Parking Deck Ceiling Conduit

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phila36

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EV Design Engineer
HI All,

I'm surprised I haven't found a definitive answer for this question after researching but I'd like to know what the standard installation method is for running conduit along the ceiling of parking decks? These are ev charging conduits that would be running along the ceiling of the deck below the level containing the chargers, and stubbing up through the deck slab into the stations.

Specifically, if running across beams, are the conduits:
1.) penetrated through each beam
2.) ran across the bottom of each beam
3.)wrapped along each beam?

See pictures below for clarification.

 
Many deck beams have openings cast to allow #1, so look for them.

Otherwise, the rules may be different for rigid vs EMT.
 
Not 2 unless larger size rigid. People jump up and hang from suspended pipes in garages, seen so much bent up and pulled apart EMT.....
 
Too many bends in #3. I don't guess you can subtract from the total bends if some of them go the other way, can you? :D
 
steve66 said:
new garage, or are the conduits being installed in an existing garage.

I wouldn't penetrate the beams without approval of a structural engineer.
Click to expand...
I have had to have xrays done before drilling or cutting in parking decks and buildings with post tension slabs. We looked into buying a scanner once but having a company come do it was considerably cheaper.
 
Didn't someone used to make a specialty box/trough thing to cross parking garage beams? I think it was a short section of a flat gutter (might have looked sort of like wiremold 4000) you mounted to the bottom of the beam and it overhung the edges of the beam a bit, then you 90 your conduit down into the backside of it. I tried searching but couldn't find it.
 
phila36 said:
HI All,

I'm surprised I haven't found a definitive answer for this question after researching but I'd like to know what the standard installation method is for running conduit along the ceiling of parking decks? These are ev charging conduits that would be running along the ceiling of the deck below the level containing the chargers, and stubbing up through the deck slab into the stations.

Specifically, if running across beams, are the conduits:
1.) penetrated through each beam
2.) ran across the bottom of each beam
3.)wrapped along each beam?

See pictures below for clarification.

Click to expand...
Never punch holes on structural members of the deck that are load-bearing! Use fasteners that don't penetrate deep into the concrete. I have been using Hilti gas/ nailer guns to fasten conduits to concrete ceiling decks. Also, keep in mind that concrete is bad at tension, the lower portion of a concrete beam is and will always be at tension and if you punch through it, you might compromise the structure.
During my construction days, I always maintain an intimate relationship with the concrete pouring supervisors. That way I don't have to play catch up during pouring schedules and will always be there to install my conduits and whatnot--> it is a must that power supply to all electrical equipment is included in the electrical plans, not just leave the electricians to their elements (as always the case in many building constructions). Laying your conduits would be easy if the concrete deck is poured with steel decking as a form.
 
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