Plastic Electrical Conduit Using HDPE

Oxford Plastics manufactures plastic electrical conduit for housing and protecting electrical wiring and cabling systems. Designed to house, protect and cover sensitive electrical wiring and utility cables in power distribution systems, our hdpe pipe is referred to as a smooth wall electrical conduit. It comes with a pink external HDPE jacket for quick and easy electrical identification. It provides outstanding performance benefits to the electrical conduit or any electrical cabling regardless of voltage or amperage requirements. Manufactured with a perfect balance of properties, our electrical conduit can endure the aggressive methods of installation such as direct plowing and directional drilling while at the same time capable of providing long term protection in a buried environment.

For specifications on hdpe electrical conduit click here.

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What to look for in HDPE Electrical Conduit
In a typical electrical system, insulated wires are often housed in a tube between electrical devices. This may be a rigid steel, aluminum or non-metallic plastic tubing, called a conduit. When these wires run underground, they are enclosed in this conduit for protection against mechanical damage and to prevent ignition of flammable gasses that may be present. While past experience has shown that hdpe conduit experiences fewer failures than direct buried cable, inconsistencies in size and wall thickness, cracking, breaking, color deterioration and stretching are inevitable if you are not careful with your of hdpe pipe. Selecting hdpe conduit is a search for a balance of properties and making sure that the conduit meets the performance and material requirements of ASTM F 2160. Prior to the standard ASTM F 2160, a variety of hdpe resins were used each with its own balance of properties that were not specifically designed for the stresses of being installed in a buried environment.

If you are designing a cabling or wiring system for long term service, it is best to avoid thinking that the conduit will last forever as long as it survives the installation. The properties that make hdpe conduit capable of withstanding the stress of being installed, are not the properties that can guarantee long term service in a buried environment. Conduit that is strong and stiff may be able to handle the stress of installation, but these properties will not protect the conduit from the enormous pressure of being buried underground. There are three main requirements to consider when making your choice: density, melt index and ESCR.

Density - 0.941 - 0.955 g/cc
The typical density range for polyethylene is between 0.910 and 0.965 g/cc. If the conduit is made from a resin with too high of a density, i.e., 0.955 to 0.965 g/cc, it will have a greater chance of cracking in a buried environment. A resin with a low density of 0.910 to 0.941g/cc might be more flexible, but it wouldn't be able to handle pressure over 1500 psi. To make sure that the hdpe conduit will meet your expectations, ASTM F 2160 allows for a density range of 0.941 to 0.955 g/cc which should give the conduit a tensile strength range of 3000 to 4000 psi.

Melt Index - <0.15 - 0.40 g/10mins
The melt index or molecular weight of hdpe conduit determines the ability of the hdpe conduit to withstand the long periods of stress of being buried underground. The lower a melt index is, the more likely it is that the conduit will ovalize and buckle. ASTM F 2160 recommends a melt index range of <0.15 to 0.40 g/10 minutes (or <0.15 to 0.55 g/10 minutes provided that all other material requirements are satisfied).

ESCR - F20 > 192hrs
While density and melt index define most of the physical properties of hdpe conduit, ESCR (Environmental Stress Crack Resistance) is a test comparing the relative performance of the hdpe material i.e., its long term resistance to failure by stress cracking. The longer the material lasts under this text, the less likely it will be susceptible to failure by stress cracking in service. ASTM F 2160 recommends s that the ESCR be F20 > 192 hours (or a 10% Igepal of F10 > 96 hours provided that all other material requirements are satisfied).

Advantages of HDPE Electrical Conduit
Whether your specifications call for plowing, open trench, directional boring or being pulled through existing conduit, Oxford Plastics manufactures polyethylene conduit, raceways, duct and innerduct for a variety of nonpressure applications with utility, communication, CATV, or power wire and cable. With its high performance and material characteristics, our electrical conduit provides buried electrical cables the necessary security and protection they need against random construction, harsh and highly pressured environments. We provide conduit on reels and in coils for convenient installation. We can also provide continuous lengths customized to meet your specific construction needs. Sequential foot markings can be provided for easier installation. Our electrical conduit offers:

High tensile strength to endure heavy external loads.
Long term strength for increased life and performance
Lower installation costs
Resistance to corrosive chemicals and aggressive soils
Moisture proof and watertight when fusion welded
No biological growth
Low resistance to pulled-in cable
Color coding for easy identification

Applications of HDPE Electrical Conduit
Smooth wall HDPE is a nonmetallic flexible raceway manufactured from high density polyethylene for use as electrical raceways, duct or innerduct. With our hdpe conduit you can increase the pathways of existing duct systems and give yourself extra channels for future cabling needs. Buried in the ground, our conduit offers superior protection against the excessive pressures of being buried deep in the ground. Capable of withstanding pressures as high as 4000 psi, our conduit can be used large underground projects such as public power utilities and industrial communication systems.

If you looking for reliable electrical conduit, let our extensive experience in electrical conduit and fibre optic design help you to make the right decision. Also note that Oxford Plastics provides a Letter of Certification documenting that the conduit meets the performance requirements and material requirements of ASTM F 2160. We also make sure that the conduit is properly marked with the ASTM F 2160 designation.

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Oxford Plastics Inc. ~ PO Box 119, Oxford Road 6, Embro, Ontario, CANADA, N0J 1J0
Office: 519.423.6232 ~ Fax: 519.423.6057 ~ Toll Free: 1.800.263.0502