The modern world cannot live without electricity. While designing any building, whether it is shops, factories, homes, offices or any other commercial building, one has to ensure that electricity should reach every conceivable corner. Electric wire is installed to ensure that electricity is available to the point of service. These electric wires cannot be allowed to run over the building; hence conduits are installed through which these electric wires are routed to the point of service. These conduits may either be installed over the surface of the wall or they can run within the walls. The secondary functions of conduit is to maintain the aesthetics of the building, hold the electric wire in place, protect the wires from any external hazard, mechanical or thermal stress. The size and weight of the electric wire determines the size and type of the conduit that would be required.

Besides size of the cable, the type of electrical conduit that needs to be installed would also depend on the path and the environment of the surroundings through which these electric wire cables may have to be routed. There are varieties of electrical conduit fittings that are available to suit various applications.

Types of Electrical Conduits

Electrical conduits may be rigid or flexible and may be made out of various materials like metal, aluminum, PVC or steel. If the electrical wire cable used is flexible and it has to be routed through several turns, flexible conduits may be preferred. In residential applications, the commonly used electrical conduits are armored cable conduit or PVC conduit. An armored cable conduit is nothing but a coiled metal sheathing and the primary benefit is that it would protect the wire from any nail puncture that could happen.

  • PVC conduit –  is always a great choice, primarily because of the economy and it also protects from water that may seep into the wall. PVC conduits are also used in cases when electric wire may need to run below the ground or in an open environment that is exposed to air, dust and water.

    For applications in basement or garage, where wire generally run over the surface of the wall, electrical metal conduits are best. In a basement, metal conduit would offer much needed protection from rats / mice. In order to run these metal conduits through turns, you may need to use a conduit bender, conduit couplings, offset fittings and elbows. These electric metal conduits may be made of steel or aluminum. For those commercial or industrial applications where the environment is damp or moist using aluminum conduit would be a good idea, as aluminum does not rust.

  • Liquid-tight flexible nonmetallic Conduit – Liquid-tight Flexible Non-Metallic Conduit, Type LFNC-B is a raceway of circular cross section with a smooth PVC inner surface and an integral reinforcing member within the conduit wall. Liquid-tight Flexible Nonmetallic Conduit (LNFC) is designed to be used in wet, dry or oily locations and is flame resistant. They are suitable for industrial and commercial applications, indoor or outdoor locations. These may be used in a pool, spa or air conditioning and HVAC units.

  • Liquid-tight flexible metal conduit – As the name suggests liquid-tight conduit is preferred for applications where a high degree of moisture exists. These are most suitable for water treatment plants, paper mills, bridges and petro-chemical facilities. A liquid-tight flexible metal conduit is covered by a plastic waterproof coating.