Cable conduits are one of the most reliable materials for installation purposes. Metal conduits are commonly used in commercial and industrial sectors. However, there are important things to consider before installing round steel conduits. 

Heavy-duty metal cable conduits need careful installation to reduce the risk of hazardous conditions and ensure that your metal conduit lasts long. Here are some important things to consider before installing metal cable conduits. 

What Is A Cable Conduit?

Cable conduits or electrical conduits are plastic or metal tube structures holding essential electrical wires and cabling. These systems are often called trunking as well. 

The conduit’s structure can be rigid or flexible depending on where it’s installed. The purpose of a conduit is to protect wires from any hazards. You can also use them in unfinished or exposed indoor and outdoor settings. 

To fit a wide variety of installations and demands, cable conduits come in various sizes, shapes, materials and styles. 

The most common material for the conduit is a metallic style. But you can also find conduits in plastic, fibre and fired clay. These structures are best for protection as they have a thick outer layer that protects your wiring. 

With so many options, many electricians classify cable conduits according to their wall thickness, the type of material used and the mechanical stiffness. This makes it easy to recognise which conduit is needed. 

All cable conduits should meet the national electricity requirements before installation to ensure the material works best for your wiring system. Most cable conduit materials are chosen for their corrosion resistance, mechanical protection and overall cost of the installation process. This cost includes the labour and material prices. 

A great thing about cable conduits is that they reduce the need for an electrical box or other similar equipment. If you go for a metal conduit, you can carry out the function of a grounding wire without needing a separate component. 

Finding The Right Cable Conduit

As we’ve mentioned before, cable conduits come in varying options, sizes and styles. While the choice makes it easy to find your ideal conduit, it can also make it difficult to narrow it down. If you’re looking for high-quality cable conduit systems, visit Meteor Electrical. 

At Meteor, you can browse through a wide variety of cable management systems, including plastic, metal and flexible cable conduits. These options are available in numerous sizes to fit any specification. 

Our galvanised conduits have a tough exterior that maintains the integrity of your wiring and keeps it safe from multiple hazards. This ensures that you keep using your cable for a long time. If you want a lighter cable management system, go for plastic trunking. 

We offer highly durable plastic trunking from Cablecraft to ensure quality in every installation. These conduits come from Cablecraft’s Betaflex range which offers more flexibility with your cable management. 

Designed with corrugated polypropylene material, Cablecraft’s conduits are easy to manoeuvre and fit into any location. 

For added benefits, this material is halogen-free and self-extinguishing to reduce any chance of electrical fires. Because of this high-grade construction, Cablecraft’s conduits are ideal for commercial and industrial spaces. 

What Are Cable Conduits Used For?

Cable conduits are great for storing wiring and cables, but they can do so much more than that. Here are some great ways to make use of cable conduits.

• Meet Codes and Regulations: In most cases, conduits are a requirement according to building safety standards and codes.  Following these regulations for new constructions is crucial, but even if you’re replacing worn-out old conduits, you need to meet the standard.
• Versatility In Design: You can keep all your wiring safe with a conduit. This means you can easily manoeuvre them in any configuration or install them in any location to meet your electrical needs.   
• Protect Wiring From Damage: One of the main reasons why many electricians prefer a cable conduit is because they provide all-around protection to your cabling. These conduits can offer protection against moisture, fire, chemicals, impact and other such hazards. While most wires and cables have some form of insulation, a conduit can add to that protective layer. 
• Eliminate Interference: Cable conduits are a great way to reduce electromagnetic interference to help cables and wiring perform better. 
• Keep Wiring Organised: If you have a ton of wires and cables that are hard to make, add them in a conduit to keep things organised. Disorganised wiring can also harm the outer sheathing of your components, so using a conduit here is crucial. In addition, a manageable space makes it easy to simplify installation, move around, and conduct maintenance. 

What Are The Different Types Of Cable Conduits?

As mentioned before, cable conduits come in various styles and materials built for specific demands. You can find a wide range of sizes in both rigid and flexible structures. 

Metal conduits use steel or aluminium, while plastic conduits are manufactured with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyamide materials. Important to note that not all conduits have a square or rectangular shape. 

Some conduits, such as electrical metal conduits, are generally considered tubes, so you’ll often see the letter “T” in their name. Here are some of the most popular types of cable conduits. 

Electrical Metal Conduit (EMT)

An electrical metal conduit is your best option if you want to install a rigid conduit system. This component has a thin wall structure of galvanised steel, commonly used as a non-flexible option. 

Even though this conduit comes under the rigid category, you can bend its shape with a conduit bender tool to fit any installation. The lightweight material is malleable enough to contort into any desired shape. 

Due to its manufacturing, electrical steel conduits can be applied in many locations. However, if an area experiences several physical damages, you should not use this material as it will get damaged easily and ruin your wiring system. 

You can use EMT conduits as an exposed or concealed wall installation. You can also use them on floors and ceilings. The metal material allows them to be embedded into concrete or buried in the ground. 

EMTs are ideal for indoor residential and light commercial installation. If you’re installing them outdoors, you need to assemble them with watertight fittings. 

Electrical metal conduits are connected with clamp-style fittings that slide onto the tubing. This configuration is secured with a set screw and locked into your desired area. 

