Sleeved Cat6 in same conduit as power ?

[avm32]

Hello,

I'm working under NEC 2020.
I have an existing underground 2.5" SCH40 PVC conduit with 240V power inside it to a remote building. It's filled at 17%.
I'm trying to run direct bury Ethernet Cat6 through this conduit but it seems like NEC does not allow this under n 805.133(A)(1)(c):

805.133(A)(1)(c): Electric Light, Power, Class 1, Non-Power-Limited Fire Alarm, and Medium-Power Network-Powered Broadband Communications Circuits in Raceways, Compartments, and Boxes. Communications conductors shall not be placed in any raceway, compartment, outlet box, junction box, or similar fitting with conductors of electric light, power, Class 1, non-power-limited fire alarm, or medium-power network-powered broadband communications circuits.

However, looking at exception 1:

Exception No. 1: Section 805.133(A)(1)(c) shall not apply if all of the conductors of electric light, power, Class 1, non-power-limited fire alarm, and medium-power network-powered broadband communications circuits are separated from all of the conductors of communications circuits by a permanent barrier or listed divider.

It seems that I can run the Cat6 inside its own conduit inside the larger conduit.
Am I interpreting this correctly ? Can this be done ?

I am thinking of using either:
- 1/4" PE Split Loom Tube (Amazon)
- 1/2" PVC Flexible Conduit (Amazon)
- 1/4" PVC Coated Liquid-Tight Galvanized Steel Flexible Metal Conduit (Amazon)

Would any / all of these work for what I am trying to do

Here is a visual what I am describing :



Thanks !

 

[tom baker]

Is this underground? If so the cat 6 would need to db rated. I once ran emt through a gutter with lv in the emt.
Use 1/2 “ LT PVC flex conduit
But there could’ve an issue with induced noise on the Cat 6

 

[tom baker]

And ubiquity makes wireless Ethernet extenders that work very well. Remember there is a 100 meter distance limit on cat 6
The best option is fiber optic. Nonconductive can share raceways and j boxes.
Fiber optic is very inexpensive, and much more future proof than cat 6. You can call graybar and order 6 count fiber with a pulling head installed, and preterminated, to what length you need.

in order of options
1. Ubiquity
2. Fiber
3. Cat 6

if you are over 100 m then it’s 1 or 2 only

 

[avm32]

Thanks ! The distance is 150ft so within the Cat6 limit.
Wireless extenders aren't really an option as ~200-300MBPS of permanent bandwidth is required. Even powerline ethernet is too unreliable for what is desired.

But the fiber idea seems like a better approach - I didn't know that they are so cheap.

Will inspectors allow unsleeved fiber directly in conduit with power ?

 

[hbiss]

You can do what you suggest by sleeving the CAT6 with the PVC Flexible Conduit (Sealtight) or the 1/4" PVC Coated Liquid-Tight Galvanized Steel Flexible Metal Conduit (FMC) though I think 1/4" is going to be too small.

Yes, fiber would be a better approach. No sleeving is needed.

-Hal