What Is a Flexible Electrical Conduit?

May. 06, 2024

What Is a Flexible Electrical Conduit?

Electrical conduit is a raceway with a circular cross-section that routes and protects electrical wiring in residential, industrial, and commercial applications. A flexible electrical conduit is a durable tube that protects electrical wiring in enclosed areas with hard turns, such as in water heaters or lighting fixtures. Materials used to manufacture conduit include metal, fiber, or plastic. Installed by electricians at the installation site, electrical conduit fittings and liquid-tight jackets protect the wiring from stress, strain, corrosion, heat, and moisture.

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Conduit reliably protects electrical wiring systems from exposure and wear, shielding people from injury, equipment damage, and electric shock. Local building codes and the National Electrical Code (NEC) indicate where and how conduit should be installed for safe electrical operation.

ANAMET Electrical, Inc. has been manufacturing durable, liquid-tight, flexible electrical conduit systems since 1908. Their proprietary techniques and tooling enable their customers to safely connect and protect electrical wiring systems in the air, at sea, and on land. The conduit is rigorously tested for various industrial, residential, and commercial applications.

Since 1949, ANAMET Electrical, Inc. has produced Anaconda Sealtite® conduit types listed for safe use according to Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards. This trademarked conduit currently protects and connects optical fibers, cables, and electrical wiring worldwide.

ANAMET Electrical, Inc. is the world’s largest supplier and manufacturer of liquid-tight flexible metal conduit. Learn more about the different types and advantages of flexible electrical conduit.

Reasons to Install Flexible Conduit Systems

Flexible conduit effectively protects wiring from harsh operating conditions. Here are some reasons to install flexible conduit systems:

As pull outlets for installed conductors
Connect sections of rigid conduit
Connect junction boxes to electrical equipment
Provide visible transitions and routing for critical circuits
Connect to wired devices and lighting fixtures
Provide access to conductors for maintenance and system upgrades
Make 90° bends in conduit runs

Types of Flexible Electrical Conduit Available from ANAMET Electrical, Inc.

Electrical conduit is classified by the materials used, wall thickness, tubing size, and mechanical stiffness. Corrosion resistance and cost are determining factors when selecting conduit.

Here are the main types of flexible electrical conduit available from ANAMET Electrical, Inc.

Flexible Metal Conduit (FMC)

Standard FMC is suitable for dry, indoor locations, and it is often used for short runs. The stripwound metal hose is flexible, suitable for installations requiring tight bends in confined spaces, where rigid conduit will not fit.

Liquid Tight Flexible Metal Conduit (LFMC)

Liquid tight, flexible metal conduit has a polymer coating and requires sealed threaded fittings for a liquid-tight seal. Sizes range from 3/8″ to 4″. This conduit is frequently installed outdoors, in wet operating conditions, or buried underground. A variety of metal cores are available for corrosion resistance or electromagnetic shielding. A variety of polymer jackets are available, meeting Food Grade, confined space, Halogen Free or high temperature requirements.

Liquid Tight Flexible Non-Metallic Conduit (LFNC)

Sealtite® non-metallic conduit consists of a continuous coil of PVC encased inside flexible PVC material that resists oil, heat, and chemical breakdowns. The non-conductive hose uses non-metallic or liquid-tight metal connectors for quick installation. This conduit is flame-retardant, durable, and UV-resistant. Manufactured using PVC, an LFNC has a smooth interior and exterior surface and is resistant to oils and UV rays. Sealtite® LFNC is certified by UL standard 1660, compliant with RoHS requirements, and meets NEC code. The crush-resistant conduit is lightweight and can waterproof whole wiring systems requiring liquid-tight conduit fittings. This polymer conduit is frequently installed outdoors where it is exposed to sunlight and extreme weather while connecting outdoor equipment to power supply, such as air conditioning units.

Advantages & Benefits of Flexible Electrical Conduit

Flexible electrical conduit is the preferred choice for contractors in both residential and commercial applications. Some of the advantages of flexible conduit include:

Protects conductors from moisture, corrosion, impact, and chemicals
Long service life
Easy installation
Prevents accidental damage to wiring insulation
Available in different sizes and types to accommodate any system design or conductor
Easily modified
Protects against explosions and fire in National Electrical Code Hazardous Locations
Resistance to heat and cold for installation in low or high ambient temperature ranges
Extremely flexible with tight bend radii
Crush-resistant

Flexible electrical conduit can be buried in concrete or underground. A metallic conduit creates an effective shield for protecting sensitive circuits against electromagnetic interference (EMI). Conduit jackets are resistant to radiation, oil, heat and cold. Extruded polymer jackets are available in various colors.

Flexible Electrical Conduit From ANAMET Electrical, Inc.

Flexible electrical conduit is an integral part of a system operating under harsh conditions. Knowing the types of electrical conduit available, their benefits, and the reasons to install them, you can make a more informed decision for your application.

As a leading provider of flexible electrical conduit, ANAMET Electrical offers:

Liquid Tight Flexible Metal Conduit (UL listed and unlisted)
Liquid Tight Flexible Non-Metallic Conduit
Flexible Conduit Fittings
Specialty Conduit

Additional services are offered at our factory, allowing for greater customization for your flexible conduit systems. These services include:

Cutting to specific lengths
Burnishing
Deburring
Custom print on the polymer jacket
Braiding
Custom color jacket
Liquid tight polymer conduit jacket
Extreme temperature jackets
Extra flexible core and jacket configurations
Light weight or shielding conduit cores

Electrical conduit

Tube used to protect and route electrical wiring in a building or structure

An electrical conduit is a tube used to protect and route electrical wiring in a building or structure. Electrical conduit may be made of metal, plastic, fiber, or fired clay. Most conduit is rigid, but flexible conduit is used for some purposes.

