What would you do...

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Alwayslearningelec

Senior Member
Location
NJ
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Estimator
While bidding there is a note

"A green ground conductor should be run with all branch circuit and feeders" Would you RFI? Most time the conduit is the ground.
 
J

jim dungar

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Wisconsin
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PE (Retired) - Power Systems
horsegoer said:
While bidding there is a note

"A green ground conductor should be run with all branch circuit and feeders" Would you RFI? Most time the conduit is the ground.
Click to expand...

Bid it as it is specified.
In this part of the country, conduit is rarely 'the ground'.
 
Little Bill

Little Bill

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Tennessee NEC:2017
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Semi-Retired Electrician
horsegoer said:
While bidding there is a note

"A green ground conductor should be run with all branch circuit and feeders" Would you RFI? Most time the conduit is the ground.
Click to expand...

Had they just said "ground" conductor, you might ask if the conduit may be used if suitable. But since they specifically said "green ground conductor", that is what they want and should be bid as such.
 
C

cdslotz

Senior Member
horsegoer said:
While bidding there is a note

"A green ground conductor should be run with all branch circuit and feeders" Would you RFI? Most time the conduit is the ground.
Click to expand...

Why would you question/RFI something so written in stone?
The Engineer would just get pissed for wasting his time.
 
renosteinke

renosteinke

Senior Member
Location
NE Arkansas
Hmm ... I bet today's customer had that spec.

I opened a very crowded box, to reveal five circuits, each with it's very one, unspliced ground wire. 15 wires, one crowded pipe.
 
C

cdslotz

Senior Member
horsegoer said:
For verification. Sometimes notes get carried from previous jobs and don't apply to the job your currently bidding.
Click to expand...

To verify what? That the engineer must not mean what the note says?
How can it NOT apply to that job? It has conduit and wire right?
Notes that don't apply are notes like "all unit heaters shall have a fusible switch" when there are no unit heaters.

Go ahead and RFI. Let us know how he responds.

Haha!!
 
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Alwayslearningelec

Senior Member
Location
NJ
Occupation
Estimator
​
cdslotz said:
To verify what? That the engineer must not mean what the note says?
How can it NOT apply to that job? It has conduit and wire right?
Notes that don't apply are notes like "all unit heaters shall have a fusible switch" when there are no unit heaters.

Go ahead and RFI. Let us know how he responds.

Haha!!
Click to expand...

It could be a "boiler plate" note... Ok how often is a separate ground wire run for all branch circuits? I am guessing a lot less than when using conduit instead of a separate ground. That's enough reason for me to RFI it. I have seen many times where the engineer puts a note on the drawing but then comes with an RFI response that modifys the requirement or note. I not bidding.. I just saw the note on a drawing and the first things I said to myself was " is that an unusual requirement for a project"

HA HA
 
G

Greg1707

Senior Member
Location
Alexandria, VA
Occupation
Business owner Electrical contractor
Should?

Should?

"Should" is not a very commanding word. Required or must would convey a stronger meaning. Does the NEC use "should" anywhere?
 
H

hillbilly1

Senior Member
Location
North Georgia mountains
Occupation
Owner/electrical contractor
jim dungar said:
Bid it as it is specified.
In this part of the country, conduit is rarely 'the ground'.
Click to expand...

The same way in this part of the country too, I've not been on a new job where the conduit has been used as a ground in at least 20 years. Try to get away with that wiring a Wally World, they actually pull on the wires at the panel to make sure your not faking it. (Many years ago one of our foremen got busted on a remodel/takeover where the existing wiring was using the conduit as the ground, he shoved a couple of feet of green wire up the pipe)
 
Fulthrotl

Fulthrotl

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HB, CA (19 Hrs. 22 Min. from Winged Horses)
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horsegoer said:
While bidding there is a note

"A green ground conductor should be run with all branch circuit and feeders" Would you RFI? Most time the conduit is the ground.
Click to expand...

the word normally used is "shall". i would just bid with a ground wire. he told you what he wanted. a ground wire.

most of the time, the conduit is not used as ground anymore. it can be but is not customary to do so... not around here,
anyway.
 
C

cdslotz

Senior Member
It could be a "boiler plate" note... Ok how often is a separate ground wire run for all branch circuits?
Click to expand...

Oh probably every job I bid in the last 20 years or so.

Boiler plate notes and specs are boiler plate for a reason.
SO THE ENGINEER DOESN'T HAVE TO RE-WRITE WHAT HE REQUIRES ON EVERY JOB!!!!

You know, you're thread title is "What would you do"?

Well...we told you

Good luck
 
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