conduit as ground

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apj

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I read a statement in an EC&M article that said conduit is now required to carry a separate ground wire in the conduit as opposed to using the conduit as a ground. Is this true or did I misread it? Thanks in advance.
 
Re: conduit as ground

Was the article talking about Interlocked MC cable. It is required to carry a separate ground because the interlocking metal can not be used as a conductor.
 
Re: conduit as ground

The article was in September 2005 issue of EC&M, page 18. The inspector stated
I determined that the (bank) building had been built prior to the NEC requirement that a continuous grounding wire be carried through the conduit. Subsequent versions didn't permit conduit to be used as the ground path.
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The problem was that a emt conduit in a bank building had become energized due to a ground fault in the light fixture that it fed. The conduit had become separated, eliminating the only grounding path to the panel, and killed an electrician.
 
Re: conduit as ground

apj,
That information is not correct. I e-mailed the author at his firm, questioning that information but he never responded. It really makes me question his qualifications as an expert in that case.
Don
 
Re: conduit as ground

I am from the metro Chicago area and the only installations allowed is with EMT. We do not allow any use of NM, FMC, etc. Unless it is specifically required by code, or part of the design by the E.E. then a seperate ground is not used.
 
Re: conduit as ground

Don, is that the same article that also stated that the EMT was not supported properly and showed a common EMT nail strap?
 
Re: conduit as ground

Originally posted by scott moran: I am from the metro Chicago area and the only installations allowed is with EMT.
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I remember something about that from when I lived in Chicago. Local codes, such as the Chicago Electrical Code (I think that is what it is called), can be more restrictive than the NEC. But the article seems to be saying that the NEC itself has eliminated the use of conduit as an EGC. That is not true, as Don has already said.
 
Re: conduit as ground

Don't people at EC&M read these articles before they are published? :confused: At the very least, they should publish a "correction" notice in the next issue.
 
Re: conduit as ground

Here's another "error" in EC&M:

508ecm15pic1.jpg



In the follow up article to this photo the readers stated that the installation had two violations that were incorrect. First they said that the box cannot be mounted through the device citing 314.19. Upon close inspection it can be seen that the ears have been removed from the device and the box is fastened directly to the wood.

Secondly, someone quoted that the switch had no grounding pigtail as required by 404.9(B). Problem with that is snap switches are not required to have a separate bonding conductor when mounted to a metallic box. Looks like EC&M needs some new proof readers.
 
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