National Electrical Code Top Ten Tips: Article 342 through Article 362, Conduits

Please note, we do quote from copyrighted material. While the NFPA does allow such quotes, it does so only for the purposes of education regarding the National Electrical Code. This article is not a substitute for the NEC.

These are the 10 NEC Article 320 through NEC Article 340 items we deem most important, based on the pervasiveness of confusion and the potential costs of same.

1. NEC Article 342 through 362 contain the requirements for various types of conduit. Remember that, and your life will be much easier.
    
2. Note that conduit is a subcategory of raceway. EMT is not a type of conduit  It's a type of raceway.
    
3. Each Article in this series provides the uses permitted and the uses not permitted.
    
4. NEC Article 350 presents requirements for Liquidtight Flexible Metal Conduit: Type LFMC. Note that the smallest allowable trade size is 1/2, and the largest allowable trade size is 4. There are limits on length and bending.
    
5. Article 356 provides the requirements for Liquidtight Flexible Nonmetallic Conduit: Type LFNC. The requirements are similar to those of Type LFMC, but there are some differences. For example, there are no exceptions to the requirement for installing a grounding conductor.
    
6. NEC Article 352 presents the requirements for Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit: Type RNC. Any fittings used with the conduit must be Listed. You cannot use plumbing pipe fittings with RNC. There are limits on where you can used this. Note, also, that you must provide expansion fittings with RNC.
    
7. NEC Article 354 presents the requirements for Nonmetallic Conduit with Conductors: Type NUCC. You cannot use Type NUCC in exposed locations or inside buildings.
    
8. All types of conduit must be supported.
    
9. You cannot use any conduit to support other wiring.
    
10. Refer to the tables in Chapter 9 for raceway fill requirements.