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Conduits are tubes that enclose and protect the electrical wires which supply power to a building. The use, form, and installation details of conduits are specifically laid down by wiring regulations and building codes.
Made of various materials, conduits could either be flexible or rigid. Businesses often choose flexible conduits over rigid conduits because they eliminate the need for bending.
What is a Corrugated Conduit?
Corrugated Conduit is a flexible conduit used in a multitude of diverse applications. They can be of different types. Medium duty corrugated conduits are used above ground, and heavy-duty corrugated conduits are used for underground installations.
Corrugated conduits are available in various sizes. All are UV stabilized to give extra protection from the elements, especially the sun.
When and Where to Use Corrugated Conduits?
The laying of protective pipes for electrical cables in an orderly and safe manner is one of the fundamental tasks while undertaking electrical works. Conduits protect and provide a pathway for electrical wiring at your commercial premises.
It is important to choose the conduit after taking into consideration not only the electrical systems but also the accessories. This includes the TV antenna, the telephone socket, and the data and intrusion detection systems among others.
When you use corrugated conduits at your business premises, it implies that the installation is well tracked. The wires are safely installed inside the walls or under the floor.
Corrugated Protective Conduit
You should choose the diameter of a corrugated conduit according to the CEI 64-8 Norm. It specifies that all the cables must be removable, and the internal diameter of the corrugated conduit must be at least 1.5 times the average diameter of the bundle of cables it contains. If the route is over 10 meters, or if there are some bends, then the result must be increased by 10{ad6ec37a2bd3ecfa3332b96b9ac48dbf74f925fa7e3098eb9d9871fb3d85bcba}. The minimum diameter must not be below sixteen millimeters.
The corrugated conduits are color-coded as per the cables they contain. Black and grey colored corrugated conduits contain cables of the electrical system. Blue corrugated conduits contain the cables of the intercom system, whereas a purple-colored corrugated conduit has A/V system cables. Likewise, the white corrugated conduit is for data and TV cables, green for the telephone, data and TV cables, and the brown corrugated conduit contains the alarm system cables.
Suitable Environments and Circumstances for the Use of Corrugated Protective Conduits
Flexible metallic conduits or FMCs are regularly used in commercial environments. It provides strength and protection along with flexibility. However, it is not waterproof and requires a specialized tool to cut through it.
Liquid-tight flexible metal conduits or LFMCs are used to cover cables that require flexibility and protection from moisture. This comes with a waterproof jacket which makes it suitable for a variety of applications, including usage in areas exposed to hazardous conditions.
Flexible metallic tubing or FMTs are conduits that can be easily bent and passed through walls. They are not waterproof and hence are not suitable for use in areas prone to moisture.
A liquid-tight flexible non-metallic conduit or LNFC is available in different varieties. They are waterproof and even come with flame-resistance.
