Click here to view the short film clip demonstrating conduit installation
( 615kb download).

Installing conduit is an excellent way of protecting and routing cabling, whether in a building or between buildings. It can ease future network expansion by making future wire-pulling substantially simpler, and can provide a route for additional services throughout a building, such as telephone or cable.

Depending upon the structure, conduit may be installed in a basement, ceiling, or on the building exterior. The photograph below shows an example conduit installation in the basement of an existing building. This example shows a "high bandwidth" conduit installation with three runs of very large conduit in a building where many runs of fibre and ethernet are being installed.

For the network situation shown below, conduit is used in the basement as the universal method for distributing cable in this building. The photos below show the conduit being used for both fibreoptic and ethernet cables. In this case, these are kept separate, although this is not a requirement of either technology.

Left above: Ethernet cable run in conduit.
Right above: Multiple fibre runs in conduit.
Below: Multiple conduit runs in building basement.

In any of these locations, conduit must be securely fastened and adequately sealed to protect the network infrastructure. Always, when installing conduit, think of future needs. In the future, there may be a need to pull through additional or upgraded services. Because of this, it makes sense to create, as part of your conduit, a 'permanent' "pull through" such as a rope or cable which stays in the conduit for future use.

To install conduit, follow these basic steps, no matter where it is to be installed:

• Measure the required length of conduit: As with CAT5 cable, be sure to include any up or down lengths as well as the cross lengths. For measuring length of proposed conduit runs outdoors, a pedometer is a useful tool.

• Choose an appropriate conduit width: Because cabling is becoming increasingly smaller, with increased capability of information transfer, the need to install huge conduit is becoming less frequent. For most rural and remote installations to small communities, 1 1/4" O.D. conduit may be appropriate. This size would fit in numerous fibre optic, ethernet, or cable runs. This also comes on a role, is therefore is convenient to use, and is flexible enough to go around corners well, without exceeding the bend radius of most data carrying mediums.
  
  
• Carefully measure the conduit itself: Measure three times, cut once. Using a chop saw or a handsaw, carefully cut the conduit once you're SURE that the length measured is correct.

• Install conduit: Many different types of brackets are available for conduit installation, however simple steel strapping used for plumbing applications is generally readily available, and works very well for conduit installation. Simply wrap the plumbing strap around the conduit, and screw through the holes in the steel plumbing strapping to secure the conduit to wall studs, floor joists, or other secure building features. On the outside of buildings, conduit can be attached using strapping fastened directly to the building exterior.
  

• Leave a rope or "pull through"in the conduit: Once the conduit has been installed and used, be sure to leave a rope or other pull-through in the conduit itself, for future pull throughs. It is a good idea to drill a hole on either end of the conduit, and use this hole to tie the pull through securely. This way, it will be there ready for the next time it's required. This will save the effort of finding and using a fish tape or fish poles on future cable running exercises.
  
  
• Using the conduit: Always FIRMLY attach the cable to the pull-through, then wrap it with several layers of tape. Make sure that this connection is both strong and smooth, so that it will not come off, and will not get caught anywhere within the conduit.
  
  
  • Push and pull: Have one person pushing cable through from one end while another person pulls cable through from the other.

     
  
  

  • Free the cable feed to roll easily: Ensure that the roll of cable can freely spin to make pulling it through easier.

  
  

  • Don't cut until there is PLENTY extra: When cable is pulled through, ensure that PLENTY of slack is left BEFORE CUTTING the cable off.