Accessory Building Wiring Question

[Just Mikey]

Hello all, I've done accessory buildings with 60-100 amp panels in the past and the AHJ passed them without a hitch. I had one fail recently, and this is the first 8x10 accessory building I've done that I didn't put a panel inside. The homeowner just wanted a single 20 amp circuit for convenience outlets and a light. My service disconnect is a 20 amp rated switch where my conduit entered the building and the next device after my service disconnect switch is a 20 amp GFCI, then the light switch for the room lighting. Everything inside the shed is in pvc, because this is where the dogs stay to keep warm and I didn't want wiring to get chewed up and if their dogs are like mine, they will climb a wall to tear up whatever they can. So, there are no metal housings, all plastic. Anywho, I failed because I didn't install an electrode and a TR GFCI. The GFCI not being TR, I can get behind that was totally a slip on my part, but am I not meeting 250.32 (A)'s exception that doesn't require an electrode?

Anybody have anything similar to this? If the man wants an electrode, I'll give him one, but where am I going to land my electrode conductor?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I would show the inspector this section of the NEC. BTW, welcome to the forum

250.32 Buildings or Structures Supplied by a Feeder(s) or Branch Circuit(s).

(A) Grounding Electrode.

A building(s) or structure(s) supplied by a feeder(s) or branch circuit(s) shall have a grounding electrode system and grounding electrode conductor installed in accordance with Part III of Article 250. Where there is no existing grounding electrode, the grounding electrode(s) required in 250.50 shall be installed.
Exception:
A grounding electrode shall not be required where only a single branch circuit, including a multiwire branch circuit, supplies the building or structure and the branch circuit includes an equipment grounding conductor for grounding the normally non–current-carrying metal parts of equipment.

 

[Just Mikey]

He only accepts calls to his business phone from 6-8 am, and he serves most of middle TN, so I've emailed him and I'm headed out to swap that GFCI to TR, but I figured I missed something.

 

[roger]

Along with Dennis's post please update your occupation.

 

[Just Mikey]

 

[kwired]

He only accepts calls to his business phone from 6-8 am, and he serves most of middle TN, so I've emailed him and I'm headed out to swap that GFCI to TR, but I figured I missed something.

He is wrong and if won't accept the section Dennis quoted, and you also mentioned it in OP, then go to his supervisor.

If this is a small town or other similar situation where he is the only inspector - good luck, he is probably used to getting his way regardless of what code says.

 

[Just Mikey]

He is wrong and if won't accept the section Dennis quoted, and you also mentioned it in OP, then go to his supervisor.

If this is a small town or other similar situation where he is the only inspector - good luck, he is probably used to getting his way regardless of what code says.

I doubt it'll go that far, but I was more or less asking if I'd missed or overlooked something that would require it.

 

[kwired]

I doubt it'll go that far, but I was more or less asking if I'd missed or overlooked something that would require it.

Your choice. Depending on circumstances you maybe just want the get the permit finalized and do what he wants even if you know he is wrong.

I don't like to let them push things I know are wrong, but depending on circumstances will give in on occasion, still will probably inform them I think they are wrong and cite code I think allows what was done.

It is part of their job to understand the code even if they don't like something in it they still have to enforce what it says and not what they think it should say. I don't necessarily like everything in the code either but it is what it is and I have no choice, especially if some other party is making me follow code.