Hint: Rigid PVC conduit gone wrong.
I think one contributing factor for this rigid PVC conduit being snapped apart was the lack of an expansion fitting on this conduit run. Section 352.44 requires expansion fittings to be installed where the length change from thermal expansion and contraction is expected to be ¼-in. or more for straight conduit runs between securely mounted items such as boxes, luminaires, cabinets, elbows, and other conduit terminations. This run was more than 30 ft between boxes. With an expected temperature swing of at least 100°F for this Massachusetts location, a 30-ft run of rigid PVC conduit could experience a length change of more than 1-inch! That expansion/contraction can place tremendous tension on the conduit, the clips supporting the conduit, and any fittings attached to the conduit. Sometimes that tension will case the raceway to bend and other times the raceway may break. In this case the expansion and contraction caused the raceway to break. This installation needs to be done over and installed with an expansion fitting this time.
