Equipment Grounding Requuirements for premises lacking equipment grounding conductors

[graino]

I've been wresting with the equipment grounding conductor requirements listed in 250.110, 1 through 6. Specifically in an older home with two wire non-metallic sheathed cable minus any equipment grounding conductors. It appears as though an ungrounded two prong receptacle can be "legally" replaced with a GFCI receptacle for connecting cord and plug connected equipment requiring an EGC? Is this correct? If so what code article allows this? Secondly what about fixed in place equipment requiring an ECG when none are available? Let's take a specific example like a ceiling fan requiring an EGC. If none are available is an EGC still required? Must an EGC be routed to the equipment or is something like a Ground Fault Breaker a code compliant alternative? If so where is it allowed in the NEC?
Thanks for any insights you can provide on this topic.

 

[Little Bill]

For receptacles, see 406.4(D)(2) in the 2017 or 406.3(D)(3) in older code editions.

 

[jumper]

For equipment fastened in place see 250.134.

 

[graino]

Thanks for the reply Little Bill. I'm afraid I wasn't clear with my question though. When I look at 250.110, I see no exception for the need to provide an equipment grounding conductor for equipment that requires one if none are available at the outlet. Again to be specific if I am installing a ceiling fan and it is going to be within 8' vertically or 5' horizontally from a grounded surface am I allowed an alternative to getting an equipment grounding conductor to the fan, like GFCI protection? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[jumper]

Thanks for the reply Little Bill. I'm afraid I wasn't clear with my question though. When I look at 250.110, I see no exception for the need to provide an equipment grounding conductor for equipment that requires one if none are available at the outlet. Again to be specific if I am installing a ceiling fan and it is going to be within 8' vertically or 5' horizontally from a grounded surface am I allowed an alternative to getting an equipment grounding conductor to the fan, like GFCI protection? Thanks in advance for your help.

I know of no similar GFCI rule for equipment that exists for receptacle replacement.

 

[Little Bill]

Thanks for the reply Little Bill. I'm afraid I wasn't clear with my question though. When I look at 250.110, I see no exception for the need to provide an equipment grounding conductor for equipment that requires one if none are available at the outlet. Again to be specific if I am installing a ceiling fan and it is going to be within 8' vertically or 5' horizontally from a grounded surface am I allowed an alternative to getting an equipment grounding conductor to the fan, like GFCI protection? Thanks in advance for your help.

I know of no similar GFCI rule for equipment that exists for receptacle replacement.

I agree with Jumper and would not hesitate to install a ceiling where no EGC exists. If you just feel the need, you could install a GFCI breaker for the circuit the fan will be on. But in an older house you run the risk of the neutral running all over the place (think grabbed for another hot somewhere) and wouldn't allow the GFCI to set/reset.

 

[romex jockey]

Thanks for the reply Little Bill. I'm afraid I wasn't clear with my question though. When I look at 250.110, I see no exception for the need to provide an equipment grounding conductor for equipment that requires one if none are available at the outlet. Again to be specific if I am installing a ceiling fan and it is going to be within 8' vertically or 5' horizontally from a grounded surface am I allowed an alternative to getting an equipment grounding conductor to the fan, like GFCI protection? Thanks in advance for your help.

Yes ...

410.44 Ex.3>>

Exception No. 3: Where no equipment grounding conductor exists at
the outlet, replacement luminaires that are GFCI protected shall not be
required to be connected to an equipment grounding conductor.

~S~

 

[graino]

Thank you Romex Jockey, at the risk of pressing my luck I would like to try to dig a little further, 410.44, exc.3, answered my original question about the ceiling light/fan. What about other appliances requiring an EGC in a premise lacking them? 410.44 specifically addressed luminaries. Again to be specific what about something like a hard wired garbage disposal? Are there exceptions for appliances like that or must I run an EGC? Thanks again, you guys have already been a huge help.

