Choosing and using electrical conduits correctly

The different types of electrical conduits

Electrical conduits are available in many different designs, each developed for specific applications.
Metal conduits – particularly robust, high mechanical protection, suitable for industrial and outdoor use
Corrugated tubing|corrugated tubes – flexible, lightweight and ideal for flush-mounted or surface-mounted installations
Braided sleeves or fabric conduits – highly flexible, abrasion-resistant, suitable for moving wires and electronics
Spiral conduits – for bundling, organising and retrofitting cable routing Cable glands – provide protection at penetrations and sharp edges (also known as edge protection)
Wiring ducts – structured cable routing in control cabinets and distribution boards Armoured hoses – robust protection against mechanical stress, protects against crushing, abrasion and cutting or impact loads.
Liquid-tight electrical conduits – protection against moisture, oils and chemicals Electrical conduits heat-resistant – for high temperatures and industrial applications UV-resistant electrical conduits – specifically for long-term outdoor use Halogen-free electrical conduits – increased safety in the event of fire and smoke development

Recommendation: Which electrical conduit for which specific application?

Choosing the right electrical conduit depends largely on the location, environmental conditions and mechanical stress. Whether for indoor or outdoor use, fixed installation or moving applications – not every electrical conduit is suitable for every task. The following recommendations will help you find the technically appropriate and tried-and-tested solution for every specific application.

Mechanical engineering / industrial plants
Material recommendation: Polyamide PA6 or PA12
Properties: high load-bearing capacity, oil-resistant, temperature-stable, mechanically robust
Application example: In industrial plants, wires are often routed through polyamide conduits (PA6 or PA12 tubing) as they are highly durable, oil-resistant, temperature-stable and particularly mechanically robust – ideal for demanding production environments.

Outdoor use / UV exposure / Weather
Recommended material: HDPE or EPDM
Properties: highly UV-resistant, dimensionally stable
Application example: For outdoor cable routing, such as in lighting and solar systems or photovoltaic installations, cables are laid in HDPE or EPDM conduits as they are highly UV-resistant and dimensionally stable, thus offering long-term protection against the effects of sunlight.

Vehicle construction / Automotive
Recommended material: PA6/PA12 + PET braided sleeve
Properties: Abrasion protection + flexible bundling + heat-resistant in the engine compartment
Application example: Particularly in the automotive sector, e.g. in the engine compartment, cables are often routed in PA6 or PA12 tubing combined with PET braiding, as this solution offers abrasion protection, bundles cables flexibly and withstands high temperatures.

Oil and fuel applications (workshops, power units, hydraulics)
Recommended material: NBR rubber or oil-resistant PA12
Properties: excellent resistance to oil, diesel and hydraulic fluids
Application example: On hydraulic power units, wires are routed in NBR rubber or PA12 oil-resistant tubing, as they provide excellent protection against oil, diesel and hydraulic fluids, thereby reliably preventing damage.

Complete emv shielding
Recommended material: Tinned copper braided hose or stainless steel braided hose
Properties: strong electromagnetic shielding
Application example: A tinned copper braided tube or stainless steel braiding is suitable for the emv shielding of control and data lines in industrial plants, as it provides strong electromagnetic shielding and thus reliably prevents interference.

High temperature (engine, exhaust system, industrial furnace)
Recommended material: Glass fibre Silikon tubing
Properties: High temperature resistance (up to approx. 300°C)
Application example: In industrial furnaces, wires are routed through glass fibre Silikon tubing, as it withstands extremely high temperatures and thus reliably protects wires from heat exposure.

Office, home, prototypes and laboratories
Recommended material: PET braided sleeving or spiral conduit|spiral-reinforced conduit
Properties: very flexible, cost-effective, ideal for retrofitting
Application example: When setting up a test bench for automation technology, control cables are routed through PET braided sleeving or spiral conduit|spiral-reinforced conduit, as they are flexible, cost-effective and easy to retrofit.