Even though EMTs provide decent protection for inside cables, they should not be used in hazardous locations (such as power plants) where they might experience severe damage. 

Additionally, EMT conduits are unsuitable for wet areas or places with corrosive fumes and vapours. If you want to use EMTs in such locations, you must use corrosive-resistant tubing and gasket clamps. 

Some electricians avoid using electrical metal conduits in critical areas because the set screws in the clamps tend to loosen over time. To prevent this loosening, a torque wrench will provide the correct tension to the screws to help them last longer. 

Electrical Non-Metallic Conduit (ENT)

The electrical non-metallic conduit is great if you’re looking for a more flexible option. This conduit is made from pliable plastic tubing designed for placement in residential walls and concrete structures. 

The ENT provides excellent protection against fire and moisture to keep all your wiring space. Despite these qualities, they are unsuitable for installation in exposed locations or any outdoor space where they might experience other elements. If you’re placing these conduits, use glued fittings. 

Flexible Metal Conduit (FMT)

FMT conduits have a spiral shape, making it easy to bend the conduit and simplifying installation. With this shape, you can add FMTs to walls and other structures. 

Flexible metal tubing is commonly used in exposed areas with a short run. For example, you would usually place them in water heaters. These conduits are often called liquid-tight metal conduits, depending on the outer sheath. 

The liquid-tight version has a plastic outer sheath which makes it watertight. LFMCs are best used for outdoor wiring purposes for air conditioning units and other such equipment. 

Non-Metalic Liquid-Tight Flexible Conduit (NLFC)

NLFC is typically used in place of a liquid-tight metal conduit. This conduit has a flexible PVC coating embedded into the rigid PVC enforcements. Even though this conduit can bend, it still offers a watertight build and structure.

Non-Metallic LF conduits provide moderate protection in dry, wet or oily settings. In addition, they also have flame-resistant properties. 

These conduits are highly durable and are ideal for indoor and outdoor installation in commercial and industrial settings. You can also place them in moisture-heavy places such as pools and HVAC systems. 

You can opt for liquid-tight flexible conduits made from polyamide instead of PVC for even more protection. These provide resistance against acid, oil, benzine, flames and other solvents. Polyamide conduits can also self-extinguish, making them suitable for demanding installations. 

Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC)

Rigid metal conduits are made from heavy-duty materials such as galvanised steel. These are typically used for structural piping in homes to connect to utility service lines. RMCs are often joined with a threaded connection to keep them together. 

What Type Of Wiring Is Run Through Cable Conduits?

Since cable conduits are designed to store wiring, they can support any kind of cabling. However, they usually work best with THWN or THHN wires. 

THWN wires have thermoplastic insulation and provide resistance to heat and water. On the other hand, THHN wires also have thermoplastic insulation, providing much higher heat resistance. These often have a nylon coating as well. 

These wires make up various popularly used cables, which are ideal for storing in a conduit system. 

If you’re opting for non-metallic cable, you’ll need to place a grounding wire, but metal conduits can also be used in their place. Modern installations typically require a ground wire, but older fittings can get away with using a conduit to ground the raceway.  

How Do You Run A Wire Or Cable Through Conduits?

Pulling cable or wire through a conduit can be difficult if it gets caught somewhere along the run. 

If you’re using a conduit with a wire inside, you can attach the new wire to the old one and pull it along. For new installations or old conduits with damaged wiring, this method might not be ideal. 

What Is The Difference Between Cable Trunking And Conduits?

Metal trunking keeps all your cable in one place; conduits act as connectors for specific wires to power appliances. Most trunking is behind the walls of a building, while the conduit will provide electricity directly to the appliances. 

Even though these two methods of electrical cable protection and concealment act similarly in practice, each has advantages and disadvantages depending on a particular application. 

Conduit systems are ideal for external and damp environments as they can be submerged in water, and metal conduits minimise electromagnetic interference. A conduit protects conductors from hazardous substances such as chemicals and moisture.  

Additionally, they work well for wiring systems that undergo multiple changes, as conduits allow alterations and removal of wiring systems. Trunking keeps your cables and wiring systems safe and organised. 

The most critical application for trunking comes under cable management. Trunking systems also have multiple applications, and they are ideal for distributing high currents in equipment, buildings, and switching yards. 

If a building has multiple electrical cables in operation, this building will benefit significantly from trunking systems. 

How To Choose The Right Cable Conduit?

Choosing the correct type of conduit for your project depends on various factors. Here are some factors to help you choose the right cable conduit. 

• Installation Requirments: Think of how you’ll place the conduit. Are you going to bend it, bury it underground or put it inside a concrete block? Consider these points when choosing a suitable conduit. You need to ensure that the chosen conduit is rated for these locations. 
• The Cost: When it comes to any construction material, you need to factor in the cost. Weigh the benefits of every conduit type with your budget. In some cases, building regulations might ask you to choose a specific type of conduit which can get pricey. Still, you can make do with variations to keep your budget low.
• Potential Hazards: Consider what type of hazards could come into contact with your cable conduit. Your conduit should always offer protection from corrosion, moisture, impact, flames, chemicals and sunlight.