Electrical metallic tubing (EMT) is used indoors and outdoors to protect enclosed electrical conductors from impact, moisture and chemical vapors. American Conduit’s aluminum EMT is UL Listed, installs faster, and is substantially lighter and less expensive than steel EMT.
American Conduit is a product brand of Hydro, the world’s largest supplier of aluminum extrusions. Our comprehensive range of rigid aluminum conduit and aluminum EMT is available to customers from coast to coast via our nationwide distribution network.
We extrude and thread in-house and provide quality control systems that surpass industry standards. With over 35 years of manufacturing experience, American Conduit produces a wide range of lengths and diameters to suit even your most complex applications.
Types of Metal Conduit
Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) – EMT is an unthreaded, thin-walled tubing generally made of galvanized steel or aluminum. Although often referred to as “conduit,” it is technically considered tubing.
EMT is connected using clamp-type fittings that slide onto the tubing and are secured with a set-screw. It is popular in commercial and industrial applications because it is lighter and thinner than rigid metal conduit and is relatively easy to bend and cut. It can be installed outdoors, as long as all fittings, supports and fasteners are made of corrosion-resistant materials.
Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC) – RMC is a thick-walled, threaded tubing that is connected by screwing connectors to the main tubes. It protects the cables inside from damage, impact and electromagnetic interference, which can be harmful to sensitive equipment.
RMC is generally made of steel or aluminum. Its thick walls make it much heavier than other types of conduit, and rigid steel conduit requires more effort to lift and move. The threaded connections also require more labor to install. More labor equates to greater expense.
Although the most commonly used form of RMC in commercial and industrial buildings is made from galvanized steel, rigid aluminum conduit is quickly becoming the preferred choice among contractors, designers and engineers based on the significant savings that can be achieved.
Why Choose Aluminum EMT
American Conduit aluminum EMT is made with a high purity 6005 aluminum alloy that ensures excellent strength and exceptional corrosion resistance. It is an ideal solution for installations where steel tubing is not suitable because of large amounts of water or chemicals, such as in food processing plants.
Other advantages include:
- Lower cost than steel EMT
- One-third the weight of steel and less expensive to ship
- Installs faster and with less manpower
- Highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal
- Naturally resists corrosion from air, water and chemicals
- Non-magnetic
- Non-sparking and non-combustible for greater protection from fire or explosions
- Inherent EMI shielding
- Improved thermal and electrical conductivity
- Easy field fabrication
- UL Listed; National Electric Code® (NEC) compliant
- 100% recyclable
Aluminum EMT cannot be directly embedded in concrete because the metal reacts with alkalis in cement; however, it can be coated to prevent incidental contact.
American Conduit has the ability to meet your demands for aluminum EMT tubing and rigid aluminum conduit. Our solutions are designed and engineered to meet all of your application challenges. Get in touch with us at 1.800.334-6825 to learn more, or request a quotation today.