Mystery Ufer

[Coppersmith]

I'm working directly for the HO on a large addition. I just got the job so I really don't know what going on at the jobsite. The GC (who has his own electrician and is none to pleased that I'm doing the electrical work) sent the HO a text saying a Ufer was installed and the HO has to pay for it. I'm wondering why a Ufer would be needed for an addition. There is no detached part and both electrical panels (which are not in the addition) are existing with no change. Any ideas?

 

[PaulMmn]

Did the electrical inspector certify the ufer? And is there an obvious "ufer" connection to tie into the ground system?

 

[GoldDigger]

IMHO if the existing building did not require or have a CEE, the NEC or local code may still require that a CEE be connected if the new footings create one.
If not, it may still be desirable to create and connect a CEE.

 

[ptonsparky]

What is the charge for the Ufer? My budget conscious SIL who happens to be a GC, says they are insignificant.

 

[infinity]

I agree with Goldie no need to use the new footing. If there is an existing CEE then that requirement is already satisfied.

 

[Coppersmith]

What is the charge for the Ufer? My budget conscious SIL who happens to be a GC, says they are insignificant.

The text I saw did not specify an amount. The HO asked me what I thought it would be. I told him the ufer itself is just a turned up rebar end so not much, however if they CAD welded bare copper from there to someplace else, then it could get pricey.

 

[LarryFine]

Any ideas?

Sounds like the GC is screwing with you.

Even a sub-panel in an attached addition would not require any new electrodes.

 

[kwired]

What is the charge for the Ufer? My budget conscious SIL who happens to be a GC, says they are insignificant.

Correct, they are either putting rebar in the footing or they are not. Making it a CEE simply involves extending a conductor to the electrical equipment.

If they didn't intend to use (uncoated) steel reinforcement they don't have a CEE. NEC doesn't require you to install a CEE, but does require you to bond to one if it exists with exceptions for existing installations. You can intentionally create a CEE if the footing othewise wasn't going to qualify - but that is totally optional as written in NEC, maybe some places have different local rules.

 

[jaggedben]

Around here at least some cities require a ufer to be installed if there isn't one already and a certain amount of new footing is built. Just connect it to the existing service.