Steel conduit has always been popular, having been used since the early 1900’s for electrical conductors. The thickness and strength of the steel means that it provides the highest level of mechanical protection to the conductors it houses. Used by NASA, steel conduit has long been the favoured material for conductor protection and can be adapted to almost any environment.
There are three basic types of steel conduit that are in use today. They are: rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit and electrical metal tubing and they all have a wealth of benefits.
Electrical metal tubing (EMT) is the lightest-weight conduit manufactured. Although it is made of lighter-walled steel, it still provides substantial physical protection and can be used in most exposed locations. Rigid metal conduit (RMC) is the heaviest-weight and thickest-wall steel conduit of them all with Intermediate metal conduit (IMC) being developed in the 1970’s as a cost-saving alternative to the rigid conduit. The wall thickness is heavier than EMT but weighs about 1/3 less than RMC.
The most obvious is that steel is incredibly tough. It is strong, doesn’t stretch or tear and is therefore the best shell to protect against any physical damage to the conductors inside. It protects from fire and water, preventing many common accidents in the workplace. Steel conduit will not sag or become brittle over time.
Another positive is that, unlike a non-metallic conduit, when exposed to fire or elevated temperatures steel conduit will not burn, decompose or generate heat, smoke and toxic gas. It will also inhibit the spread of fire because it is non-combustible.
Another benefit of using steel conduit is that it is very green. In other words, it is re-usable and therefore kinder to the environment. If you need to change a circuit, instead of having to remove, discard and replace the material used to hide the circuit, steel allows you to keep the conduit in place and simply install the new conductors, saving you time, energy and money.
Conduits are incredibly durable and long-lasting, with most still in use after 60 years. This will also save you money and materials in the long run.
Steel conduit also reduces electro-magnetic fields (EMF) by up to 95%, essentially shielding all computers and any sensitive electronic equipment from electro-magnetic interference which can be caused by distribution systems. This interference can cause the conductors to operate improperly so it is important to shield them from such currents.
Other benefits of using conduits are:
· It is chemically compatible with concrete
· Gives conductors added protection, giving you peace of mind.
· It is a proven equipment grounding conductor
Steel conduit is relied upon in almost every building where an electrical conduit and wiring is present such as; in commercial buildings, retail construction, residential buildings, manufacturing/industrial facilities, health care and educational institutions along with many other others.
By using steel conduit for your business, you are sure to save money and materials in the long run while protecting and ensuring the safety of your building, equipment and staff.