In a new fluorescent lighting installation in an industrial environement, rigid conduit was installed. The 4' light fixtures are non metalic. Section 300.10 talks about the conduit being metallically joined together for a continuous electrical path. The conduit is separated by the light fixture from one end to the other and there is no bonding between the conduits across the non metalic light fixtures. However, the electrician bonded the conduit to the building steel. This seems like a high impedance path to ground and may not safely conduct any fault current to the overcurrent device. The electrical inspector says this installation is ok. I don't think it meets code. What say you?
Continuity of Metal Raceway
- Thread starter rbeard
- Start date
- Status
A/A Fuel GTX
Senior Member
- Location
- WI & AZ
- Occupation
- Electrician
Sounds like bond bushings on each connector and a jumper would have been the ticket.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
art. 250.132 talks about short sections of pipe
300.10 tells us to metallically join them. You could use a bonding bushing on each end of the conduit but the EGC must be used not the building steel. The EGC could be the emt.
A/A Fuel GTX
Senior Member
- Location
- WI & AZ
- Occupation
- Electrician
Each segment of conduit? How may fixtures are we talking about?
8 fixtures, with rigid conduit between them and no direct bonding. Conduit bonded to I-Beam of building.
A/A Fuel GTX
Senior Member
- Location
- WI & AZ
- Occupation
- Electrician
Did he run a jumper to the steel from one segment and jump across the fixtures or did he run individual jumpers to the steel from each segment of conduit?
No jumpers were used. He used a conduit clamp that supports the conduit to the I-beam for bonding.
As far as the conduit is concerned, In reality, there is probbaly no problem. "Code wise" it's a violation.
However, I don't recall a flourescent fixture than didn't have some part that needed grounding.
However, I don't recall a flourescent fixture than didn't have some part that needed grounding.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Read my post again. Jumpers with bonding bushings is what has to be done. IMO
That is what the electrical installer should have done.
Agree 100%
A/A Fuel GTX
Senior Member
- Location
- WI & AZ
- Occupation
- Electrician
I wonder if the electrician was thinking 250.86 Ex. 2 would justify this?
- Status