E.M.T. underground

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j rae

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Can you run emt under ground with compresion couplings?? Can you use an eirkson fitting underground????
 
j rae said:
Can you run emt under ground with compresion couplings?? Can you use an eirkson fitting underground????
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358.10(B) permits it with limitations, however I wouldn't do it. A few years later all you will find is a little rust.
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I think the EMT might be okay, it is the couplings that may prevent you from doing this. It is a poor practice anyway.
 
What I like about this section "Corrosion protection"....where protected by corrosion protection and judged suitable for the condition. Huh? Ul white book quotes without supplementary protection severe corrosive effects are likely. yep.. it will rust out ....ya think?
 
There was a time where the sweep and riser for underground services was done in EMT in my area. This has been a fairly steady source of service calls, since they rot off at ground level and what's left underground resembles rusty flakes. I don't even like EMT outdoors, much less underground. There's just better options, and the most popular better option is cheaper.
 
The only place I've ever seen EMT used outdoors without any apparent signs of problems is in the desert southwest states.

In this area, installing EMT outdoors is just guaranteeing yourself or some other EC some rework down the road.
 
I pulled some EMT out of the ground a couple of weeks ago that was in great shape and had been there for something like 40 years. I think it was coated with enamel for corrosion resistance. Even so, I would NEVER run EMT in contact with the soil- wrapped or not. I have had to re-run several pool feeds because the old galvanized rigid rusted out to the point that the only thing left was orange-colored dirt around the wires!

PVC is the the better option for direct burial conduit. If you're concerned with it being not rugged enough you could always use SCH80 PVC instead.


- Greg
 
running emt underground is ridiculous but we have run it outdoors many many times. strap on galv straps and kendorf with comp couplings. its usually in areas with alot of ped traffic. not because of the damage issue but more of an attactiveness issue
 
mdshunk said:
There was a time where the sweep and riser for underground services was done in EMT in my area. This has been a fairly steady source of service calls, since they rot off at ground level and what's left underground resembles rusty flakes. I don't even like EMT outdoors, much less underground. There's just better options, and the most popular better option is cheaper.
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Ran into this a week ago, never saw it before. What do you get to change it out to PVC? I charged $450.00 I was there 30 minutes since I had scheduled the POCO to shut off at 9AM while I was on my first service call they called me when it was off and I went and replaced the EMT and on down the road.
 
j rae said:
Can you run emt under ground with compresion couplings?? Can you use an eirkson fitting underground????
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eirksons are not listed for underground use.
They are concrete tight but not water tight.
 
358.10(B) permits it with limitations
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Dear God, tell me it's April fools day.



I have just lost a little more respect for the fine folks who write the NEC.

EMT underground....nice. Don't get me wrong. I have SEEN it, I just assumed some handyman who didn't know shirt from shinola installed it.
 
220/221 said:
Dear God, tell me it's April fools day.



I have just lost a little more respect for the fine folks who write the NEC.

EMT underground....nice. Don't get me wrong. I have SEEN it, I just assumed some handyman who didn't know shirt from shinola installed it.
Click to expand...

Actually I thought the same thing when I read it.
 
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