative" conduit is

designed to provide an aesthetically
acceptable passageway for wiring without
hiding it inside or behind a wall. This is
used where additional wiring is required,
but where going through a wall would be
difficult or require remodeling. The conduit
has an open face with removable cover,
secured to the surface, and wire is placed
inside. Plastic raceway is often used for
telecommunication wiring, such as
network cables in an older structure, where
it is not practical to drill through concrete
block.

Advantages

Allows adding new wiring to an existing

building without removing or cutting
holes into the drywall, lath and plaster,
concrete, or other wall finish.
Allows circuits to be easily locatable
and accessible for future changes, thus
 enabling minimum effort upgrades.
Disadvantages

Appearance may not be acceptable to

all observers.

Trunking

The term trunking is used in the United

Kingdom for electrical wireways, generally
rectangular in cross section with
removable lids.

Mini trunking is a term used in the UK for

small form-factor (usually 6 mm to 25 mm
square or rectangle sectioned) PVC
wireways. In India, this trunking is available
with self-fixing tape to ease off
installation. [10]

In some countries including Iran, the term

'Trunking' is a channel that allows
installation of switches and sockets.

In North American practice, wire trough

and lay-in wireways are terms used to
designate similar products. Wall duct
raceway[11][12][13][14] is the term for the type
that can be enclosed in a wall.
Innerducts

Innerducts are subducts that can be

installed in existing underground conduit
systems to provide clean, continuous, low-
friction paths for placing optical cables,
which have relatively low pulling tension
limits. They provide a means for
subdividing conventional conduit that was
originally designed for single, large-
diameter metallic conductor cables into
multiple channels for smaller optical
cables.

Innerducts are typically small-diameter,

semi-flexible subducts. According to
Telcordia GR-356, there are three basic
types of innerduct: smoothwall,
corrugated, and ribbed.[15] These various
designs are based on the profile of the
inside and outside diameters of the
innerduct. The need for a specific
characteristic or combination of
characteristics, such as pulling strength,
flexibility, or the lowest coefficient of
friction, dictates the type of innerduct
required.

Beyond the basic profiles or contours

(smoothwall, corrugated, or ribbed),
innerduct is also available in an increasing
variety of multiduct designs. Multiduct
may be either a composite unit consisting
of up to four or six individual innerducts
that are held together by some mechanical
means, or a single extruded product having
multiple channels through which to pull
several cables. In either case, the
multiduct is coilable, and can be pulled
into existing conduit in a manner similar to
that of conventional innerduct.

Passive fire protection

Conduit is of relevance to both
firestopping, where they become
penetrants, and fireproofing, where circuit
integrity measures can be applied on the
outside to keep the internal cables
operational during an accidental fire. The
British standard BS 476 also considers
internal fires, whereby the fireproofing
must protect the surroundings from cable
fires. Any external treatments must
consider the effect upon ampacity derating
due to internal heat buildup.

See also
Panzergewinde
Pipe thread

References
1. R.K. Clidero Applications of Electrical
Construction, General Publishing Co., Don
 Mills Ontario Canada, 1975, ISBN 0-7736-
5011-3
2. R. S. Means Electrical Cost Data 22nd
Edition, ISBN 0-87629-504-9, pages 106-
107 table 16 200 Conduits
3. "Benefits of Fiberglass Conduit" (http://outs
ideplant.colonialteltek.com/Asset/BENEFIT
S-OF-FIBERGLASS-CONDUIT.pdf) (PDF).
Outsideplant.colonialteltek.com. Retrieved
2 October 2017.
4. "Five advantages of PVC coated conduit" (h
ttp://www.flexconduit.com/five-advantages
-pvc-coated-conduit/) . FlexGlory.
5. "Reinforced Thermosetting Resin Conduit:
Type RTRC" (http://www.ul.com/global/doc
uments/corporate/aboutul/publications/ne
wsletters/electricalconnections/february0
8.pdf) (PDF). Ul.com. Retrieved 2 October
2017.
6. "FRE Trademark of FRE COMPOSITES INC. -
Registration Number 3043149 - Serial
Number 76441251 :: Justia Trademarks" (h
ttp://trademarks.justia.com/764/41/fre-76
441251.html) . trademarks.justia.com.
7. "Champion Duct" (http://championfiberglas
s.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/DuctC
atalog.pdf) (PDF).
Championfiberglass.com. Retrieved
2 October 2017.
 8. John H. Chiang, (Ed), RS Means Electrical
Cost Data 30th Annual Edition, RSMeans
Construction Publishers, Kingston MA USA,
2007, ISBN 0-87629-856-0
9. Cauldwell 2002:109.
10. "Precision 16 x 16mm UPVC Mini Trunking
Ivory" (https://www.industricals.com/2389
853/product/pipes-fittings-cable-trunking/
mini-trunking/precision-16-x-16mm-upvc-m
ini-trunking-ivory) . Industricals. Retrieved
12 May 2018.
11. "Wallduct Medical Raceway System" (http://
www.legrand.us/wiremold/infloor-ducts/du
cts/wallduct-medical-raceway-system.aspx
#.VC_nARY08mE) . Legrand.us. Retrieved
2014-10-04.
12. "Wall Duct - Schneider Electric United
States" (http://www.schneider-electric.co
m/products/us/en/53900-wire-manageme
nt/53920-wall-duct/6365-wall-duct/) .
Schneider-electric.com. Retrieved
2014-10-04.
13. "Raceway Solutions - Wall" (http://www.filg
esco.com/RacewaySolutions-Wall.pdf)
(PDF). Filgesco.com. Retrieved 2014-10-04.

14. "Raceway & Wiring Ducts" (http://www.icc.c

om/c/24/raceway-wall-ducts) . Icc.com.
Retrieved 2014-10-04.
15. GR-356, Generic Requirements for Optical
Cable Innerduct, Associated Conduit, and
Accessories (http://telecom-info.njdepot.er
icsson.net/site-cgi/ido/docs.cgi?ID=SEARC
H&DOCUMENT=GR-356&) , Telcordia.
Bibliography
Cauldwell, Rex (2002). Wiring a House
(For Pros By Pros) (https://archive.org/d
etails/isbn_9781561585274) .
Newtown, CT, USA: Taunton Press.
ISBN 1-56158-527-0.

External links
Conduit definition (http Wikimedia
Commons
s://web.archive.org/we
has media
b/20111103193821/htt related to
Electrical
p://www.cmacable.co
conduit.
m/index.php/terms_an
d_definition)
 How to Bend Conduit Using a Pipe
Bender (http://shop.chapmanelectric.co
m/how-to-bend-conduit.html)

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Electrical_conduit&oldid=1185982304"

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