What is racewayin construction?

Every conduit is a raceway, but not every raceway is conduit. Raceway is the NEC umbrella term for enclosed wiring channels, and the family includes EMT, RMC, IMC, and PVC conduit alongside surface raceway, wireway, and underfloor systems. When a spec says raceway, the contractor selects from the approved types; when it names a specific conduit type, that type governs. Estimators should split the takeoff by system, not lump it.

No. The NEC classifies cable tray as a support system for cables, not a raceway, because the tray is open and the cables are laid in rather than pulled through an enclosed channel. The distinction matters for which cable types are permitted in the tray. In estimating practice, though, tray usually rides in the same Division 26 scope package as the raceway systems and gets taken off in lf the same way.

Mostly in renovations and finished spaces where walls cannot be opened or fished: masonry classrooms, historic buildings, occupied offices. Surface raceway is a two-piece channel mounted on the wall face, often with separate compartments for power and data, with device boxes built into the system. It costs more per foot than concealed EMT and the device fittings drive the price, but it avoids demolition and patching entirely.