Rigid aluminum conduit (RMC) is a better choice than rigid steel conduit for realizing greater material and installation savings, superior durability, and better performance. If your application calls for 1-inch RMC or any other diameter, American Conduit has nearly 1 million pounds of aluminum conduit in stock and ready to ship.
American Conduit is a product brand of Hydro, the largest aluminum extruder in the world. Hydro Extrusion North America has 23 plant locations, 10 paint lines, 4 anodizing lines, and produces in excess of 550 million pounds of extrusions per year.
We have nearly four decades of experience in the production of rigid aluminum conduit and aluminum electrical metallic tubing, and make them available to customers in a wide range of lengths and diameters from our coast to coast network of 20 stocking warehouses and 33 representatives.
Why Rigid Aluminum Conduit is the Cost-Effective Choice
Research shows that contractors and engineering firms who switch from rigid steel conduit to rigid aluminum conduit can experience significant cost savings of up to 17%.
Customers enjoy cost per foot savings of 10% to 20% compared to the cost of rigid steel. Because one pound of aluminum is equal to three pounds of steel, you can cover three times the distance with the same amount of weight.
Because rigid aluminum conduit is one-third the weight of its steel counterpart, it is easier to transport and requires less effort to lift, move and install, representing cost savings in terms of shipping and labor and improvements in the health and safety of workers.
In addition to aluminum usage savings, aluminum RMC meets or exceeds all UL6A and National Electrical Code® (NEC) standards, performing in the field as well or better than steel.
We invite you to review American Conduit’s case studies for examples of projects where aluminum conduit was substituted for steel conduit and resulted in substantial material and labor savings.
FAQs About Aluminum Conduit vs. Steel Conduit
Here are some questions our customers often ask about aluminum conduit compared to steel:
- Does rigid aluminum conduit meet the same code requirements as rigid steel conduit? American Conduit’s rigid aluminum conduit meets Federal Spec WW-C-540C, UL-6A, ANSI C80.5, and Canada’s CSA C 22.2 No. 45.
- Can galvanized fittings be used with rigid aluminum conduit? NEC 344.10(A) allows you to use either aluminum or galvanized fittings.
- Is it more difficult to cut and thread aluminum than steel? Use your standard cutting tools and dies, and you will get fast, easy cuts and threads.
- Is it more difficult to pull cables through aluminum conduit? Independent tests show that pulling cables through aluminum and steel are comparable. Contact us for further details.
- Are there applications where aluminum conduit should not be used? If your project calls for burying the conduit in concrete or soil, or you plan to use it around certain chlorine-based chemicals, we recommend using PVC-coated rigid aluminum conduit.
Switching from steel to aluminum can reward you with superior quality and performance, as well as thousands of dollars of savings on a typical job. When you need 1-inch rigid aluminum conduit, American Conduit can meet your needs. Get in touch with us at 1-800-334-6824 for additional information, or request a quotation today.