✓ Full Trade Sizes: 1/2″ to 4″ (10 ft / 3.05m Standard Length)
✓ Low-Friction Internal Coating: Easy wire pulling without snagging
✓ Direct US Port Delivery: Long Beach, Houston, New York, Savannah, Miami
1. Overview: Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) for North American & Global Projects
Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT), commonly known as thin-wall conduit, is an unthreaded steel raceway of circular cross-section designed for the physical protection and routing of electrical conductors and cables. Manufactured in compliance with UL 797 (Underwriters Laboratories Standard for Safety) and ANSI C80.3 (American National Standard for Steel Electrical Metallic Tubing), Sino East Steel’s EMT conduits provide uncompromised mechanical protection, electrical grounding continuity, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding for commercial, industrial, and institutional electrical systems.
Under NEC Article 358 (National Electrical Code), UL listed steel EMT is approved for exposed, concealed, and dry indoor locations, as well as outdoor and wet locations when installed with approved rain-tight compression fittings. Sino East Steel produces trade sizes from 1/2″ (16mm) through 4″ (103mm) on automated, high-precision ERW mill lines in Tianjin, China, supplying electrical distributors, master wholesalers, EPC contractors, and OEM prefabricators across the United States, Canada, the Middle East, and Latin America.
2. Complete Trade Size Dimensions, Weights & Bundle Specifications
All Sino East Steel EMT conduits are produced in standard 10-foot (3.05 m) lengths with a manufacturing tolerance of ± 1/4 inch (± 6.35 mm). Each conduit is straight, circular, and free of defects with smooth, burr-free ends.
| Trade Size (in) | Metric Designator | Outside Diameter (in / mm) | Nominal Wall Thickness (in / mm) | Nominal Weight (lbs/100ft | kg/100m) | Sub-Bundle (ft / pcs) | Master Bundle (ft / pcs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2″ | 16 | 0.706 in (17.93 mm) | 0.042 in (1.07 mm) | 30.0 lbs (44.6 kg) | 100 ft (10 pcs) | 7,000 ft (700 pcs) |
| 3/4″ | 21 | 0.922 in (23.42 mm) | 0.049 in (1.25 mm) | 46.0 lbs (68.5 kg) | 100 ft (10 pcs) | 5,000 ft (500 pcs) |
| 1″ | 27 | 1.163 in (29.54 mm) | 0.057 in (1.45 mm) | 67.0 lbs (99.7 kg) | 50 ft (5 pcs) | 3,500 ft (350 pcs) |
| 1-1/4″ | 35 | 1.510 in (38.35 mm) | 0.065 in (1.65 mm) | 101.0 lbs (150.3 kg) | 50 ft (5 pcs) | 2,500 ft (250 pcs) |
| 1-1/2″ | 41 | 1.740 in (44.20 mm) | 0.065 in (1.65 mm) | 116.0 lbs (172.6 kg) | 50 ft (5 pcs) | 2,000 ft (200 pcs) |
| 2″ | 53 | 2.197 in (55.80 mm) | 0.065 in (1.65 mm) | 148.0 lbs (220.2 kg) | 30 ft (3 pcs) | 1,500 ft (150 pcs) |
| 2-1/2″ | 63 | 2.875 in (73.03 mm) | 0.072 in (1.83 mm) | 216.0 lbs (321.4 kg) | Bulk (No Sub) | 1,200 ft (120 pcs) |
| 3″ | 78 | 3.500 in (88.90 mm) | 0.072 in (1.83 mm) | 263.0 lbs (391.4 kg) | Bulk (No Sub) | 900 ft (90 pcs) |
| 3-1/2″ | 91 | 4.000 in (101.60 mm) | 0.083 in (2.11 mm) | 349.0 lbs (519.4 kg) | Bulk (No Sub) | 800 ft (80 pcs) |
| 4″ | 103 | 4.500 in (114.30 mm) | 0.083 in (2.11 mm) | 393.0 lbs (584.8 kg) | Bulk (No Sub) | 700 ft (70 pcs) |
3. Corrosion Protection & Internal Wire-Pulling Technology
Sino East Steel utilizes a specialized inline multi-stage coating process designed specifically for high-speed field installation and long-term durability:
- Exterior Protection (Hot-Dip / In-Line Galvanizing): High-purity zinc is applied continuously to the exterior surface, followed by a clear organic polymer topcoat that prevents white rust (zinc oxide) formation during ocean transit and jobsite storage. Passed 480+ hours in ASTM B117 salt spray testing with zero red rust.
- Internal Slick-Coat (Low-Friction Raceway): The interior raceway is treated with a baked-on, low-friction organic polymer lubricant. This reduces pulling tension by up to 50% compared to unlined steel pipe, preventing cable jacket abrasion during long wire pulls through multiple 90-degree bends.
- Inside Weld Flash Removal (Deflashing): The high-frequency ERW weld bead on the internal wall is 100% planished and smoothed flat, eliminating sharp ridges that could cut conductor insulation.
4. UL 797 & ANSI C80.3 Quality Control & Factory Testing
Every production batch undergoes strict quality assurance protocols at our ISO 9001:2015 certified testing laboratory:
- Ductility & 90-Degree Bending Test: Conduits are bent cold through 90 degrees around a standardized mandrel without showing cracks on the inner or outer radius, and with zero peeling or flaking of the protective zinc coating (per UL 797 Section 6).
- Flattening Test: Samples are flattened between parallel plates to 1/3 of the original outside diameter without cracking along the ERW weld line.
