According to the American Steel Conduit Institute (http://www.steelconduit.org), G.I electrical conduit has 5 outstanding advantages over the commonly used PVC electrical conduit in Vietnam, as follows:
- G.I electrical steel conduits provide better impact resistance and cable protection, with a fivefold higher resistance to electrical sparks compared to PVC electrical conduits.
- G.I electrical steel conduits can withstand temperatures of up to 1093°C for 4 hours according to testing by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL), thus preventing fire propagation and the generation of high-temperature fires and toxic smoke, which are common issues with PVC electrical conduits. High temperatures and toxic smoke are the two main factors causing the most casualties in current apartment building fires in Vietnam.
- The lifespan of G.I electrical steel conduits can extend up to 50 years, while PVC electrical conduits typically last around 10 years.
- G.I electrical steel conduits offer up to 95% protection and restriction of electrical interference, surpassing the performance of PVC electrical conduits.
- G.I electrical steel conduits are made of steel, which is a recyclable material, meeting the requirements of green building standards such as LEED and ESG.
In Vietnam, Property Owners and Design Consultants often choose to install G.I electrical conduits in areas that require high fire and explosion safety standards, such as basement levels of buildings. These areas pose a high risk of fire and explosion due to the presence of a large number of cars and motorcycles. These vehicles typically carry a significant amount of gasoline and oil in their tanks, which can easily catch fire in case of accidents or high electrical risks.
Following several fire incidents that caused significant damage to both human lives and property, and with the aim of aligning safety standards with those of developed countries, on June 30, 2023, Mr. Nguyen Van Sinh, Deputy Minister of Construction, issued Circular 04/2023/TT-BXD on "Issuance of National Technical Standards for Construction Products, Goods, and Materials." This circular provides detailed guidance for QCVN 16:2023/BXD, the National Technical Standard on installation criteria for construction projects, which will take effect from January 1, 2024.
QCVN 16:2023/BXD brings significant changes to technical specifications, requiring construction products, goods, and materials to adhere to global safety trends and standards. Specifically, starting from January 1, 2024, products such as electrical conduits and accessories, as well as cable trays and cable ladders, must meet fire resistance standards with a requirement level of TCVN 7417-2010 (IEC 61386-1-2008) following the testing method TCVN 9900-2-11:2013 (IEC 60695-2-11:2000), TCVN 9900-2-11:2013 (IEC 60695-11-2:2013).
The changes to the National Technical Regulation QCVN 16:2023/BXD regarding technical specifications for electrical conduits & accessories and cable trays installed for projects will be effective from January 1, 2024.
These are prerequisite conditions for obtaining a Fire Protection and Prevention Certification (PCCC) and obtaining completion approval for projects, as construction products and materials must fully comply with the National Technical Regulation QCVN 16:2023/BXD. We kindly request our valued Customers / Contractors / Design Consultants to update themselves with the changes in QCVN 16:2023/BXD.
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