Fiberglass Conduit for Data Centers: Built to Scale

by Scott Patchan

As data center construction surges to meet global demand, electrical infrastructure must evolve to keep pace. Hyperscalers, colocation providers, and enterprise operators alike are expanding their footprints while grappling with challenges such as grid delays, renewable integration, and the need for speed-to-power. To support this growth, conduits, duct banks, and raceways must be engineered for long-term performance and resilience.

The Continued Growth of Data Center Construction

The world’s reliance on cloud services, AI, and connected devices continues to drive exponential data growth. In 2026, we’ll see continued investment in:

• Microgrid construction for data centers bypassing utility grid queues.
• BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) and solar integration to increase reliability.
• BYOP (Bring Your Own Power) builds that push more electrical infrastructure inside the fence line, requiring extensive underground duct banks and feeder runs.
• On-site power generation including natural gas turbines, hydrogen fuel cells, and SMRs (small modular reactors).

Conduit Challenges in Medium Voltage Data Center Construction

Scaling safely and efficiently demands electrical conduit that can handle heat, corrosion, and long cable pulls. Challenges include:

• Heat from dense cable loads: Underground conduits in high-load environments must dissipate heat effectively.
• Long pulls: Projects such as cable dense data centers and utilities require a conduit that protects from burn-through, compromises and breaks.
• Corrosion: Strut and conduit in the southern U.S. must be able to resist soil and environmental corrosion for durability in humid, harsh, or fuel-handling environments.
• Fault conditions: Traditional steel and PVC-coated conduits can weld during fault conditions, damaging both cable and raceways.
• Labor and schedule pressures: Hyperscale builds run on compressed schedules. Sluggish availability and installation can be a detriment to project timelines.

Champion Fiberglass Conduit for Data Centers

Engineered for today’s toughest construction challenges, Champion Fiberglass conduit for data centers is:

• Lightweight and labor-friendly: Cuts installation time and costs. It is easier to transport, and faster to install compared to SCH40 PVC, galvanized rigid steel and aluminum alternatives, reducing labor per the NECA Manual of Labor Rates.
• Temperature tolerant: Champion Fiberglass conduit offers a wider temperature range than PVC without requiring expensive encasement. It is heat tolerant and UL Listed to 110℃.
• Corrosion-resistant: Withstands corrosive soils, lubricants, and environmental conditions.
• Strong: Dense cable loads will not burn-through when pulling.
• Low coefficient of friction: Reduces pulling tension and protects expensive conductors.
• Fault resistant: Cable will not melt or meld to the inside of fiberglass conduit as it can with PVC and PVC-coated steel.
• Resilient in duct banks: Proven in both direct burial and concrete encasement, dissipating heat, and avoiding conduit damage.
• Domestically supplied: Made in Texas, BABA-compliant, supporting projects with federal or public-private funding.
• Trusted at scale: Already specified by leading hyperscale and telecom data centers across the U.S.

The BYOP Opportunity

As data center operators increasingly adopt BYOP strategies, more on-site equipment is installed: BESS yards, medium-voltage switchgear, fuel cells, and generators. Each adds layers of conduits and controls between yards and data halls. Champion Fiberglass thrives in this environment:

• Underground duct banks: Fiberglass conduit resists corrosion in encasement and dissipates heat effectively.
• Hazardous fuel areas: XW (Extra-Heavy Wall) RTRC is UL 2515A-listed and NEC-approved for Class I, Div. 2 installs, perfect for any Class 1 Div 2 hazardous application.
• BESS + solar microgrids: Multiple conduits between containers and switchgear require materials resistant to both heat and corrosion. Fiberglass is a proven performer in these systems.
• Long cable pulls: Champion Fiberglass no-burn-through elbows ensure conductor protection, reducing the risk of rework.

Proven Results

• $400,000+ savings achieved by replacing galvanized rigid steel elbows with Champion Fiberglass on a hyperscale project. Read the case study.
• Miles of conduit installed in a single day at a data center, demonstrating labor and schedule advantages. Learn more.

Helpful Tools for Electrical Engineers and Contractors:

Ready to Get Started with Fiberglass Conduit?

Data centers are scaling faster than ever, and power infrastructure must keep up. Whether it’s BESS microgrids, BYOP strategies, or hyperscale builds, Champion Fiberglass conduit delivers speed, resilience, and code compliance built to scale with the future of data center construction.

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