Who’s Using Fiberglass Conduit—and Why?

Five years ago, “Who’s using fiberglass conduit?” was a common question. Today, if you’re anywhere near a bridge, tunnel, wastewater treatment plant or data center, there’s a good chance you’re near fiberglass conduit, a.k.a. RTRC. However, there’s still some mystery around why so many industries are choosing fiberglass over other conduit materials like PVC-coated steel and GRC. We’re here to clarify why engineers in so many industries are increasingly specifying fiberglass conduit manufacturers – and Champion Fiberglass Conduit specifically – to help them solve their challenges.

The TRANSPORTATION industry relies on fiberglass conduit for enhanced electrical safety in tunnels.

The challenge:

A constant need for up-to-code materials meeting stringent electrical and fire safety requirements.

Champion Fiberglass solution:

Champion Fiberglass is the only producer of phenolic conduit that meets UL 2196 requirements, withstanding fire at 1800 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours.

See it in action:

See how Champion Fiberglass extinguished safety concerns when the Elizabeth River
Tunnel replaced fire-susceptible galvanized rigid steel with Champion’s Phenolic
conduit.

The INDUSTRIAL sector uses fiberglass for its light weight and fast, easy installations.

The challenge:

Material cost and speed of installation are key for owner engineers and contractors alike for both underground conduit and above-ground conduit installations.

Champion Fiberglass solution:

Champion Fiberglass conduit is 15x lighter weight than PVC-coated steel and features labor costs that are 5x lower – without sacrificing safety or strength.

See it in action:

Learn more about how Champion Fiberglass provided Texas A&M University with on-time, on-budget electrical conduit solutions for Kyle Field.

Our UTILITIES clients find value in its low coefficient of friction.

The challenge:

Any project requiring miles of cable runs has to consider coefficient of friction and possibility of burn through when spec’ing materials.

Champion Fiberglass solution:

Champion Fiberglass Conduit features the lowest coefficient of friction on the market.

See it in action:

Get the details on how Champion Fiberglass conduit’s low coefficient of friction led to savings for Duke Energy’s Edwardsport IGCC plant.

Our WASTEWATER TREATMENT clients require superior corrosion resistance.

The challenge:

Constant exposure to caustic environments can wear on materials, so it’s important to specify a conduit that can stand up to ambient environments in the long run.

Champion Fiberglass solution:

Fiberglass conduit can be engineered to resist corrosion and other environmental and operational challenges – offering up to 3x the lifespan of PVC-coated rigid steel.

See it in action:

See how Champion Fiberglass replaced corroding PVC-coated rigid steel conduit to keep Fox Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant up and running.

Our DATA CENTER clients enjoy the benefits of a cost-effective elbow alternative.

The challenge:

The cabling infrastructure of any modern data center must counteract both high costs and the possibility of underground faults and burn through.

Champion Fiberglass solution:

Because of Champion Fiberglass conduit elbows’ low coefficient of friction and cost efficiency, they’re a perfect fit for any data center’s cable array.

See it in action:

Get the numbers on how Champion Fiberglass elbows saved one data center client over $470K.

Of course, most of these benefits apply across industries. Because Champion Fiberglass conduit is a lighter, more cost-effective material than PVC-coated steel and GRC, it offers immediate benefits, from lower manpower costs to easier, safer installations. Whatever your industry, it’s likely you’ll benefit from incorporating Champion Fiberglass conduit into your project spec.

Each of these case studies illustrates a time when Champion Fiberglass worked closely with a client to ensure the outcome was not just satisfactory, but above and beyond expectations. That’s one benefit of working with Champion Fiberglass, whether you’re above ground or below, in a highly corrosive environment or not, Champion’s goal is the same: to deliver unmatched service paired with a product that provides solutions – no matter where or how you’re using it.