EMT as ground

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Dustin Foelber

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I have an inspector who has requested we prove that our EMT fittings are rated as a ground path to achieve our redundant ground requirements in patient care areas.
I am having a very difficult time finding documentation from any manufacturer. We used RACO fittings both compression and set screw. I would greatly appreciate any feedback of anyone who has had to provide this information and how the resolved this.
 
As an additional note he requested we install another ground wire?? It is my understanding that this is a violation as well?? The conduit has to create the redundancy??
 
I don't see anything stating that the EMT or fittings need to be listed for grounding as it does for other connectors or lugs that must be listed for grounding. 517.13, 215.118 and 358.60 say or infer that emt and its listed fittings in itself is an equipment grounding conductor. The fittings just need to be listed, not listed as grounding.

517.13 Grounding of Receptacles and Fixed Electrical Equip‐
ment in Patient Care Spaces. Wiring in patient care spaces
shall comply with 517.13(A) and (B).
(A) Wiring Methods. All branch circuits serving patient care
spaces shall be provided with an effective ground-fault current
path by installation in a metal raceway system or a cable having
a metallic armor or sheath assembly. The metal raceway system,
metallic cable armor, or sheath assembly shall itself qualify as
an equipment grounding conductor in accordance with
250.118
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250.118 Types of Equipment Grounding Conductors. The
equipment grounding conductor run with or enclosing the
circuit conductors shall be one or more or a combination of
the following:
(1) A copper, aluminum, or copper-clad aluminum conduc‐
tor. This conductor shall be solid or stranded; insulated,
covered, or bare; and in the form of a wire or a busbar of
any shape.
(2) Rigid metal conduit.
(3) Intermediate metal conduit.
(4) Electrical metallic tubing.
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358.60 Grounding. EMT shall be permitted as an equipment
grounding conductor
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Examples of items that need to be listed as grounding. Code specifically says listed for grounding, not just listed.

840.101 (A)(3)
Connection to the network terminal grounding terminal
provided that the terminal is connected to ground by one
of the methods described in 820.100 or 820.106, or to an
equipment grounding conductor through a listed
grounding device that will retain the ground connection
if the network terminal is unplugged
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250.52(A)(6) Other Listed Electrodes. Other listed grounding electro‐
des shall be permitted
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250.148(c)
(C) Metal Boxes. A connection shall be made between the
one or more equipment grounding conductors and a metal
box by means of a grounding screw that shall be used for no
other purpose, equipment listed for grounding, or a listed
grounding device.
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ALSO: the word SHALL in the NEC is defined as mandatory. Not can be. So the rules above stating EMT is a grounding conductor have the word SHALL in front. So it IS a grounding conductor and not can be. At least thats how I read it.
90.5 Mandatory Rules, Permissive Rules, and Explanatory
Material.
(A) Mandatory Rules. Mandatory rules of this Code are those
that identify actions that are specifically required or prohibited
and are characterized by the use of the terms shall or shall not.
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Dustin Foelber said:
As an additional note he requested we install another ground wire?? It is my understanding that this is a violation as well?? The conduit has to create the redundancy??
Click to expand...
I don't think it violates it if you already have EMT but it wont make it right if EMT isn't a metal raceway system. It doesn't say you need two conductors it says you need a metal raceway system that complies with 250.118 and an insulated grounding conductor. 517.13 specifically states it must be both A and B. A is the metal raceway system and B is the insulated conductor. Using two insulated conductors does not solve the need for A and B. You just have two B's, lol. EMT complies with 250.118 and has no mention of having to be listed as grounding.
 
I agree with SSD post #6, it is stated clearly in those sections. Perhaps they could add ".....and its associated fittings" in 250.118(4), but it is a bit ridiculous to imagine just the EMT tubing itself but not the fittings being allowed as an EGC.
 
NEC 2017.

517.13 Grounding of Receptacles and fixed Electrical Equipment in Patent Care Spaces.

(B) Insulated Equipment Grounding Conductor and Insulated Equipment Bonding Jumpers.

(1) General. The following shall be directly connected to an insulated copper equipment grounding conductor that is clearly identified along its entire length by green insulation and installed with the branch circuit conductors in the wiring methods as provided in 5.17.13 (A):

(1) The grounding terminals of all receptacles other than isolated ground receptacles.
(2) Metal outlet boxes, metal device boxes, or metal enclosures.
 
Dustin Foelber said:
I have an inspector who has requested we prove that our EMT fittings are rated as a ground path to achieve our redundant ground requirements in patient care areas.
I am having a very difficult time finding documentation from any manufacturer. We used RACO fittings both compression and set screw. I would greatly appreciate any feedback of anyone who has had to provide this information and how the resolved this.
Click to expand...
Since you're dealing with a moron just contact the manufacturer and tell them you need their support with a letter. A second conductor does nothing to comply with 517.13(A).

As an aside, NFPA 99 commentary explains that the metallic raceway is the primary EGC and the wire conductor is secondary or a back up.

Roger
 
texie said:
I'd run the guy off the job for being totally incompetent. There is no way I would allow such nonsense interrupt my job site.
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I don't know how things work in your neck of the woods, but around here his likely response is to have the Construction Official issue a stop-work order.
 
SSDriver said:
I don't see anything stating that the EMT or fittings need to be listed for grounding as it does for other connectors or lugs that must be listed for grounding. 517.13, 215.118 and 358.60 say or infer that emt and its listed fittings in itself is an equipment grounding conductor. The fittings just need to be listed, not listed as grounding.
Click to expand...
Yes, the EMT fittings need to be listed per 358.6, and that means that they have been evaluated for used as part of the EGC path.
From the UL Guide Information for "Electrical Metallic Tubing Fittings" (FKAV)
Grounding — These fittings are considered suitable for grounding for use in circuits over and under 250 V and where installed in accordance with NFPA 70, "National Electrical Code."
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If your EMT fittings are listed then they are approved for grounding purposes. They must also be installed per NEC requirements.
 
CEO4U said:
If your EMT fittings are listed then they are approved for grounding purposes. They must also be installed per NEC requirements.
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I think the only person that doesn't understand that in this thread is the clueless inspector mentioned in post #1.

Roger
 
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