One of the most significant parts of any construction is an electrical conduit. These systems are great for protecting wiring and cabling from hazards and other elements. Electric conduits are crucial for providing uninterrupted connectivity in any kind of building. 

From small domestic properties to heavy-duty industrial spaces, conduits are essential. If you’re starting a new project or want to learn more about these systems, here’s everything to know about electric conduits.

Why Use An Electric Conduit?

Most modern wires and cabling come with a protective coating, so you might wonder if a conduit is even needed. When you use conduits for cabling, you safeguard your wiring from various hazards. 

The structure of a conduit is crucial in its protective qualities. They are plastic or metal tube structures holding essential electrical wires and cabling. A conduit’s design can be rigid or flexible depending on where it’s installed. 

Cable conduits come in multiple sizes, shapes, materials and styles to fit various installations and demands. The most common material 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.        

What Are The Different Types Of Cable Conduits?

As mentioned, 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)

Electric 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. 

Intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC)

Intermediate conduits are similar to the rigid metal option, but they’re lighter and thinner by almost a third of the weight. These systems act as a middle ground between EMT and RMC. 

Made from rigid steel, intermediate metal conduits have a corrosion-resistant coating which is threaded or non-threaded. These also have a large diameter inside with a smooth surface that makes it easy to pull wring compared to the rigid model. 

Nowadays, IMCs have largely replaced RMCs in residential and commercial construction projects.   

Fibre Optic Conduits 

Fibre optic conduits surround and protect the individual wires in a fibre optic cable. These conduits offer high-quality protection for important network communication cables. 

Fibre optic conduits can also work well in a variety of locations, including underground settings with corrosive soil, accidental excavation and temperature changes. 

This conduit system is typically designed with steel or another tough metal and may occasionally incorporate fibreglass braiding or PVC. 

Since fibre optic cables transmit digital signals, these conduits are designed to withstand high-voltage shock hazards.  

What Is The Difference Between Cable Trunking And Conduits?

If you’re browsing through conduits, you might also come across trunking. These often look similar, but they differ in their functions. 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.  

Variety

If you have multiple uses for a conduit system, look for something that can work in multiple settings. 

For instance, construction involving exposed indoor wiring might work well with a standard electric non-metallic conduit, but areas with many bends and long runways might need a flexible option. If you’re running communication cables, a specialised fibre optic conduit is your best bet. 

Assembly Time

Time is money; that’s why investing in conduit with a manageable assembly time is important. Some conduits are much easier to work with and can speed up installation. 

For example, electric metallic conduits are easier to bend and pull wiring through. However, you shouldn’t opt for manageable conduits to reduce assembly time. Find the right conduit and weigh its benefits to find the right one for you. 

What Are The Best Electric Conduits?

With so many options to choose from, finding the right electric conduit can be difficult. If you’re looking for the best electric conduit systems with guaranteed high-quality performance, visit Meteor Electrical. Here you will find the best conduits all in one place. 

From rigid metal conduits to flexible PVC options, Meteor carries all the right options for you. You can browse through various cable management systems, including plastic, metal and flexible cable conduits. 

All conduits come with various protective coating that prevents hazards and other harsh elements. These options are available in numerous sizes to fit any specification. Whether you want plastic conduits with flexible PVC coating or something in between, we have several options for you to choose from. 

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

You can also find quality conduit clips and fittings that make the installation process faster and keep your systems in place. Visit Meteor today to find the right conduit system for your installation.