Bare Ground Wire Bury Depth

[tkb]

I've looked in the code and on this board but I can't find the required bury depth for bare ground wire to ground rods.

Is it in the code or am I blind? :-?

 

[tom baker]

There is no burial depth requirement for the GEC. A proposal was made for the 2005 NEC, CMP said its not needed, if you went 24" then you would have to come backup to surface for connecting to ground rod.
I typically will run 12". But with a CEE or ufer ground there is not a GEC outside the building.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Tom,

if you went 24" then you would have to come backup to surface for connecting to ground rod.

Why would you have to come back up to the top to make the connection to the ground rod?
Don

 

[tom baker]

If you don't drive the ground rod top to 24" below grade. That statement came from Scott Harding who is on CMP5

 

[gndrod]

If you don't drive the ground rod top to 24" below grade. That statement came from Scott Harding who is on CMP5

Hi Tom, Did Scott give a reason? I see close to surface for accessibility as a factor if an AHJ might want verification.

 

[gndrod]

Also in past residential (high country) rod installations in rocky grade, AHJ
would allow continuing GEC to first rod back through crawl space back out to second rod along side of building. Rods were driven in 'soft spots' first before running conductor.