A raceway is an enclosed channel of metal or nonmetallic materials designed expressly for holding wires, cables, or busbars. Raceways include conduit, wireways, ducting, and cable trays.

Raceways protect the wiring and provide the means of identifying one type of wiring when it is located next to another type.

Each type of raceway is suited to a particular purpose. There are different ways to install raceways, and this usually depends on the construction environment in which they are to be installed.

Raceways must be supported by securing them to the building structure with fasteners. So, it is important that every electrician be familiar with the various types of fasteners used to attach raceway supports to wood, concrete, and metal.

Every type of raceway is interconnected with a specifically designated series of boxes and fittings.

Boxes and fittings provide ease of raceway installation, and access points or outlets for circuit conductors. Boxes are used as convenient pull points in the raceway system when installing large conductors or a great number of conductors.

Note:
It is important to always match the box and fittings with the type of raceway being installed.

Terms Associated with Raceways and Fittings Click on each term to find out more:

Accessible
Able to be reached, as in for service or repair.

Approved
Meeting the requirements of an appropriate regulatory agency.

Bonding Wire
A wire used to make a continuous grounding path between equipment and ground.

Cable Trays
Rigid structures used to support electrical conductors.

Conduit
A round raceway, similar to a pipe, but one that houses conductors.

Exposed Locations
Not permanently closed in by the structure or finish of a building; able to be installed or removed without damage to the structure.

Kick
A bend in a piece of conduit, usually less than 45 degrees, made to change the direction of the conduit.

Raceways
Enclosed channels designed expressly for holding wires, cables, or busbars, with additional functions.

Splice
Intermediate point on a main circuit where another wire is connected to supply electrical current to another circuit.

Trough
A long, narrow box used to house electrical connections that could be exposed to the environment.

Wireways
Steel troughs designed to carry electrical wire and cable.