Minimum (or Maximum) Weight of Conduit

Question

Minimum (or Maximum) Weight of Conduit

wubwub (Structural)

(OP)

27 May 03 16:43

Is there a code or any literature that would indicate guidelines for the minimum (or maximum) load to be used to calculate the weight of conduits that are filled with wire. I am doing an analysis of an existing structure and the owner has asked for an indepth analysis that includes a more accurate calculation of the existing mechanical and electrical loads in lieu of an assumed uniform loading. The weight of the conduit itself can be easily calculated, but the weight of the wire is not known unless every single junction box is opened to determine the number of wires. There are hundreds of conduits in this building.

I am hoping that someone may know of some guidelines (or if it written in a building code somewhere) to use for minimum and maximum loads of the filled conduits.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Dave

Lutfi (Structural) · Answer 1 · 2003-05-27 18:13:34

How much and what size conduit do you have? I usually, for normal building, throw in few pounds per square foot (4 to 8) for simple mechanical and electrical systems.

If you have unusual situation and occupancy, I would do a more detailed study and computation of the total weight of filled conduits then divide it by the square footage of the area under considerations.

Many Internet sites and references would give you the estimated weights of filled conduits.

Good luck

jheidt2543 (Civil/Environmental) · Answer 2 · 2003-05-30 10:55:42

I had a similar situation and I called my local, friendly electrical contractor. He had a handbook that gave the weight/lf of different conduit types and wire sizes. There is a relationship between conduit size and the possible wire sizes within it.(actually it is the reverse, for a specific wire size you need to use XX conduit size).

It worked for me!

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Minimum (or Maximum) Weight of Conduit