Underground Electrical Conduit Depth

Conduits for underground electrical wiring pvc and rigid conduits are typically used when installing underground electrical wiring.

Underground electrical conduit depth.

The raceways shall be covered by a minimum of 50 mm 2 in of concrete extending down to rock. At 24 inches you can bury underground feeder cable using pvc conduit to 18 inches below ground only where the wire comes up. Emt and imc conduits should not be used for underground electrical wiring installations. The national electric code nec sets the required burial depth of electric wire in rigid non metallic conduit such as pvc at 18 inches.

Buried wiring runs that transition from underground to above ground must be protected in conduit from the required cover depth or 18 inches whichever is less to its termination point above ground or at least 8 feet above grade. Backfill surrounding conduit or cables must be smooth granular material without rocks. The depth for underground conduit is typically 18 inches depending on the specific installation and project type. In general bury metal conduits at least 6 inches below the soil surface.

You may also run them at a depth of 4 inches under a 4 inch concrete slab. Running underground cables in metal conduits approved for buried cables is the most expensive method but also the one requiring the least digging. Cable in any conduit including pvc that is buried at this depth is not in danger of being severed or disturbed by normal digging. Low voltage wiring carrying no more than 30 volts must be buried at least 6 inches deep.