Fiberglass is a suitable material for underground, embedded and overhead conduit installations, but versatility is not the main reason why it’s gaining popularity fast. As long as the fiberglass polymer can meet the installation’s requirements, it is difficult to find a better alternative in most situations.
Fiberglass conduits present a better proposition than the alternatives from every perspective, be it that of the contractor, the engineer or the environmentalist. Read on as we explain the facts in more detail.
Lightweight
Fiberglass is a lightweight material by composition, so by default, fiberglass conduits are also lightweight casings. This matters because heavier conduits need more time and labour to handle during installations, especially if it’s a repair job.
Since they’re made from a very lightweight material, fiberglass conduits bring down labour costs, as well as the project’s completion time.
Electrical Insulation and High Heat Resistance
Phenolic conduit systems can resist temperatures as high as 1,850°F for two continuous hours without being structurally compromised. This is also the main differentiating factor that makes phenolic fiberglass a higher quality material than epoxy fiberglass.
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When used to encase electrical wiring in building construction, the high heat resistance and electrical insulation ensures the following:
- Being a non-conductor of electricity, it is almost impossible for someone to get electrocuted by touching fiberglass conduits.
- Electrical fires inside the conduit will not be able to get out immediately afterwards. This is a huge advantage when unexpected bad things happen.
- The fire will burn itself out of oxygen long before it can reach the heat needed to burn through phenolic fiberglass.
- Even external fires will take a long time to breach phenolic and damage the electrical wiring inside.
Unmatched Durability
Underground fiberglass installations can resist extreme compressive pressure and geothermal heat simultaneously, without losing shape. Even steel alloys cannot claim the same level of shape retention as phenolic fiberglass conduits.
Fiberglass is not metal and therefore it will never rust or corrode, even under extreme climatic conditions. They also remain unaffected and undamaged by the lubricants used to reduce friction while pulling out the cables inside.
Friction Resistance Rating Higher than Steel
PVC-coated steel was previously considered to be the most friction-resistant material that could be used to manufacture conduits, but that is no longer the case. It’s been comfortably beaten by fiberglass, which has a very low coefficient of friction at just 0.38. This translates to the following advantages:
- It’s much easier to pull out the wires and cables from inside the conduits during inspections and repairs.
- The wires and cables remain safe from friction damage.
- Inner walls of the conduits also remain undamaged because low friction significantly reduces any chances of a burn-through. Simply put, less damage happens when fiberglass conduits are utilized.
All that comes together to make phenolic fiberglass one of the safest and the most durable choice for conduit systems in both commercial and residential construction today. The fact that fiberglass can also decrease expenses without lowering quality is just the cherry on top for contractors.
Fiberglass Is Safer for Our Environment
Because of the high resistance to corrosion and UV stability of fiberglass, it is a very good material for the environment we live in. This is particularly the case when referring to the common alternative used, PVC, which negatively impacts the environment.
The big problem with PVC conduits is that they are manufactured with several additives that are bad for us, like cadmium, organotins, phthalates and lead. When PVC decomposes, all of the toxic additives leach into the ground. Some even evaporate and become a part of the atmosphere. Unfortunately, children stand out as being most at risk when exposed to these chemicals.
Lower Transportation Costs
Fuel costs keep going up year after year. We expect this to continue in the future. As a result, contractors need to find ways to actively lower costs. One way to do this is to use fiberglass conduits because they are much lighter than PVC and metal counterparts.
Simply put, you can transport more when you ship them to any required destination. Emissions associated with building are reduced, as are monthly spendings, which in turn leads to higher profits for those involved in the construction project.
Lower Electrocution Risk
Changes in practices can make the risk of electrocution go down. One simple step is making the change to using fiberglass conduits, as the material does not conduct electricity. In the event of a workplace accident, there is a lower possibility a worker will get electrocuted.
Increased Design Freedom
When talking about moulding, fiberglass is a great material since it comes with few restrictions. Engineers are thus faced with a wealth of design possibilities. They can create products that are visually appealing, strong and durable. Also, you can combine several parts into one to create more complex multi-piece units.
High Moisture Resistance
If you expose fiberglass to moisture, that is not a problem since it will not absorb or hold water. When insulation made out of fiberglass is wet during or after insulation, installers take a look at everything to see if contamination happened. When there is no real damage, which is often the case with fiberglass conduits, nothing needs to be done and you can just reuse the conduit.
Conclusions
The construction industry is constantly changing and technology evolves at a rate we cannot actually predict. One of the innovations that’s quickly becoming a game changer is the use of fiberglass conduits. Companies are also cutting down on the use of plastics, which you can read about by visiting How Canada’s Federal Government Is Fighting Against Plastic Pollution in the Building Sector.
As you can see from the advantages highlighted above, it is easy to understand why fiberglass conduits are preferred. They give you access to complete design freedom, come with lower accident risks, have high friction resistance, are lightweight and are safer for the environment than the current options used in the industry. Why not take advantage of the opportunity?
Feature image: Daniel Reche; Image 1: Markus Spiske
