WE’RE DEBUNKING FIBERGLASS CONDUIT MYTHS ONE AT A TIME. If it's that much more affordable, it can’t be as good. Material costs might be lower, but installation costs will be higher. Fiberglass is only used on bridges. It doesn’t have an application in my industry. It’s just not strong enough. It’s plastic, so it must be toxic and unsafe. Keep reading to learn more My team isn’t trained to install it, and training will take time. CERTIFIED ISO 9001 • ISO 14001 • ISO 45001 BIM/REVIT Conflicting information about fiberglass conduit abounds. Here’s a list of common myths about how fiberglass works, what it’s used for, and installation – and the facts to set the record straight. If it’s that much more affordable, it can’t be as good. Expensive doesn’t always mean “better”. When comparing PVC-coated steel conduit to fiberglass conduit, in almost every case, fiberglass conduit comes out as the better option with many benefits. Regarding installation, fiberglass continues to win the race – installing heavy GRC or PVC-coated conduit to design specifications requires much more manpower and equipment that’s not typically on hand in the field for a contractor. Visit the conduit calculator for a comparative estimate. Material costs might be lower, but installation costs will be higher. False. It is a fact that for most sizes of electrical conduit, fiberglass conduit installs faster than PVC, PVC-coated steel and GRC. But don’t take our word for it. Labor man-hours are documented in the NECA Manual of Labor Units. Faster, streamlined installation is due to the conduit’s light weight and portability, fewer support spans required, and overall ease for installers. Fiberglass is only used on bridges. It doesn’t have an application in my industry. It’s true – lightweight fiberglass conduit has been used on thousands of bridges across the U.S. and Canada including such icons as the Blue Water Bridge in Canada and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Actually, it is trusted by electrical engineers and contractors throughout most of North America for its strength and durability in many applications. It has become the conduit of choice for high-reliability, mission critical facilities such as hyperscale data centers and utilities focused on grid updates and energy expansion with solar and wind projects. Additionally, UL 2196 2-hour fire rated Champion Flame Shield® phenolic conduit is used in tunnels for its safe, no smoke or halogen released properties. Class 1, Div 2 certified Champion Haz Duct® XW is frequently used in hazardous locations such as chemical plants. Other large industrial builds utilizing fiberglass conduit include stadiums, food processing, mining, waste water treatment, airports, and port authority/coastal. It’s just not strong enough. Not true. Tough, rigid Champion Fiberglass conduit can absorb significant mechanical impact, compressing and flexing back to its original shape without affecting its serviceability. Durable elbows resist burn-through so the conduit does not break when pulling cable. It offers superior vibration resistance, especially useful in the utility and energy fields, as well as corrosion resistance to many chemicals and UV resistance. It is approved for Class I Division 2 per the National Electrical Code (NEC) for hazardous locations. It’s plastic, so it must be toxic and unsafe. Fiberglass conduit is a non-toxic material, unlike PVC-coated steel conduit and other conduits that use thermoplastic materials. When accidents such as fires happen, the chlorine released by PVC-based materials isn’t an issue with fiberglass. Fiberglass burns smoke- and halogen-free. Additionally, it doesn’t conduct electricity and serves as an electrical insulator. Put plainly, an electrical fault within a fiberglass conduit won’t turn the entire conduit into an electrical safety risk. In a field where hundreds of contractors suffer preventable, fatal electrical shocks every year, fiberglass offers a peace of mind with fault resistance. My team isn’t trained to install it, and training will take time. The Champion Fiberglass® team regularly conducts training with new installers based on 35 years of project experience. Many contractors comment about the ease at which the product installs with portability and gasket connections helping streamline installation. In fact, one contractor, new to fiberglass conduit, completed a three mile installation for a data center in one day. FIND A REP CONTACT CHAMPION FIBERGLASS