ericsherman37
Senior Member
- Location
- Oregon Coast
The contractor I work for is wiring an Aquarium Science building for the local community college. Unfortunately, I wasn't dispatched to that project until AFTER the main floor slab was poured, but I heard about a grounding electrode issue from the job foreman.
So the rebar in the slab is all epoxy-coated. No good for a ufer, obviously, but Oregon code requires a ufer if there's any poured concrete foundation work on site:
The engineer, however, forbade the use of ANY regular ol' steel rebar in the foundation. My first thought was, "Well, can't we talk to the AHJ and get an exemption for the Oregon ufer requirement?" My second thought was, "Okay there are plenty of other grounding electrode options; what about a bare copper ground ring or something?"
Apparently neither of these possibilities occurred to our foreman. *face palm*
Now the slab is poured and I think all we have in place is a couple ground rods or something. So without an official AHJ exemption from the ufer requirement, I'm wondering how we ever managed to pass underground cover inspection. That's another story, I guess. But sooner or later the inspector will notice that there's no ufer sticking out anywhere.
I guess I don't really have a question, other than, what would you guys do for grounding electrodes in this setting? I wish I had been on-site sooner, cause it's pretty ridiculous for the crew that was there to let something like that slide. Makes me wonder...
So the rebar in the slab is all epoxy-coated. No good for a ufer, obviously, but Oregon code requires a ufer if there's any poured concrete foundation work on site:
Amend 250.52(A)(3) by inserting the following: "In new construction with steel reinforced concrete footings, a concrete-encased grounding electrode connected to the grounding electrode system is required. The installation shall meet the requirements of Section 250.50. When a concrete encased electrode system is used, a minimum size of 1/2-inch reinforcing bar or rod shall be stubbed up at least 12 inches above the floor plate line or floor level, whichever is the highest, near the service entrance panel location."
The engineer, however, forbade the use of ANY regular ol' steel rebar in the foundation. My first thought was, "Well, can't we talk to the AHJ and get an exemption for the Oregon ufer requirement?" My second thought was, "Okay there are plenty of other grounding electrode options; what about a bare copper ground ring or something?"
Apparently neither of these possibilities occurred to our foreman. *face palm*
Now the slab is poured and I think all we have in place is a couple ground rods or something. So without an official AHJ exemption from the ufer requirement, I'm wondering how we ever managed to pass underground cover inspection. That's another story, I guess. But sooner or later the inspector will notice that there's no ufer sticking out anywhere.
I guess I don't really have a question, other than, what would you guys do for grounding electrodes in this setting? I wish I had been on-site sooner, cause it's pretty ridiculous for the crew that was there to let something like that slide. Makes me wonder...