PVC plumbing pipe for low voltage

[gumbudah]

So i've got some unused 2" pvc plumbing fittings. I want to put a conduit in my walls for future pulls of cable/ethernet/24vdc security wires. They fit fine on 2" electrical ent and they fit much better in the tight quarters I'm trying to do this in. Does anyone know of any code reasony why these fittings couldn't be used? there will be NO 110v or higher ac wiring going in these things.

 

[njride]

the 90 degree plumbing fitting will be impossible to get a snake and pull wire through. Wire doesn't flow like water.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

PVC is flammable.

 

[DoyleDee]

And when pvc burns it puts off toxic fumes..

 

[rockwithjason]

it would never pass an inspection but if you don't care about that there is nothing to stop you.

 

[nehog]

For low voltage wires, you can do whatever you want...

As to flammable... So is wood.
As to fumes... Burning wood gives off noxious fumes.
As to inspections... NEC lets you have a lot of leeway with low voltage circuits, including no conduit at all.

As to 90 degree bends... OK, that will not work well!

 

[gumbudah]

As to the burning part, I have pvc already in the walls for other plumbing, I don't see much difference.
As for the elbows, the wires I'm going to be pulling are ethernet cables.... those will pull around a 90 deg square corner. I think the mechanics of it will work out just fine, it's just the code part I'm wondering about.

 

[warren57]

Code in Colorado doesn't allow PVC above ground due to fire/smoke issues as stated by other members. I drilled my wall plates with 1-1/2" holes and left a few pull wires in place to pull circuits at a later date. You just attach to a (loose) pull wire, pull your circuit and throw the pull wire away. Probably should have 6 or so pull wires for future use?

 

[6768rogues]

Our code refers to low voltage as "power limited" and is 50 volts or less. No conduit or enclosure is required. PVC pipe is above and beyond the minimum requirements in our code, so it is ok. We also use PVC electrical conduit, the gray plastic stuff. You might be able to rig up PVC conduit long sweep elbows by adjusting the diameters to fit. Or you could buy long sweep elbows, which are available for PVC piping.
PVC is combustible but it is not flammable.
Our code used to disallow PVC plumbing in commercial buildings but not residential. The plumbers' union kept it out for many years. The code was fixed a few years ago to allow PVC plumbing in all occupancies. PVC electrical conduit has been allowed as long as I can remember.

 

[wssix99]

You shouldn't use it because someone, someday, might install higher voltage stuff in there thinking that its kosher.

 

[Steevo]

coaxial cable and Ethernet cable have minimum bend radius limits. I think a 90 degree elbow would exceed those for coax, IF you could snake the wire through it in the first place.
For straight runs, no problem.

 

[BigJohn20]

coaxial cable and Ethernet cable have minimum bend radius limits. I think a 90 degree elbow would exceed those for coax, IF you could snake the wire through it in the first place.
For straight runs, no problem.

+1

It's the same reason why low voltage boxes are designed w/ open backs. For those curious, the TIA standards can be found online.

 

[gumbudah]

according to wikipedia, it generalizes bending radii for ethernet cables at 4x the diameter. Thatd be prolly about 1". 2" pvc sweeps should meet that just right.

 

[venom50svt]

Hmmmm, I have a question on that "plastic/pvc conduit.... I have a garage ceiling full of stray wires, I would like to organize them into something like that pvc... I see the 90 degree fittings are real gradual and I could snake the wires down the tube...

If it is bad, I take it is for underground use only??? Boy I was thinking of running romex stait through to the end and put a box on it... Hell my house just has the wire running through the walls and is just stapled,,,,

 

[jeffmoss26]

PVC pipe is not UL listed for electrical use...but if it's not going to be inspected or anything, go for it.

 

[Alchymist]

Code in Colorado doesn't allow PVC above ground due to fire/smoke issues as stated by other members. I drilled my wall plates with 1-1/2" holes and left a few pull wires in place to pull circuits at a later date. You just attach to a (loose) pull wire, pull your circuit and throw the pull wire away. Probably should have 6 or so pull wires for future use?

Why 6 or so pull wires? Just leave one or two. When you pull a new run, pull a new pull wire with it.

 

[gatchel]

I would sell it to a plumber and use smurf tube or something similar.