Grounding the Electrical System Reference AAVIM Electrical Wiring

Grounding the Electrical System Reference: AAVIM “Electrical Wiring” Created May 2007

Purpose of the Grounding System • Fundamental to the safety of those installing, using, and servicing the electrical system • Assures the system will work properly while preventing damage to the system

NEC Requirements • All electrical systems serving structure must be bonded together • Including the following – Electrical wiring system – Telephone system – Phone system – Burgular alarm system – Cable or satellite system

Grounding • The process of making a planned, continuous, connection between NONCURRENT CARRYING parts of the electrical wiring installation and the earth and some other conducting body

Grounded • Describes the act of being connected to the earth or some other conduction body that serves in place of the earth

Bonding • Process in which all NON-CURRENT CARRYING METALLIC parts of the electrical wiring system are permanently joined together to form a CONTINUOUS grounding path

Bonding • Reduces the differences in potential between each electrical system • May be caused by power surges, lightning strikes or other types of ground fault type occurences

Parts of the Electrical System • Circuits • Service Entrance Panel • Metal Water Pipe • Metal Gas pipe

Materials in Grounding System • Must be approved by NEC

The Grounding Electrode System • All materials must be grounded using approved bonding and grounding electrode systems • Check with local building code

Metallic Pipe • Water pipe must always be bonded to the service entrance panel, grounding electrode conductor, or grounding electrode • Other metal pipe, such as gas pipe, which may become energized accidentally must be bonded to the electrical system grounded system

Use of Bonding Jumper • To provide CONTINUOUS grounding path around devices such as water meters installed in metallic water pipe system

Types of Grounding Electrodes

Metal Underground Water Pipe • Must be bonded to the supplemental grounding system electrode and to the neutral bus bar in the SEP • Connection must be made within 5 feet of entering structure • Water pipe must be in direct contact with the earth for at least 10 feet

Concrete Encased Electrode • Electrode encased in foundation footing covered with at least 2 inches of concrete • Electrodes must be at least 20 feet in length and consist of one or more ½” steel reinforcement bars

Ground Ring • Bare Copper • At Least #2 AWG or larger • Encircling residence for a length of 20 feet • Buried at least 2 ½”

Metal Framework

Supplemental Electrodes • Typically made of metal rods, pipes, or plates

Rod and Pipe Electrodes • Iron or steel rod electrodes • Must be 5/8” in diameter • Pipe must be ¾” in diameter • Galvanized or metal coated for corrosion resistance • 8 feet in length • Installed to a depth of 8” in direct contact with earth

• Nonferrous rods must be listed at no less than ½” • Stainless Steel- ½” diamter • Must be at or below ground level • Must be protected from physical damage

Exceptions • If electrode can not be driven more than 4” into the earth b/c of rock or other obstruction • May be driven at an oblique and of no more than 45° from vertical • At least 8” of the electrode must be in contact with earth

Multiple grounding rods • When more than one electrode grounding rod is used: – Must be installed not less than 6 feet apart – Must be bonded together with an approved bonding jumper to form single grounding electrode system

Plate Electrode • May be used in areas where it is not possible to use a grounding rod or ring • Steel/Iron Plate electrode must be ¼” thick • Non-ferrous metal plate must be 0. 06” thick • 2 feet square • Buried at least 2 1/2’

Grounding Electrode Conductor • NEC permits – Copper – Aluminium – Copper-clad AL and AL-CU may not be used in contact with masonry, corrosive, or in direct contact with the earth