Electrical Installation and

Maintenance 11
Quarter 4 – Week 3 Module 2
Prepared by: Wilbert E. Eleccion

Lesson
RIGID NONMETALLIC
1 CONDUIT (RNC)
I. OBJECTIVES:
1. Realized the PEC standard requirements in installing nonmetallic conduits;
2. Identify the different types of PVC fittings;
3. Identify the different types of bends use in installing rigid nonmetallic
conduits
II. GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. What is Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit?
2. What are the different types of PVC fittings?
3. What are the types of bends use in installing RNC?
4. What are the PEC requirements in RNC installation?
III. DISCUSSION:
Great day everyone!

Today, we are going to discuss about Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit (RNC).

Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit (RNC) - is non-metallic unthreaded smooth walled tubing. They
are manufactured to be resistant to moisture and chemical atmosphere, flame retardant. They
are resistant to impact and crushing and, they do not easily get out shape because of heat.
These conduits are classified according to the materials they are made of. The most common
ones are asbestos cement conduit, polyvinyl chloride conduit and high-density polyethylene
conduit.

The Philippine Electrical Code provides that rigid nonmetallic conduit may be used under the
following conditions:

1. Concealed in floors, walls, and ceilings.

2. Direct earth burial or underground

 300 mm in trench below 50 mm thick concreate or equivalent.

 600 mm under streets, highways, roads, alleys, driveway, and parking lots
  460 mm under driveways and parking lots of single dwelling and two-
family dwelling units
 460 mm under airport runways, including adjacent areas where trespassing
is prohibited.

3. In locations subject to severe corrosive influences and where subject chemicals for
which the materials are specifically approved
4. Cinder fill
5. In wet locations, provided water is prevented from entering the conduit.
6. In dry and damp locations

The Philippine Electrical Code prohibited the use of rigid nonmetallic conduit under the
following conditions:

1. Hazardous (Classified) locations

2. Support of fixtures
3. Where subject to physical damage unless identified for such use.
4. Where subject to ambient temperature more than 50°C unless listed otherwise
5. Insulation Temperature Limitations. For conductors whose insulation temperature
limitations would exceed those for which the conduit is listed.
6. Theaters and similar locations.

Installation of Nonmetallic Conduit Philippine Electrical Code (PEC) Requirements

1. Trimming – edges or burrs at the cut ends of nonmetallic conduit shall be trimmed

at the insides and outside.

2. Joints – between lengths of conduit and between conduit couplings, fittings and
boxes shall be made with approved couplings and adapter. For water proofing, PVC
cement should be spread around the surfaces to be joined together.
3. Securing and supports – non-metallic conduit shall be rigidly supported as indicated
below.

Table 3.47.1.8 Support of Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit (based on Philippine Electrical

Code, 2000, Part 1)

Conduit Size (mm) Maximum Spacing Between Supports

(mm)

15 (20) – 25 (32) 900

32 (40) – 50 (63) 1500

65 (75) – 80 (90) 1800

90(100) – 125 (135) 2100

 150 (160) 2400

*Size indicated inside the parenthesis is the outside diameter. PVC conduits are
specified to outside diameter.

4. Expansion – expansion fitting for rigid nonmetallic conduit shall be provided to

compensate for thermal expansion and contraction.

5. Maximum Size – Rigid nonmetallic conduit smaller than 15mm (20 mm) electrical
trade size shall not be used.

6. Maximum – Rigid nonmetallic conduit larger than 150 mm (160 mm) electrical trade
size shall not be used.

7. Bushing – Where conduit enters a box, fitting or other enclosure, a bushing or adapter
shall be provided to protect wires from abrasion unless the box, fitting, or enclosure design
provides equivalent protection.

8. Bends – Bends of rigid nonmetallic conduit shall be made in a way that the conduit will
not be damaged, and that the internal diameter of the conduit will not be effectively reduced.

Table 3.46.2.6 Radius of Conduit Bends

Size of Conduit (mm) Conductors Without Lead Sheath

15 100

20 125
 25 150

32 200

40 250

50 300

65 375

80 450

90 525

100 600

125 750

150 900

Identifying Different Types of Bends

The PVC or (Polyvinyl chloride) - rigid conduit is one of the most used conduits in
electrical wiring installation today. Its preparation for installation is much easier than the
metallic rigid conduit. In preparing a non-metallic rigid conduit for installation, an electrician
needs to do cutting, heating, and bending. Like in metallic rigid conduit offsets bends, 90°
angle bends and other bends are also made on PVC rigid conduit. In making bends in PVC
rigid conduit, the electrician should see to it that the internal diameter of the conduit is not
reduced and damaged so that the capacity of the conduit to accommodate maximum number
of conductors will not be lessen, and to facilitate easy pulling of conductors.

Since PVC conduits are somewhat easier to bend than a rigid conduit, it likewise
requires patience as in any other type of conduit. It is first pre-heated over a fire or a heat gun
to a desired softness. Little by little, it is bent to its desired shape. When such is attained, it is
then hardened by soaking it to cold or lukewarm water or dampened with wet rag.

Types of Bends

1. Elbow
 2. Offset bend is less than 90° bend, it is used when the conduit crosses an obstacle or
when the conduit is entering an electrical box.

3. Round saddle bend is used when the conduit run across circular objects like pipes.

4. Square saddle bend is used when the conduit run across rectangular obstacles. Square
saddle is just a combination of two offset bends.

Bend Defects
 1. Burned

2. Kinks or groove

3. The diameter of the conduit is generally reduced due to improper bending procedure.

IV. GENERALIZATION:
Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit (RNC) is non-metallic unthreaded smooth walled
tubing. They are manufactured to be resistant to moisture and chemical atmosphere, flame
retardant. They are resistant to impact and crushing and, they do not easily get out shape
because of heat. These conduits are classified according to the materials they are made of.
The most common ones are asbestos cement conduit, polyvinyl chloride conduit and high-
density polyethylene conduit.
V. EXERCISE:
 A. Direction: Read each of the following questions then answer. Write your answer in a
separate paper.
 What do you call the process of cleaning or removing the sharp edge or burrs
left after cutting the pipe?
 What are the three characteristics of Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit?
 What are the conditions that the Philippine Electrical Code prohibits the use of
rigid non-metallic conduits?
B. Enumerate the different types of PVC conduit fittings.

VI. REFERENCES:
Electrical Installation and Maintenance Learner’s Module 1 (Deped)
VII. ANSWER KEY:

1. Trimming
2. Resistant to moisture
3. Chemical atmosphere
4. Flame retardant
5. Hazardous (Classified) locations
6. Support of fixtures

7. Where subject to physical damage unless identified for such use.

8. Where subject to ambient temperature in excess of 50°C unless listed otherwise
9. Insulation Temperature Limitations. For conductors whose insulation temperature
limitations would exceed those for which the conduit is listed.
10. Theaters and similar locations.