Thanks, guys. The whole thing is a mash-up. Fortunately or otherwise, I may or may not have responsibility for much of what's going on. Got a set of drawings that are like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces missing. Starting my second week on the job and am their first electrician east of the Mississippi. There's at least 5 major entities involved.
Not quite sure, but am thinking that the jersey barriers are the walls for a secondary water containment that is lined with rubber sheeting and the conduits will be run on the outside of the containment - I think. I get the idea that decisions were made by novices with big pockets saying "Hey, we could do this! Ain't we smart?"
Some of the conduits are for control and communication, and one is for power. Now get this: After going thru the sketchy drawings and schedules, they are feeding one 100A panelboard from another 100A panelboard from 2000 feet away. The schedule shows five 350 MCMs in a 4" conduit mounted on these jersey barriers, but partly underground, too. (I think...) When you do the math for voltage drop I can see why. Voltage is 120/240. But when you look at the bigger picture, there are other possibilities. The load is only 25A, yet the schedule shows the sub panel being fed from a 20A breaker in the main panel. Obviously an oversight easily fixed with a bigger breaker. But the loads themselves are not voltage sensitive being 24V power supplies and heat trace. Hopefully the power contractor knows to install 30mA GFIC breakers. Regardless, some distribution blocks will be needed - no mention of them on the drawings.
I won't be working on the installation of the power part, but will still be involved on making this work. I'll be working on the control part and there are many more and different kinds of conductors needed that what is shown on the schedules. Should find out this week how far along the project is and how and what might be able to be changed.
I can see the jersey barrier idea working as long as they are sitting on stable fill. But just one soft spot with freeze and thaw will result in busted conduit. The conduit is on the western and southern exposures, too.