I did a job today and somebody had run PVC on the outside of a home so I replaced it with emt. As far as I know PVC is subject to machanical damage and not legal run along outside walls. I couldn't find it in the code book.

Article 347 1999 NEC (Art 352, 2002 NEC). Generally speaking, schedule 40 PVC conduit is acceptable outdoors where not subject to physical damage. "Subject to physical damage" is a judgment call. However, schedule 80 PVC is acceptable where subject to physical damage. What did you remove?
BTW,
EMT is not allowed where subject to "severe" physical damage.
My guess is that "severe" alludes to vehicular damage, or industrial environments. [This message has been edited by Redsy (edited 10-10-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Redsy (edited 10-10-2001).]

It was schedule 40 I removed and replaced it with emt, on the back patio of a home, not subject to severe damage, but still needed mechanical protection. PVC also becomes brittle from sun exposure - especially here in Arizona.
Thanks for reply..

Al,

To furthur elaborate on Redsy's answer, If you look at Art 347 ('99NEC)(Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit) it starts off (347-1) with a description and characteristics of the conduit and then follows in 347-2 and 347-3 with the uses permitted and not permitted. This same information is in the NEC for each type of conduit, raceway, etc. (348 is for Emt)

As far as what best to use, that would depend on the situation. I'll bet in Arizona you can get some pretty nasty looking pvc sags! Joe T. had a great picture of that somewhere.

Take care,
Bill