Bonding Steel Across Expansion Joints

[DetroitEE]

I haven't had much luck finding info on this topic. It seems to me that in a steel building if you have an expansion joint that causes the steel to be non-continuous at the joint, you would need a bonding jumper in order to keep the steel on the opposite side of the expansion joint bonded to the other side of the building.

How is this typically done? Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this?

 

[tom baker]

Good point esp if the structural metal is used as a grounding electrode. In that case a bonding jumper could be required. Perhaps a code proposal is in order.

 

[DetroitEE]

Found something referred to as an expansion joint jumper. Anyone ever used one of these? http://www.drillspot.com/products/682256/oz_gedney_-_neer_bj-1012-14_grounding_and_bonding_jumper_expansion_joint_connector

 

[Smart $]

Found something referred to as an expansion joint jumper. Anyone ever used one of these? http://www.drillspot.com/products/6..._and_bonding_jumper_expansion_joint_connector

Yes, around rigid steel conduit expansion joints. Those are not designed to bond structural steel.

 

[DetroitEE]

Yes, around rigid steel conduit expansion joints. Those are not designed to bond structural steel.

That's what I figured...they looks too flimsy for bonding steel.

 

[Smart $]

... How is this typically done?

Cad weld a jumper across the expansion joint.

 

[tkb]

Cad weld a jumper across the expansion joint.

I have done this.
I had a couple of new buildings that had two expansion joints.
The building was actually three separate structural steel sections.
I cad welded 4/0 jumpers across the joints.
It wasn't shown on the drawings, but we had to cad weld the steel to ground rods so I did it anyways.
It seemed like the right thing to do. To make the steel electrically continuous.