Lively discussion in our office as to what constitutes a bend in a raceway/conduit. Some contend that only a factory or a field made bend utilizing appropriate benders are to be counted toward the 360 degree maximum. Others contend that there is no maximum radius example: multiple full sticks of PVC installed in a ditch that has a long sweeping radius, are to be considered as part of the 360 degrees.
What say the group?

I believe that Section 3XX.26 Bends - Number in One Run only applies to the bends identified in 3XX.24 Bends - How Made.

Long sweeping bends like that you describe would NOT need to be counted IF the AHJ determins the pulling tension of the conductors will not be affected by the natural or sweeping bend.

Long sweeping bends do affect pulling tension. Maybe there is a Carlon rep or one of the EMT guys who could put numbers to it.

Bryan, were you in the meeting where the Carlon rep was telling us about ENT and saying their tests indicated 720 degrees of bend would be OK

I have always hated the four 1/4 bend statement.
Yes, you can mitigate tension on say burial pipe like pvc and just warp it in place.
But the bottom line is a true bend will put more tension on pulling conductors. But so will just forcing the conduit if it will allow you to do so.
If the ditch is long enough depending on conduit size I could run it in a circle twice. So the end result would be 720 degrees of bend.

This is a good topic. I had a contractor argue once that there were no degrees of bend in his PVC as he curved it in a "U" around the outside of a swimming pool to end up at the equipment on the other side. I can find it hard to believe that this would not have a serious effect on the friction of the pull.
Something to consider is that all flexible conduits )Metal flex conduit, non-metal lt conduit, etc. All are constrained by the 360 Degree rule and none come with factory bends.
In the case of the pool, the wire was pulled and the contractor only exceeded 1360 by around 30 degrees and I let it go.
It seems this becomes a matter only the AHJ/inspector can answer for each case.

This is purely anecdotal but I ran about 60' of RNC when I built the pool. There are 2 factory 90s and quite a number of lazy curves to get around the pool and not encroach on the 5'. The pull was horrendous. I think every time it went back on itself (in an "S" way), it acted like a 90.

Straight means:

a : free from curves, bends, angles, or irregularities

b : generated by a point moving continuously in the same direction and expressed by a linear equation <a straight line> <the straight segment of a curve>

So if it's not that, then there is a bend.

I say a "bend" is any change in linear direction, and 3xx.26 states "no more than the equivalent of 4 quarter bends (360 degrees total)". http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bend

As we all know there are many variables here. THWN or any nylon coated conductor pulls or even pushes thru ENT (smurf-tube). I have always adhered to the 3-90's and a pullbox or to what seemed the equivalent. Distance is also a factor even for straight pulls. Conduit fill and insulation type. (This rule was probably written before THW or THWN) ...RNC and ENT are snaked in slabs and underground but pull well; then again RGC els are necessary with PVC on long underground pulls to prevent burning thru. Certainly licensed contractor's unlicensed employees always ream the conduit ends properly...