Conduit is generally installed by electricians at the site of installation of electrical equipment. Its use, form, and installation details are often specified by wiring regulations, such as the US National Electrical Code (NEC) and other building codes.

Comparison with other wiring methods
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Electrical conduit provides very good protection to enclosed conductors from impact, moisture, and chemical vapors. Varying numbers, sizes, and types of conductors can be pulled into a conduit, which simplifies design and construction compared to multiple runs of cables or the expense of customized composite cable. Wiring systems in buildings may be subject to frequent alterations. Frequent wiring changes are made simpler and safer through the use of electrical conduit, as existing conductors can be withdrawn and new conductors installed, with little disruption along the path of the conduit.

A conduit system can be made waterproof or submersible. Metal conduit can be used to shield sensitive circuits from electromagnetic interference and also can prevent emission of such interference from enclosed power cables. Non-metallic conduits resist corrosion and are lightweight, reducing installation labor cost.

When installed with proper sealing fittings, a conduit will not permit the flow of flammable gases and vapors, which provides protection from fire and explosion hazard in areas handling volatile substances.

Some types of conduit are approved for direct encasement in concrete. This is commonly used in commercial buildings to allow electrical and communication outlets to be installed in the middle of large open areas. For example, retail display cases and open-office areas use floor-mounted conduit boxes to connect power and communications cables.

Both metal and plastic conduit can be bent at the job site to allow a neat installation without excessive numbers of manufactured fittings. This is particularly advantageous when following irregular or curved building profiles. Special tube bending equipment is used to bend the conduit without kinking or denting it.

The cost of conduit installation is higher than other wiring methods due to the cost of materials and labor. In applications such as residential construction, the high degree of physical damage protection may not be required, so the expense of conduit is not warranted. (In certain jurisdictions, such as Chicago, Illinois, the use of conduit is always required.) Conductors installed within conduit cannot dissipate heat as readily as those installed in open wiring, so the current capacity of each conductor must be reduced (derated) if many are installed in one conduit. It is impractical, and prohibited by wiring regulations, to have more than 360 degrees of total bends in a run of conduit, so special outlet fittings must be provided to allow conductors to be installed without damage in such runs.

Some types of metal conduit may also serve as a useful bonding conductor for grounding (earthing), but wiring regulations may also dictate workmanship standards or supplemental means of grounding for certain types. While metal conduit may sometimes be used as a grounding conductor, the circuit length is limited. For example, a long run of conduit as grounding conductor may have too high an electrical resistance, and not allow proper operation of overcurrent devices on a fault.

Types
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Conduit systems are classified by the wall thickness, mechanical stiffness, and material used to make the tubing. Materials may be chosen for mechanical protection, corrosion resistance, and overall cost of the installation (labor plus material cost). Wiring regulations for electrical equipment in hazardous areas may require particular types of conduit to be used to provide an approved installation.

Metal
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Rigid metal conduit (RMC) is a thick-walled threaded tubing, usually made of coated steel, stainless steel, or aluminum.

Galvanized rigid conduit (GRC) is galvanized steel tubing, with a tubing wall that is thick enough to allow it to be threaded. Its common applications are in commercial and industrial construction. It is designed to protect wire and connectors.

Intermediate metal conduit (IMC) is a steel tubing heavier than EMT but lighter than RMC. It may be threaded.

Electrical metallic tubing (EMT), sometimes called thin-wall, is commonly used instead of galvanized rigid conduit (GRC), as it is less costly and lighter than GRC. EMT itself is not threaded, but can be used with threaded fittings that clamp to it. Lengths of conduit are connected to each other and to equipment with clamp-type fittings. Like GRC, EMT is more common in commercial and industrial buildings than in residential applications. EMT is generally made of coated steel, though it may be aluminum.

EMT weights and dimensions (North America)
EMT sizing
US	Metric	Nominal wt. per 100 feet (30 m)	Nominal outside diameter	Nominal wall thickness
1/2	16	30	13.6	0.706	17.9	0.042	1.07
3/4	21	46	20.9	0.922	23.4	0.049	1.25
1	27	67	30.4	1.163	29.5	0.057	1.45
1 1/4	35	101	45.8	1.51	38.4	0.065	1.65
1 1/2	41	116	52.6	1.74	44.2	0.065	1.65
2	53	148	67.1	2.197	55.8	0.065	1.65
2 1/2	63	216	98	2.875	73	0.072	1.83
3	78	263	119.3	3.5	88.9	0.072	1.83
3 1/2	91	349	158.3	4	101.6	0.083	2.11
4	103	393	178.2	4.5	114.3	0.083	2.11

EMT is available in trade sizes 1/2" through 4", and 10′ and 20′ lengths.

Some manufacturers also produce EMT in a range of colors for easy system identification.

Aluminum conduit, similar to galvanized steel conduit, is a rigid tube, generally used in commercial and industrial applications where a higher resistance to corrosion is needed. Such locations would include food processing plants, where large amounts of water and cleaning chemicals would make galvanized conduit unsuitable. Aluminum cannot be directly embedded in concrete, since the metal reacts with the alkalis in cement. The conduit may be coated to prevent corrosion by incidental contact with concrete. Aluminum conduit is generally lower cost than steel in addition to having a lower labor cost to install, since a length of aluminum conduit will have about one-third the weight of an equally-sized rigid steel conduit.

Plastic tubing for use as electrical conduit

PVC conduit has long