Air terminal on light pole

[woodduder]

I have an air terminal on the top of a 25" AFG square tapered direct buried concrete pole. Below grade, the pole manufacturer brings out a 24" whip of #4 copper which we attach a 10' copper clad ground rod to. This conductor is in the concrete pour and does not enter the handhole on the side of pole. Our branch circuit connects to the pole by way of pipe embedded in pole and stubbed out below grade. The local inspector is requiring us to connect our branch circuit equipment grounding conductor to the ground rod or air terminal conductor. Is that an NEC requirment or not? If so I will have to drill through the side of pole and extend a conduit into the dirt to make this connection which is not a problem, but it will look bad on the side of 20 new light poles.

 

[beanland]

2008 nec 250.60

2008 nec 250.60

You can provide a separate equipment ground rod and you "may" bond the equipment ground to the lightning ground, but it is not required.

Generally, you want to separate the lightning ground rod from the equipment grounding conductor/rod so that surges on the lightning system are not directly imposed on the equipment ground. Both share "earth" as the common conductor.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I believe that NFPA 780 (the lightning protection standard) requires this bonding.

 

[Twoskinsoneman]

I understand that this is not a building but the rules therein may also include your situation.

250.106
FPN No. 2: Metal raceways, enclosures, frames, and other
non?current-carrying metal parts of electrical equipment installed
on a building equipped with a lightning protection system
may require bonding or spacing from the lightning protection
conductors in accordance with NFPA 780-2008,
Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems.

 

[woodduder]

I believe that NFPA 780 (the lightning protection standard) requires this bonding.

Does anyone own a copy of this book that can confirm it is required?

I appreciate the help guys.

 

[A-F-E]

Yes in this instance it would be required (780 4.20.1.1) ground-level potential equalization which also references (780 4.14) common grounding.

Not sure why you have to put lightning protection on a 25’ pole was the in the specs or requested?

 

[don_resqcapt19]

You can view all of the NFPA codes and standards here for free. You do have to register and the viewing format is not easy to use, but it is free.

 

[woodduder]

Not sure why you have to put lightning protection on a 25? pole was the in the specs or requested?

It was in the spec.

Thanks Don for the link to NFPA info.