The Conduit Fittings Section develops technical standards and guidelines, influences government affairs and trade issues, and collects market data on its products.
Section Scope (Excerpt)
Fittings and accessories for use with rigid metallic conduit, intermediate metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, nonmetallic-sheathed cables, portable cords, service-entrance cables, flexible metallic conduit, liquidtight flexible metallic conduit, liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit, armored and metal-clad cables.
Click here for detailed Conduit Fittings product scope information.
Technical Activities
Much of the Conduit Fittings Section activity is driven by its technical work. The Section's Technical Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of ANSI/NEMA FB 1-2007 and the NEMA FB 2 series of selection and installation guidelines.
NEMA standards play a vital part in the design, production, and distribution of products destined for both national and international commerce. Sound technical standards benefit the user, as well as the manufacturer, by improving safety, bringing about economies in product, eliminating misunderstandings between manufacturer and purchaser, and assisting the purchaser in selecting and obtaining the proper product for their particular need.
Key technical activities include:
- Publication and maintenance of relevant NEMA standards
- Maintaining active liaison relationship with UL
- Maintaining active involvement in the National Electrical Code® revision process.
- Through CANENA, maintaining the trinational UL/CSA/ANCE standard for conduit and cable fittings, and the binational UL/CSA standard for conduit and cable support hardware
- Funding the TAG Administrator function for USNC involvement in IEC SC 23A, Cable management systems
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Interaction with the building wire and cable, metal electrical conduit, nonmetallic raceway, and flexible conduit industries.
Issues in the Field
A significant issue addressed by the fittings industry is the proper support of nonmetallic-sheathed cable systems. The improper practice of edgewise stapling of Type NM Cable, although prohibited by Section 334.30 of the National Electrical Code® continue in the field. NEMA published an article on this practice, including results of a survey of electrical inspectors on the subject. Overdriving of staples is also a concern to both the cable and fittings industries.
The industry is also working on addressing how to determine the number and size of conductors that can be installed in a conduit body when an installation specifies other than 3 conductors.
Standards and Publications
NEMA standards and publications relevant to the conduit and cable fittings industry include:
ANSI/NEMA FB 1-2007, Fittings, Cast Metal Boxes, and Conduit Bodies for Conduit, Electrical Metallic Tubing, and Cable
NEMA FB 2.10-2007, Selection and Installation Guidelines for Fittings for Use with Non-Flexible Metallic Conduit or Tubing (Rigid Metal Conduit, Intermediate Metal Conduit, and Electrical Metallic Tubing)
NEMA FB 2.20-2007, Selection and Installation Guidelines for Use with Flexible Electrical Conduit and Cable
NEMA OS 1-2008, Sheet-Steel Outlet Boxes, Device Boxes, Covers and Supports
NEMA OS 2-2008, Nonmetallic Outlet Boxes, Device Boxes, Covers and Box Supports
NEMA OS 3-2007, Selection and Installation Guidelines for Electrical Outlet Boxes
NEMA RV 1-2008, Application and Installation Guidelines for Armored Cable and Metal-Clad Cable
NEMA RV 2-2008, Application and Installation Guidelines for Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable
Guidelines for Handling Water Damaged Electrical Equipment
UL standards relevant to the conduit and cable fittings industry include:
UL 1
Flexible Metal Conduit
UL 4
Armored Cable
UL 6
Rigid Metal Conduit
UL 360
Liquidtight Flexible Metal Conduit
UL 514B/CSA C22.2 No. 18.3/NMX-J-017-ANCE
Conduit, Tubing and Cable Fittings
(a trinational standard for North America)
UL 514A/CSA C22.2 No. 18.1/NMX-J-023-ANCE
Metallic Outlet Boxes and Covers
(a trinational standard for North America)
UL 514C
Nonmetallic Outlet Boxes and Covers
UL 719
Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable
UL 854
Service-Entrance Cable
UL 1569
Metal-Clad Cable
UL 2239/CSA C22.2 No. 18.4
Conduit and Cable Support Hardware
A binational standard for use in Canada and the U.S.
