Code Change Summary: New code section regarding the suitability of Rigid Metal Conduit exposed to severe physical damage.

Section 344.10 in the article for Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC) provides the uses permitted for RMC and has specific protection requirements for the raceway depending on where exactly it is installed. RMC is an extremely thick and robust threaded metal raceway which makes it an excellent choice when protection is needed from damage that could possibly occur.

There are several NEC^® Chapter 3 raceways that are permitted to be used where subject to “physical damage” but not permitted where subject to “severe physical damage”.

The NEC^® does not define the terms but leaves it up to the authority having jurisdiction to determine what is considered “physical damage” or “severe physical damage”.

Until now, there has never been anything specifically in Article 344 permitting RMC to be used where protection from “severe physical damage” was required, yet several other code articles besides Article 344 permit RMC as a solution where “physical damage” may occur.

In the 2020 NEC^®, a new section 344.10(E) was added to allow RMC to be used for protection from “severe physical damage” which is far worse than just “physical damage”. The same change occurred in Section 342.10(E) for intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC).

Below is a preview of the NEC^®. See the actual NEC^® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2020 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.