Benefits of HDPE Conduit

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) conduit is the preferred material to house and protect electrical power and telecommunications cables within. It offers unmatched corrosion and chemical resistance, is flexible, durable and available in long reel lengths to reduce joints and installation time. HDPE conduit is available in a variety of sizes, colors, dimensions and lengths.

The HDPE soild wall pipe for electrical power and telecommunications cables diameter ranges mainly from 32mm to 315mm. When pipes cann’t be in coils but in lengths, electrofusion couplers are frequently used for the high efficient connection. Smart Joint special designed electrofusion couplers are verified by strict tensile tests and several construction sites.

Here is more introduction on HDPE conduit.

Flexibility, Ductility, Toughness

· Supplied in long coils on spools or reels, HDPE conduit is compact for shipping

· HDPE conduit follows the trench contours and can be installed around obstacles underground

· Bends and flexes without breakage, even with ground heaves or shifts, over a wide range of temperatures

· High ductility, resists damage during transportation, handling, and installation

· Excellent toughness to withstand job site conditions and provide long life underground

· Resists brittleness due to aging or cold weather and retains impact resistance

Continuous Coils

· Supplied in long coils, HDPE conduit installs with fewer joints, and is ideal for horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and plowing installations

· Long coil lengths allow greater flexibility in system design

Coefficient of Friction (COF)

· The COF of HDPE conduit can be 30% lower than PVC raceway

· Improves the effectiveness of lubrication

· Longer pull lengths are possible, so that so manholes are placed farther apart

Resistant to:

· Chemical attack - HDPE is resistance to corrosive chemicals and aggressive soils

· Corrosion - HDPE is non-conducting, does not suffer from corrosion due to soil or water contact

· Bacteria - No host nutrients for bacterial/ fungal growth

Wide Temperature Operating Range

· HDPE conduit remains ductile at low installation temperatures well below freezing, and does not become brittle or shatter

· The maximum operating temperature of HDPE conduit is compatible with the operating temperatures of the power cables

· Power conductors rated at 90°C (194°F) and medium voltage cable rated at 105°C (220°F) are permitted for use with some PE Conduit

HDPE Conduit Types

HDPE conduit products are manufactured in a wide range of colors, lengths, diameters and wall types. These apply not only to the protective conduit but also to inner duct, if present.
HDPE Conduit types include:

Outside plant: smoothwall, ribbed, tracer wire, aerial, Cable-in-Conduit(CIC), inner duct( CIC)

Inside plant: corrugated(riser/plenum), inner duct

Various colors or stripes can be used to identify the network operator or the type of cable used in the conduit such as telecommunications (e.g. orange) and power (e.g. red or black with red stripe).

Installation Methods

HDPE conduit is flexible which allows ease of installation in existing pathways, yet its stiffness can withstand crush forces at the calculated level for buried applications.

HDPE conduit is installed along highways or roads and in buildings. It is used to protect Power Distribution lines (600V secondary, <69kV primary) and telecommunication lines (network backbones), landline (wireline) and broadband; such as DSL Internet and CATV. The different installation methods are project specific and dictate what strength conduit is used.

Trenchless Technology

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) minimizes the impact to the surrounding area including less interruptions to traffic. This methods installs long lengths of conduit as much as 1,000-ft bores.

Slip Lining inner duct used to increase capacity of existing pathways

Pipe Bursting to upgrade service lines

Open Cut

Plowing allows for long continuous runs along right of ways and the lowest installation cost relative to other methods.

Trenching is a traditional and simple method where the conduit is uncoiled directly into the open cut. Quoted from plastic pipe institute(PPI)