Underground installation
Recommended material: Smooth or corrugated HDPE pipe
Properties: Pressure-stable, moisture-resistant, robust 

Definition: Atex electrical conduits

Atex electrical conduits are specially designed cable protection systems for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, such as those found in chemical plants, paint shops, the oil and gas industry, or in silos.
The name Atex is derived from the European directive for ATmosphères EXplosibles (= explosive atmospheres), which defines safety requirements for equipment and protective systems in potentially explosive zones.
The Atex zones classify areas according to the type, frequency and duration of an explosive atmosphere:
Gas (G zones): - Zone 0 (continuous) - Zone 1 (occasional) - Zone 2 (rare)
Dust (D zones): - Zone 20 (continuous) - Zone 21 (occasional) - Zone 22 (rare)Atex electrical conduits must be certified for the relevant zone in order to reliably protect cables and ensure safety in potentially explosive atmospheres.

List of Atex-compliant electrical conduits

Here is a list of common Atex-compliant electrical conduits and systems that have been specifically developed for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (e.g. Zones 1/2 for gas and 21/22 for dust).

Suitable materials for Atex zones:
- Flame-retardant polyamide PA12 (halogen-free)
- Stainless steel corrugated tubing (for gas & dust Ex)
- Special conductive (ESD) PA tubing
- Conductive PE/PP variants for dust Ex

Criteria for Atex suitability:
- Surface resistance < 10⁹ Ω - No sparking (antistatic) - Temperature range suitable for the zone - Mechanical robustness (particularly important in Zones 1/21 and 0/20)

Typical Atex applications:
Explosive gases or vapours can occur at any time in petrol stations or refineries, e.g. petrol vapours at petrol pumps or in storage tanks. Atex electrical conduits are used here to reliably protect control and measurement cables from sparks, abrasion or chemical exposure, thereby preventing ignition sources in potentially explosive atmospheres. Other typical Atex application areas include: - Mills, silos, grain processing (dust explosions) - Paint shops (explosive vapours and gases) - Chemical plants (explosive gases and chemicals) - Battery assembly (hydrogen and solvent vapours)

ATex protective tubes:
- A12-AS (antistatic) corrugated tubing — Zone 2/22
- Stainless steel metal conduit with Atex approval — Zone 1/21
- Conductive PE tubes for dust explosion protection

9 tips for choosing the right electrical conduit

Choosing the right electrical conduit is crucial for the safety, durability and functionality of your electrical installation. Every application has different requirements in terms of material, flexibility and protection class. The following tips will help you select the right conduit for every situation quickly and reliably:
1. Check the application
First determine whether the conduit will be installed indoors, outdoors or underground, and whether it will be flexible or fixed.
2. Consider mechanical stress
Choose robust materials (e.g. metal conduits or PA6 / PA12) if wires are exposed to heavy abrasion, crushing or vibrations.
3. Chemical and physical resistance
In workshops, hydraulic systems or chemical plants, ensure that the cable conduits are resistant to oil, fuel or chemicals (e.g. NBR rubber, PA12).
4. Consider temperature requirements
For hot environments or engine compartments, it is best to choose heat- or fire-resistant hoses, e.g. glass fibre-reinforced Silikon or PA12.
5. UV and weather resistance
Another important factor is UV and weather resistance. Cable conduits made of HDPE or EPDM are therefore suitable for outdoor installation.
6. Emv or radio interference protection
For sensitive electronics, it is best to use braided metal or copper conduits to prevent electromagnetic interference.
7. Atex or potentially explosive atmospheres
For Ex zones, use only Atex-certified electrical conduits suitable for the zone
8. Flexibility and retrofitability
For frequently changing wires or prototypes, it is better to use PET braided or spiral conduits, as they are flexible and easy to retrofit.
9. Suitable connectors and accessories
Also ensure that connectors, grommets and edge protection are compatible and do not reduce the conduit’s protection class.

A practical guide to choosing the right electrical conduit

Finally, the table below provides you with all the key information at a glance: it shows which electrical conduits are suitable for which applications and load conditions, making it easier for you to make a quick, practical choice in your day-to-day work.

Conclusion: Why electrical conduits are important

Electrical conduits reliably protect wires from mechanical stress, chemicals, heat, moisture, UV radiation and electromagnetic interference. Choosing the right conduit depends on the application, material, flexibility and specific requirements – ranging from flexible spiral conduits for prototypes to Atex-certified conduits for potentially explosive atmospheres. With the right electrical conduit, your wires run safely, cleanly and stress-free – almost as if they had their own guardian angel on board.