Equipment Grounding Conductors

[Brandon Loyd]

Ignoring flex and PVC, under what circumstances would you be required to install a EGC (an actual wire) in addition to the metal conduit, to meet code requirements, assuming you are using metal enclosures with metal conduit? I always thought Branch circuit panels where required to have a EGC pulled in with the main feed. Has everyone just adopted the practice of pulling in a ground wire in every conduit to keep the inspectors off our backs?

 

[pete m.]

One example could be found in 517.13.

IMHO the addition of a wire type EGC, in a lot of cases, is driven by job specifications and industry practice.. not NEC.

Pete

p.s. The inspector should not be "on your back" as long as you have a code compliant installation.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Often times it is speced by the engineer but unless you are required to have a redundant ground then it is not necessary.

 

[charlie b]

I vaguely recall that Chicago had a local code requirement that a EGC be pulled with the circuit conductors, even if you used metal conduit. In any event, there will be jurisdictions that impose their own requirements that go beyond minimum NEC requirements.

 

[RichB]

Here at the Wa State DOT we require an EGC to be in every conduit--"Where conduit is installed, that installation SHALL include and equipment grounding conductor,,,"