- Zinc Coating Weight & Preece Test: Verified by copper sulfate dip testing (ASTM A239) and magnetic thickness measurement to guarantee uniform coating distribution.
- Electrical Continuity Test: Low resistance ensures that the installed EMT conduit system serves as an effective equipment grounding conductor (EGC) in accordance with NEC Article 250.118(4).
5. Export Master Bundling & 20GP/40HQ Container Load Optimization
Shipping steel tubing across oceans requires robust, damage-resistant packaging. Sino East Steel packages EMT conduits into strict American-standard bundles:
- Sub-Bundles: Smaller sizes (1/2″ to 2″) are pre-bundled in 100ft, 50ft, or 30ft sub-bundles secured with color-coded strapping tape for quick jobsite retail handling.
- Hexagonal Master Bundles: Sub-bundles are nested into rigid hexagonal master packs bound with high-tensile steel straps (minimum 5 straps per 10ft bundle) with protective wooden bottom skids and integrated heavy-duty steel wire lifting slings for fast forklift or crane unloading.
- 20GP Container Loading: A standard 20ft container accommodates approximately 25 to 27 metric tons (55,000 to 59,500 lbs) of mixed-size EMT conduit, equivalent to approximately 45,000 to 55,000 linear feet.
6. Complete EMT Fittings & Accessories (Consolidated Container Shipments)
To optimize ocean freight costs, Sino East Steel supplies complete container consolidation with all required UL listed EMT fittings and accessories:
- EMT Couplings & Connectors: Set-screw and compression types in Zinc Die-Cast and Malleable Iron / Steel (insulated throat and non-insulated).
- 90-Degree EMT Elbows: Standard and large-radius factory-bent elbows in trade sizes 1/2″ to 4″.
- Conduit Straps & Clamps: One-hole and two-hole zinc-plated steel conduit straps.
- Conduit Bodies & Junction Boxes: LB, LL, LR, C, T styles in die-cast aluminum and malleable iron.
7. Why Choose Sino East Steel for US & Global Electrical Distribution
- Verified UL Listed Manufacturer: Fully traceable UL certification file number and mill test certificates (MTC per EN 10204 3.1) provided with every bill of lading.
- Mill-Direct Competitive Pricing: Direct export pricing with FOB Tianjin port or CIF delivery to all major US East Coast, West Coast, and Gulf Coast ports.
- Sample Box & Custom Stenciling: Free conduit sample boxes available for distributor engineering evaluation. Inkjet surface stenciling customized with your trade brand, UL file mark, and product specification per NEC standards.
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – UL 797 EMT Conduit
Q1: Are Sino East Steel EMT conduits UL listed and approved for US building codes?
Yes. Our Electrical Metallic Tubing is manufactured and tested in strict accordance with UL 797 (Standard for Electrical Metallic Tubing – Steel) and ANSI C80.3. It fully satisfies the requirements of the National Electrical Code (NEC Article 358) and Canadian Electrical Code (CSA C22.2 No. 83.1) for all commercial, industrial, and residential applications.
Q2: What is the difference between EMT, IMC, and RMC (Rigid) conduit?
EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing) has the thinnest wall and is unthreaded, making it lightweight, easy to bend on-site with manual hand benders, and highly cost-effective for general raceways. IMC (Intermediate Metal Conduit) has a heavier wall and threaded ends for higher impact resistance. RMC (Rigid Metal Conduit) has the thickest wall and full NPT threads, designed for heavy industrial and hazardous explosive environments.
Q3: How does the internal slick-coat facilitate cable pulling?
Our EMT conduit interior is treated with a specialized low-friction organic polymer coating. Combined with 100% inside-weld deflashing, this smooth coating reduces pulling drag by up to 50%, allowing electricians to pull longer cable runs with fewer pull boxes and zero risk of tearing delicate wire insulation.
Q4: What trade sizes and lengths do you supply?
We supply all 10 American standard trade sizes: 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″, 1-1/4″, 1-1/2″, 2″, 2-1/2″, 3″, 3-1/2″, and 4″. Standard length is 10 feet (3.05 m) ± 1/4 inch. Custom 3.0m or 6.0m lengths are also manufactured upon request for specific export markets.
Q5: Can I order a mixed container of different trade sizes and fittings?
Yes. Over 80% of our international shipments are mixed containers tailored to distributor inventory turns. We can consolidate fast-moving 1/2″ and 3/4″ EMT together with larger trade sizes, elbows, set-screw couplings, and box connectors in a single 20GP or 40HQ container with organized master bundle labeling.
Q6: What is the typical ocean shipping transit time to major US ports?
Shipments depart weekly from Tianjin Xingang port. Typical ocean transit times are 14-18 days to US West Coast ports (Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland), 28-35 days to US Gulf Coast ports (Houston, New Orleans), and 30-38 days to US East Coast ports (Savannah, New York, Norfolk, Miami).
Q7: Do you provide mill test reports (MTC) and third-party inspection?
Yes. Every shipment is accompanied by a certified Mill Test Certificate (EN 10204 3.1) stating chemical composition, tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, zinc coating weight, and flattening/bending test results. We also welcome independent pre-shipment inspections by SGS, Bureau Veritas (BV), or Intertek.
Q8: How can US electrical wholesalers request physical sample tubes?
Simply contact our export desk via WhatsApp (+86 186 2208 8833) or our online RFQ form. We ship 12-inch cut sample sections of various trade sizes via DHL/FedEx for physical wall thickness, bending, and galvanizing quality inspection.
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