Evcco’s range of Australian-made electrical and safety conduits has achieved its first major infrastructure installation after being selected by the United Group for the Epping to Chatswood rail line tunnel project in Sydney.  

Evcco safety polymer conduits are available from Albatech .  

Evcco safety polymer conduits are many times lighter and easier to install than metal conduits. The HFT polymer conduits also contain halogen-free flame retardant properties.  

About 2.5km of Evcco fire-retardant polymer conduits are being used to carry electrical services from one side of the tunnel to the other with the tough flexible conduit conforming to the semi-circular arc of the tunnel crown.  

John McNab, Managing Director of Albatech, the manufacturer of Evcco conduits says that installing metal pipes involves a higher degree of difficulty, especially in tunnels where the pipe has to be bent to conform to the radius.  

Additionally, metal conduits also present OH&S issues since personnel have to cope with the greater weight of the material being manoeuvred. Another drawback comes from corrosion issues in the steel pipes, particularly in aggressive environments.  

Evcco introduced its flame-retardant halogen-free polymer conduits as an alternative to imported systems that cost more.  

In addition to carrying electrical cabling, Evcco safety conduits can be used within safety equipment such as aspiration systems and air sampling systems to protect against smoke and toxicity.  

Available in diameters ranging from 20mm to 150mm, the safety polymer conduits are especially formulated to meet high fire safety requirements in surface and sub-surface applications. The rail link project used 90mm and 63mm safety conduits.  

Producing no corrosive or toxic flue gases in the event of a fire, Evcco safety conduits are designed for areas where there are high concentrations of people and assets or risk of high costs due to production interruption.  

Applications include advanced technology industrial plants, mining plants, rail and road tunnels, airports, subway systems, power plants, oil refineries, lifts, emergency plants, ships, aircraft, trains as well as computer and telecommunication installations.  

The safety conduits can also be used in hospitals, schools, hotels, museums, theatres, shopping centres and conference centres.  

Mr McNab says the new safety polymer conduits are designed to offer fire-retardant properties without degrading their functional performance including impact resistance.  

HFT conduits are complemented by a comprehensive range of fittings including junction boxes as well as inspection elbows and tees.  

Evcco halogen-free polymer conduits offered several advantages over metal conduits in the rail tunnel project. Taking factors such as limited access environments and restricted production schedules into consideration, the easy installation of Evcco’s safety conduits as well as simplified disassembly and recycling were distinct advantages.  

Properties of the new HFT conduit range include:

  • No fire transmission or fire propagation
  • Low smoke density and minimal formation of flue gases in the event of a fire
  • High temperature resistance
  • No toxins or corrosive gases
  • High flexibility for irregular contours
  • High impact properties
  • Easy installation
  • Excellent electrical and dielectrical properties
  • Available in sizes of 20mm-150mm

The Evcco range is manufactured to comply with AS/NZS 2053:2001, BS/EN 61386-21 and IEC 60423.