8 Types of Electrical Conduit and Their Uses

• Electrical conduit protects wires within a structure and is an integral part of large construction projects including data centers, underground transit systems, and bridges.
• Electrical conduit can be non-metallic and metallic, and different types fall within those categories.
• When selecting electrical conduit for a project, consider weight, corrosion resistance, cable fault resistance, fire resistance, cost, and availability, among many other factors.

Metal Electrical Conduits

Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC):
RMC is composed of heavyweight galvanized steel and installed with threaded fittings. Known for being very strong, RMC is unfortunately one of the more expensive electrical conduits when it comes to both materials and labor. Aluminum is another material used for RMC, and may have additional coating applied to better resist corrosion.

Galvanized Rigid Steel (GRC):
Approved for indoor and outdoor applications, GRC is made from steel and is traditionally found in industrial and commercial applications, GRC has been a long-time industry standard and benefits from impressive impact resistance, as well as UV-stability and the ability to protect from EMI (electromagnetic interference). Unfortunately, its heavy weight and poor field handling make GRC particularly expensive to install and it can be highly susceptible to corrosion. GRC’s conductivity makes it susceptible to fault conditions in which the conduit and wire may weld together.

Intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC):
Approved for the same applications as RMC, IMC is a steel conduit that is slightly lighter than RMC and rated for outdoor use. It can be more cost-effective than RMC, available threaded or unthreaded, and may or may not be coated. Compared to GRC and RMC, IMC has much thinner walls that can handle more wire fill but is more susceptible to kink. IMC only goes up to 4 inches in trade sizes, so it is significantly smaller than other conduits.

Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT):
Thin-walled and unthreaded, EMT is typically made of coated steel and used in place of GRC in commercial and industrial applications, though it is commonly found in residential applications as well. It can also be made of aluminum and is approved for use in concrete but is not permitted to be installed where subject to physical damage. EMT is not able to offer the same level of protection as GRC. It is easily bent but can not be field threaded because of its thinness. Common trade sizes run from .5 inch to 1.5 inches.

Non-Metal Electrical Conduits

Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit (RNC):
Non-metallic, unthreaded, smooth-walled tubing is available in multiple substrates including high-density polyethylene, PVC, and RTRC (fiberglass). The capabilities and specs vary by substrate but several forms of RNC are approved for underground or direct burial use.

RTRC Conduit:
Available in various wall thicknesses and threaded, RTRC (reinforced thermosetting resin conduit), or fiberglass conduit is created by tension-winding strands of fiberglass over a rotating mandrel, before impregnating the strands with resin and curing under high temperature, resulting in high flexural strength and high-temperature resistance. RTRC features the broadest range of corrosion resistance of all in-market conduit materials, as well as low burn-through, UV stability, superior temperature range (including excellent handling in low temperatures), and the ability to retain its original shape after impact. Its support distances are comparable with GRC, PVC-coated steel, and aluminum electrical conduit.

RTRC is significantly lighter in weight than traditional conduit materials, resulting in the lowest labor installation rates for most diameters per the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Manual of Labor Units. In terms of raw material costs, it is one of the more affordable electrical conduit options. Phenolic RTRC meets NFPA 130 requirements and is suitable for speciality applications requiring low smoke, no flame, zero halogen, 2-hour fire-rated conduit for use in Class I Div 2 areas.

PVC Conduit:
Available in varying wall thicknesses and threaded, PVC is light and commonly used for applications requiring non-metal electrical conduit. PVC conduit is not recommended for use in direct sunlight due to poor UV stability. It is relatively easy to heat and field bend with the use of a hotbox conduit bender, but must be mounted to allow for expansion and contraction due to a high coefficient of thermal expansion, and may deform after installation in environments that are too hot. Traditionally PVC has been an inexpensive conduit, however, in recent years it has become more expensive and harder to source, due to ongoing supply chain issues. In these cases, American-made RTRC is often substituted.

Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing (ENT):
Thin-walled and corrugated, ENT (electrical nonmetallic tubing) is flame retardant but not fire rated. It is not approved for use in exposed locations but is commonly used inside walls or within concrete blocks. Known for its extreme flexibility ENT can be field bent by hand without requiring any special tools or the application of heat. ENT is available in PVC in trade sizes up to 2 inches. Its support spacing is limited to 3 feet and within 3 feet of terminations.

How to Choose an Electrical Conduit

National Electrical Code (NEC) guidelines, local codes, and engineering specifications most often dictate which conduit to consider for use in a project. Although size and type are key aspects, there are many characteristics to consider when choosing an electrical conduit, including:

• Cable fault
• Toxicity
• Weight
• Durability
• Temperature range
• Support spans
• Burn-through

• Coefficient of friction
• Conductivity
• Distance between expansion joints
• Material cost
• Field handling
• Memory
• Labor cost

The correct conduit should:

• Be durable and long-lasting
• Be fire-resistant as dictated by environment/application
• Allow for cables to easily be pulled to areas that may be inaccessible in the future, and unaffected by any pulling lubricants with limited or no burn-through
• Be cost-effective.

For help selecting a conduit, reach out to an Electrical Sales Rep to learn more.