Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-10-06 Origin: Site
Buyers sourcing electrical conduit from a Chinese manufacturer often run into three unfamiliar abbreviations on a quotation: KBG, JDG, and SC. These aren't brand names — they're standard Chinese conduit classifications, each built around a different wall thickness and connection method, and each suited to a different installation type. Confusing one for another is a common source of on-site compatibility problems, since their connection systems are not interchangeable. This guide explains what each type actually is and how it maps to the conduit terminology most overseas buyers already know.
Type | Wall Thickness | Connection Method | Closest International Equivalent | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
KBG | Thin-wall | Crimped/pressed friction fit, no threading | No direct equivalent | Concealed installation embedded in poured concrete |
JDG | Thin-wall | Set-screw / locknut, no threading | EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing) | Exposed/surface-mounted indoor wiring, easy disassembly |
SC | Thick-wall, welded steel pipe | Threaded (BSPT-style) | RMC / IMC (Rigid or Intermediate Metal Conduit) | Outdoor, heavy mechanical protection, hazardous or high-stress locations |
KBG , literally "crimped thin-wall conduit") uses a pressed, friction-fit connection system rather than threads or set screws. It's designed specifically for installation methods common in Chinese residential and commercial construction, where conduit is embedded directly into poured concrete slabs or walls before the structure is finished. Because the crimped joints aren't designed to be reopened, KBG isn't intended for exposed, serviceable wiring runs.
Important for overseas buyers: KBG has no widely recognized international equivalent, because concrete-embedded crimped conduit of this type isn't a common installation method outside China. Projects following US, European, or other non-Chinese electrical codes should generally specify JDG or SC instead, unless the installation is specifically designed around Chinese construction practices.
JDG, "set-and-lock steel conduit") is also thin-wall, but uses set-screw and locknut connections instead of crimping, which makes it serviceable and reusable — sections can be disassembled and reconnected without special tooling. This is the closest match to EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing), the thin-wall, non-threaded conduit standard most familiar to North American buyers, though the specific fitting dimensions and threading are not interchangeable between the two systems.
Where it's used: exposed or surface-mounted indoor conduit runs in commercial and industrial buildings, where ease of installation and future serviceability matter more than heavy mechanical protection.
SC , "welded steel pipe") is a thick-wall, fully threaded conduit system built for applications needing significant mechanical strength and protection — outdoor runs, underground installations, industrial sites, and locations with higher impact or corrosion risk. Its threaded joints and heavier wall put it in the same functional category as RMC (Rigid Metal Conduit) or IMC (Intermediate Metal Conduit) in international terminology, though — as with any threaded conduit standard comparison — the thread profile itself (Chinese GB/T thread vs. NPT) is not directly interchangeable with fittings sourced to a different national standard.
Where it's used: outdoor and underground electrical runs, industrial facilities, and any installation where the conduit itself needs to provide strong physical protection rather than just route cable.
Identify the installation method first. Concrete-embedded, exposed/surface-mounted, and outdoor/heavy-duty runs each point to a different type before cost or price per meter even enters the conversation.
Don't default to KBG for export projects unless the installation is specifically designed around Chinese concrete-embedding practice — JDG or SC are the safer default for most overseas job sites.
Confirm thread compatibility separately from wall thickness when specifying SC conduit, since matching fittings to a different national threading standard is a common and costly mistake.
Ask your supplier to map the specification to the equivalent standard you design to (EMT, IMC, RMC, or your local code) rather than ordering by the Chinese designation alone, to avoid a mismatch discovered only after the shipment arrives.
KBG, JDG, and SC aren't interchangeable conduit grades — they're built around three different installation methods, and getting the wrong one onto a job site creates a connection-method mismatch that's far more disruptive than a simple size error. Overseas buyers are best served by specifying the installation context (embedded, exposed, or heavy-duty outdoor) up front and asking the supplier to confirm which Chinese conduit type — and which equivalent international standard — actually matches that context, rather than ordering by abbreviation alone.
JDG and EMT serve a similar role — thin-wall, non-threaded conduit for exposed indoor wiring — but their fitting dimensions and connection hardware are not interchangeable between the two standards. A project designed to EMT specifications should use EMT-compatible fittings, not JDG hardware, even though the conduit types are functionally similar.
They're functionally comparable — both are thick-wall, threaded conduit for heavy-duty and outdoor applications — but the thread standard differs (Chinese GB/T thread vs. NPT for RMC), so fittings are not directly interchangeable. Confirm which thread standard your project's fittings and enclosures use before specifying SC as a substitute for RMC.
This usually happens when the supplier is quoting based on standard domestic product lines rather than the project's actual installation method. If the project isn't using Chinese-style concrete-embedded wiring, it's worth explicitly requesting JDG or SC and confirming the installation method with the supplier before finalizing the order.
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