Fiberglass Conduit for Data Centers

The data center market is expected to grow dramatically in the coming years. Artificial intelligence is the largest contributor. For instance, a ChatGPT search requires ~10x the computing power of a normal Google search. In the US, the data center construction market is expected to reach $130.93 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. Data centers are expected to consume ~8% of total US power by 2030 (compared to ~3% today).

Protection of the cables and assets specific to data centers requires a durable, corrosion-resistant conduit system. Our cost-effective, American-made RTRC electrical conduit can be found in the data centers of the largest tech companies and telecommunications providers including software and search giants and microchip manufacturers.

Have a Data Center project in the works? Compare the material and installation costs of Champion Fiberglass elbows to other elbow material types by using the new Champion Elbow Calculator tool.

Characteristics like lack of burn-through, low coefficient of friction, and cable fault resistance make fiberglass conduit elbows an ideal solution to protect data center infrastructure.

Traditional materials including galvanized rigid steel, aluminum and PVC-coated steel conduit will weld wire to the inside of the conduit during fault conditions, while fiberglass conduit is not affected.

Fiberglass RTRC conduit is lightweight, making it easier to handle and transport and less labor intensive to install than traditional alternatives per the NECA Manual of Labor Rates.

Fiberglass conduit offers one of the lowest coefficients of friction available for conduit systems and is completely resistant to any of the current pulling lubricants’ corrosive properties. Keeping conduit intact means you don’t have to worry about damaged conduit and resulting repairs.

It’s clear why some of the largest tech and telecommunications companies trust Champion Fiberglass® to safeguard data center infrastructure with RTRC conduit. In a recent data center build-out replacing galvanized rigid steel elbows with Champion Fiberglass elbows contributed to more than $400,000 in combined project savings.

Champion Fiberglass’s lightweight “no burn-through” fiberglass conduit elbows enable design flexibility without sacrificing strength and their lightweight nature contributes to increased installation savings.

• Data center conduit is specified on three things: listing, cable protection and federal eligibility.
• Champion Duct® RTRC conduit answers all three.
• Listings: UL 2515 for above and below ground installation, UL 2420 for below ground, manufactured in accordance with NEC Article 355.
• Cable protection: Champion Fiberglass elbows eliminate burn-through, the abrasion that occurs when cable is pulled against the inner wall of a bend on dense runs.
• Handling: Approximately 15X lighter than PVC-coated steel, as published in the Champion Fiberglass Product Comparison Chart, which eases handling on overhead runs.
• Federal projects: Qualifies under the Build America, Buy America Act; conduit, elbows and fittings are manufactured in the United States and marked as such.
• Grounding: The conduit is non-conductive, so the raceway cannot become an unintended current path; grounding is carried by conductors sized to the NEC.
• Champion to confirm data center positioning): Where the electrical design calls for a fire-rated raceway on life-safety circuits such as emergency power and fire alarms, specify Champion Flame Shield® 2-hour fire-rated phenolic conduit, rated to UL 2196 at 1,850°F for two hours.