Conduit installation

There are many instances where a commercial or industrial facility will need conduits installed to house the electrical wires that carry the power to operate the business. The value of conduits is integral to electrical wiring. Made of metal or other materials, they protect wiring exposed to the outdoors or running along walls inside a facility.

There are many reasons to have conduit installed at your commercial or industrial location, and the first is to meet building and electrical code standards. Before you commit to any projects on-site, consult the local and provincial codes for installation or a licensed electrical contractor like us at Integrity Electricians.

You could be in a dangerous situation if you have damaged conduit at your apartment building, factory or commercial location. An electrical fire, a short, or a hazardous situation for service personnel can present itself when you haven’t replaced the damaged conduit.

At Integrity Electricians, we will plan the layout of new conduit installations that performs safely without sacrificing performance when installed. If you need repair service or general maintenance of your conduit system, we will meet whatever challenge is thrown at us and bring it to a satisfactory end.

Dealing with live wires is exceedingly dangerous, and without completing an electrician’s apprenticeship and years on the job, you run into serious risks, which is why our services are more than necessary.

Conduit, The Types

• Electrical Metallic Conduit

  EMT is installed indoors and outdoors at light commercial establishments. Certainly, the metal tubing isn’t conduit per se, but it performs the same function. If it is installed outdoors, it must be installed with watertight fittings to prevent water leaks. When installed outdoors, it will last for a few years – depending on exposure. When installed indoors, it can last for decades.

• Flexible Metal Conduit (FMT) and Liquid-tight Flexible Metal Conduit (LFMC)

  Both types of conduit are created with flexible metal to allow for shaping during installation. FMT is designed for short runs of conduits in residential settings. The LFMC has a plastic sheath to stop water leaks when exposed to water and moisture. It is the type of conduit you see on the sides of commercial and industrial buildings servicing HVAC units and other electrical systems.

• Rigid Metal (RMC)/Intermediate Metal (IMC)

  Both types of conduit are made from metal, and they service structural piping needs as required. They predominantly serve overhead needs in a residential setting and are made from galvanized steel.

• Electrical Non-Metallic Tubing (ENT)

  This type of conduit is for indoor applications that require the conduit to traverse inside concrete blocks for commercial, residential or industrial uses. The tubing is waterproof and flame-retardant but unsuitable for outdoor use.

• PVC

  A stiff plastic pipe that can be heated, formed and threaded together when necessary. PVC comes in two grades – 40 and 80 – with 40 being the most commonly used. PVC 80 is used when there is a risk of damage to the tubing because the walls of the PVC are thicker.

How Conduit is Used

During installations, wires are often pulled through conduits, which differs from cables already encased in protective sheathing that have a degree of flexibility. When using conduit with wiring, there are four types of coloured coated wires, and the colours are industry standard, so every electrician knows what is going on.

When you bring us your project for new installation or repair work at Integrity Electricians, we will advise you on the best course of action when selecting a conduit type to protect your wiring and, in turn, your electrical network.