What to do in the event of plastic water pipe

[rsvetti]

So I've been wrangled into helping my uncle (abroad) after a mad hack of an electrician botched the job and walked out... Sadly, I am without my NEC.

I am unclear as to what to what I should use for a Secondary Grounding Electrode
(His water main is made of plastic and there is one ground rod in place).

Does this situation require a second Grounding Electrode such as a second rod?

 

[kwired]

If resistance of the single rod is more than 25 ohms then you are required to install another rod. No additional rods are required by NEC even if two of them is not 25 ohms or less.

I'm pretty sure there was changes to this in 2011 NEC, requiring 2 rods in most cases, I am not familiar with 2011 yet, will start to be enforced here around the end of this month though so I probably should start finding all the changes.

 

[jumper]

If resistance of the single rod is more than 25 ohms then you are required to install another rod. No additional rods are required by NEC even if two of them is not 25 ohms or less.

I'm pretty sure there was changes to this in 2011 NEC, requiring 2 rods in most cases, I am not familiar with 2011 yet, will start to be enforced here around the end of this month though so I probably should start finding all the changes.

Here is 2011:

250.53(A)(2) Supplemental Electrode Required. A single rod, pipe,
or plate electrode shall be supplemented by an additional
electrode of a type specified in 250.52(A)(2) through
(A)(8). The supplemental electrode shall be permitted to be
bonded to one of the following:
(1) Rod, pipe, or plate electrode
(2) Grounding electrode conductor
(3) Grounded service-entrance conductor
(4) Nonflexible grounded service raceway
(5) Any grounded service enclosure

Exception: If a single rod, pipe, or plate grounding electrode
has a resistance to earth of 25 ohms or less, the
supplemental electrode shall not be required.

 

[kwired]

Here is 2011:

250.53(A)(2) Supplemental Electrode Required. A single rod, pipe,
or plate electrode shall be supplemented by an additional
electrode of a type specified in 250.52(A)(2) through
(A)(8). The supplemental electrode shall be permitted to be
bonded to one of the following:
(1) Rod, pipe, or plate electrode
(2) Grounding electrode conductor
(3) Grounded service-entrance conductor
(4) Nonflexible grounded service raceway
(5) Any grounded service enclosure

Exception: If a single rod, pipe, or plate grounding electrode
has a resistance to earth of 25 ohms or less, the
supplemental electrode shall not be required.

Looks to me like things have been reworded and possibly moved to different sections but the requirements are about the same. Even the exception is same as requirements before just a different way of saying it.

 

[jumper]

Looks to me like things have been reworded and possibly moved to different sections but the requirements are about the same. Even the exception is same as requirements before just a different way of saying it.

Yep, I agree. I just posted it so you could see that your answer was still correct for 2011.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

So I've been wrangled into helping my uncle (abroad) after a mad hack of an electrician botched the job and walked out... Sadly, I am without my NEC.

I am unclear as to what to what I should use for a Secondary Grounding Electrode
(His water main is made of plastic and there is one ground rod in place).

Does this situation require a second Grounding Electrode such as a second rod?

Unless you are messing with the service I would leave the one rod. It won't hurt to add another but it probably won't do much good.

 

[Eagle126]

So i am assuming that in all cases the electrical inspecter would like to see 2 ground rods, and would then ask to see documentation of the 25 ohms or less if you as the electrician just installed one.

 

[jumper]

So i am assuming that in all cases the electrical inspecter would like to see 2 ground rods, and would then ask to see documentation of the 25 ohms or less if you as the electrician just installed one.

That pretty much sums it up. Put in 2 rods and call it a day.

 

[John120/240]

and would then ask to see documentation of the 25 ohms or less if you as the electrician just installed one.

Documentation........what's that ? Have never had a inspector ask for any type

of testing document. Like jumper said just put 2 rods in the ground & go have

a cold one. Remember Stroh's

 

[ike5547]

So I've been wrangled into helping my uncle (abroad) ... Sadly, I am without my NEC.

"Abroad" as in some other country?

Maybe the NEC isn't what you need.

 

[John120/240]

"Abroad" as in some other country?

Maybe the NEC isn't what you need.

Maybe the NEC isn't what he needs. But electricity still behaves the same

whether in the northern or southern hemisphere. The NEC is a document

whose emphasis is on safety. He can apply the NEC praticies and be safe.

 

[Smart $]

... & go have

a cold one. Remember Stroh's

Sure do. It used to be one of, if not the most popular beer in my locale. My uncle owned a tavern which sold more Stroh's than all other beers combined. I didn't drink it myself, but I still have a framed, mirrored, gold-, black-, red-painted sign that says "We proudly serve Stroh's to our OHIO Friends".