For UL Guide Card information:
Go here for Armored Cable Connectors, Type AC
Go here for Armoured Cable Connectors Certified for Canada
Go here for Conduit Fittings
Go here for Conduit Fittings Certified for Canada
Go here for Conduit Fittings - Marine
Go here for Conduit Fittings - Component
Go here for Conduit Fittings Certified for Canada - Component
Go here for Electrical Metallic Tubing Fittings
Go here for Electrical Metallic Tubing Fittings Certified for Canada
Go here for Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing Fittings
Go here for Metal-clad Cable Connectors, Type MC
Go here for Service Entrance Cable Fittings
Go here for Power and Control Tray Cable Connectors
Go here for Fittings, Flexible Metallic Tubing
Go here for Mineral Insulated Cable Fittings
Go here for Nonmetallic-sheathed Cable Connectors
Go here for Nonmetallic-sheathed Cable Connectors Certified for Canada
Go here for Outlet Bushings and Fittings
Go here for Outlet Bushings and Fittings Certified for Canada
Go here for Outlet Bushings and Fittings - Component
Go here for Outlet Bushings and Fittings Certified for Canada - Component
Go here for Shipboard Cable Fittings - Marine
Go here for Shipboard Cable Fittings, Marine Certified for Canada
Go here for Conduit and Cable Hardware
Go here for Conduit and Cable Hardware for Canada
Go here for Aluminum-sheathed Cable Connectors, Type ALS Certified for Canada
IEC Standards
The Conduit Fittings Section is also actively involved in IEC activity. Technical Subcommittee 23A, Cable management systems, is responsible for the publication and maintenance of conduit fittings standards.
The United States National Committee (USNC) is represented on SC 23A, and has expert representation on the following project teams charged with publishing or maintaining IEC standards for conduit fittings, cable fittings, and hardware:
SC 23A/PT61914, Cable cleats
SC 23A/PT62444, Cable glands
SC 23A/Maintenance Team 1
- IEC 60981, Extra-heavy duty electrical rigid steel conduit
- IEC 61950, Fittings for extra-heavy duty electrical rigid steel conduit
The Section partially sponsors the funding of U.S. representation to these groups, as well as NEMA's role as USNC Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Administrator to SC 23A. This TAG is the mechanism for establishing U.S. positions on SC 23A standardization actions.
Government Affairs
Through NEMA, the section develops industry positions on legislative and regulatory initiatives that may affect member products, markets, and customers. NEMA's work has resulted in contributions to public policy development and in promoting competitiveness, technological progress, and public safety. On the Government Affairs homepage members can search for and e-mail federal representatives to convey opinions regarding energy policy or other issues related to the electroindustry.
NEMA Government Affairs provides specific services to its members and information in the areas of Environment, Health & Safety; Energy; and International Trade & Commerce.
Market Economics
NEMA Business Information Services (NEMA/BIS) provides market data to the public as well as to members.
For the public:
Statistics on domestic product shipments of conduit fittings are available. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau has been re-packaged to reflect the products within NEMA divisions.
For members:
Through NEMA, member companies are able to develop and implement tailored, industry-specific market and statistical programs that benefit participating companies. Reports may include:
- Product orders and sales
- Market forecasting
- Shipments by trading areas
- Channels of distribution
- Financial and operating ratios
- Wages and benefits
- Foreign trade
The association also conducts economic analyses on the impact of legislation and regulations on member products, and monitors and reports on key industry market indicators. All programs comply with NEMA statistical confidentiality policies. For more information, please see Business & Economy.
Membership
Membership in NEMA is open to any firm actively engaged in the manufacture in North America of a product within the NEMA scope and for sale in the open market. Membership of foreign firms is subject to product section policies and NEMA Board of Governors approval.
NEMA operates on a fee-for-service basis. Each product section establishes its projects and activities and approves an annual operating budget. A fee is then established using an annual average of net domestic sales of products within the NEMA scope. Visit our Joining NEMA section for more information on membership.
