Why independent conduit testing is needed

Performance requirements for coated conduit are crucial.

By Stephanie Ellis, Corrosion College, Gilmer, Texas February 17, 2014

For years, all available brands of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-coated galvanized conduit met the same UL 6 standards and carried an identical UL label relating to safety conformance. Yet, it was apparent in the marketplace that not all brands performed the same. With products like coated conduit, adhesion of the coating is crucial. If the coating bond is broken, a void is created and moisture penetrates to the metal substrate and corrosion is actually accelerated.

The lack of performance requirements for coated conduit has been recognized by many companies and is gaining recognition by users. This fact is confirmed by recent discussions with consulting, specifying, and maintenance engineers at paper plants, wastewater treatment facilities, and other locations. 

To confirm the performance of the PVC coating, Intertek evaluated PVC-coated galvanized conduit brands solely for product performance and longevity as tested under conditions consistent with highly corrosive environments. Heat and humidity are recognized corrosion accelerators in corrosion engineering textbooks and technical documents from organizations such as the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE). 

The test results provided a quantitative method to compare the relative performance of coated conduit systems in conditions typical of the corrosive application environments. The results of both tests confirm significant differentiation in adhesion performance of the PVC coated conduit available in the market and why only certain brands carry Intertek’s ETL label.


Stephanie Ellis is director of Corrosion College. She holds a basic certification from the National Association of Corrosion Engineers and is a member of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors. Corrosion College is a hands-on course that explains the process of corrosion through intensive instruction by professionals in the field of corrosion protection.