Open Letter: Specifying Electrical Conduit for Critical Facilities

June 5, 2026

Dear Industry Professionals,

When specifying electrical conduit for critical facilities, such as hospitals and data centers, the finish on your raceway system is just as crucial as its structural integrity. Many non-domestic steel products use electroplated zinc coatings that harbor a hidden, expensive liability: zinc whiskers. These microscopic, electrically conductive metallic filaments grow spontaneously under high internal stress. If you rely on non-domestic materials with these unstable finishes, you risk introducing dangerous contaminants into environments where uninterrupted performance is mandatory.

Once these tiny zinc whiskers detach, they travel easily through air return paths and HVAC systems straight into sensitive electronics. The resulting damage is severe and notoriously difficult to diagnose. Airborne whiskers bridge conductive paths inside medical diagnostic equipment, UPS systems, and IT servers, triggering sudden electrical shorts, intermittent faults, and complete system failures. Facilities have experienced inexplicable machinery downtime and costly operational resets simply because the non-domestic conduit systems quietly shed conductive debris into the environment.

You can eliminate this risk entirely by specifying reliable domestic materials. Wheatland Tube manufactures Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) using a proven in-line galvanizing process, pouring molten zinc evenly over the steel and sealing it with a protective clear coat. This domestic manufacturing method prevents the high internal stress that causes zinc whiskers, keeping your sensitive electronic environments safe, clean, and fully operational. When facility uptime is on the line, the origin and quality of your conduit matter. Demand Domestic, Demand Wheatland Tube.

Sincerely,