Vinyl was first used in electrical applications more than a half century ago as a replacement for rubber insulation. Today, vinyl commands nearly half of the market for electrical applications such as wire insulation and sheathing. That's because of vinyl's reliable durability and outstanding safety record.
Throughout the years, vinyl electrical products have repeatedly met or exceeded requirements set by the National Electrical Code, the three model building codes and Underwriters' Laboratories® for fire, physical and electrical performance. Vinyl offers a unique combination of properties that make it a material of choice in the electrical market, including:
- Superior fire performance. Vinyl electrical products play a key role in preventing fires from starting and in limiting the amount of damage a fire can do, once it starts. PVC burns very slowly, which prevents the fire from spreading and keeps smoke levels low.
- Easy, economical installation. Installing PVC electrical systems over metallic systems can mean a real cost savings to any project. A series of 1999 studies conducted by IFT, Inc./Fire Cause Analysis in four major geographical areas found that installation of PVC nonmetallic electrical tubing provides substantial savings in labor and installation costs over the comparable metallic electrical systems. The reports from the Boston, Los Angeles and St. Louis, Miss., areas show that vinyl tubing saves between 28 and 32 percent in labor and installation costs. In the Orlando, Fla., area savings range between 22 and 26 percent.
- Durability in all conditions. Vinyl is resistant to chemicals, corrosion, abrasion, UV degradation, extreme temperature, weather variations and general wear, keeping maintenance costs low.
- Versatility. Vinyl can be easily formulated to meet the requirements of nearly any application. It provides superior flexibility, colorability, formulation and design versatility, and good dielectric behavior.