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Flexible metal conduit is a type of tubing used to hold electrical wires and cables. It can bend to adapt to its environment and comes in three styles: FMC, LFMC, and FMT. It is commonly used in public facilities and manufacturing locations for protection and maintenance purposes.
Flexible metal conduit is a variety of tubing used to hold electrical wires and similar cables. This type of duct is common in areas where the strength of the metal is required, but the duct still needs flexibility. These ducts bend to adapt to their environment, but do not permanently take on any specific shape. Depending on the overall design and purpose, flexible metal conduit may be waterproof or have gaps.
In almost all cases, flexible metal conduit contains cables. These cables are ordinary electrical cables, but some conduits protect coaxial cables or fiber optic systems used in CCTV security systems. These pipes are usually made of steel or aluminum. Steel is harder and protects the internal cables better, but aluminum is much lighter.
There are three basic styles of flexible metal conduit. The common style, called flexible metal conduit (FMC), consists of a single strip of steel or aluminum. This strip is rolled into a tight circle where it interlocks with itself. It’s not waterproof, but it does provide basic protection to any cables that might be inside. The strange design and shape of these ducts give them a quaint, spring-like look.
Liquid Tight Flexible Metallic Conduit (LFMC) is essentially an FMC enclosed in plastic. This plastic coating makes the duct waterproof. The jacket on an LFMC can be anything from a hose-like sheath to a tight polyvinyl jacket. Bulky linings reduce the flexibility of the duct, but increase its weather protection, so these linings are common for outside lines.
The last type of flexible metal conduit is flexible metal tubing (FMT). These are essentially the heavy version of the FMC. This variety of conduit is stronger and heavier than FMC and is always waterproof without a plastic coating. These tubes occasionally have end caps that act as connectors for electrical systems, allowing users to plug the tube directly into a fixture and outlet, which keeps the interior completely self-contained.
The most common places to see any form of flexible metal conduit include public facilities and manufacturing locations. Private homes and businesses are less likely to use metal ducting, and when they do, it’s usually within a wall. Public areas, especially those made primarily of steel and concrete, use flexible metal ducts to protect internal systems and prevent damage or inadvertent vandalism. Production areas use these systems to allow for the movement and maintenance of machinery.
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