 

[romex jockey]

I would say 250.140 ex's for 'existing' is the only out Granio, others may find something to add.

as an aside, 250.130 (B) ex 1 may be some help>

Exception No. 1: As provided in 250.130(C), the equipment grounding
conductor shall be permitted to be run separately from the circuit
conductors.

which would back us up to 250.120(C)>

(C) Equipment Grounding Conductors Smaller Than 6 AWG.
Where not routed with circuit conductors as permitted in
250.130(C) and 250.134(B) Exception No. 2, equipment
grounding conductors smaller than 6 AWG shall be protected
from physical damage by an identified raceway or cable armor
unless installed within hollow spaces of the framing members
of buildings or structures and where not subject to physical
damage.

then back to 250.130 (C) ,options 1-6, assuming (for sake of debate) a 2nd flr dishwasher install , #4 >, hoping to fish an egc in from another circuit avalable w/one.....

(4) An equipment grounding conductor that is part of
another branch circuit that originates from the enclosure
where the branch circuit for the receptacle or branch
circuit originates

~RJ~

 

[graino]

Thank you everyone, to sum it up it appears:

• Cord and plug connected equipment, no problem, use GFCI protected receptacle.
• Luminaries, not a problem, use GFCI breaker.
• Everything else looks like we need to get an EGC to it unless it does not meet any of the requirements of 250.110, 1 through 6.

??????????????
Thanks again.

 

[jumper]

RJ,

I like your GFCI exception for the ceiling fan, but I find one flaw...

A ceiling fan is an appliance. One may or may not have a light kit attached, but it ain’t no light fixture.

I do not see any exception for no EGC using GFCI protection for other equipment in other articles. Yes, light fixtures are equipment, but lighting is usually separated by itself IME from other equipment when using the definition.

 

[romex jockey]

RJ,

I like your GFCI exception for the ceiling fan, but I find one flaw...

A ceiling fan is an appliance. One may or may not have a light kit attached, but it ain’t no light fixture.

I do not see any exception for no EGC using GFCI protection for other equipment in other articles. Yes, light fixtures are equipment, but lighting is usually separated by itself IME from other equipment when using the definition.

And you may be entirely right about it being viewed as an appliance Jumper

so we're left with a high ceiling>

250.110 (1) Where within 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically or 1.5 m (5 ft) hori‐
zontally of ground or grounded metal objects and subject
to contact by persons

a ceiling fan with some sort of heating element , along w/'special permission' (i have no idea what they're referring to here?)>

250.110 Exception No. 1: If exempted by special permission, the metal frame of
electrically heated appliances that have the frame permanently and
effectively insulated from ground shall not be required to be grounded.

or a double insulated fan (unlikely)>

250.110 Exception No. 3:Listed equipment protected by a system of double insu‐
lation, or its equivalent, shall not be required to be connected to the
equipment grounding conductor. Where such a system is employed, the
equipment shall be distinctively marked.

At some point, especially considering future work, an EGC would most likley be the economical approach

The many methods in 250 would be what i'd encourage considered.

~RJ~

 

[graino]

So to take this a little further, I read 250.110, 1 through 6, not as individual exceptions for the EGC requirement but rather as if any of them apply we need the EGC. Lets say our ceiling fan does not have a light kit just to eliminate the luminary GFCI allowance debate. Lets say the fan is more than 8' vertically and 5' horizontally but is supported by a metal junction box bolted to steel in the ceiling. Even though 250.110, 1, would say we don't need an EGC number 3 would?

 

[jumper]

At some point, especially considering future work, an EGC would most likley be the economical approach

The many methods in 250 would be what i'd encourage considered.

~RJ~

I agree.

Or we fudge it and call it a light fixture with a motor attached and use your GFCI route.

I am good with either.

 

[jumper]

So to take this a little further, I read 250.110, 1 through 6, not as individual exceptions for the EGC requirement but rather as if any of them apply we need the EGC. Lets say our ceiling fan does not have a light kit just to eliminate the luminary GFCI allowance debate. Lets say the fan is more than 8' vertically and 5' horizontally but is supported by a metal junction box bolted to steel in the ceiling. Even though 250.110, 1, would say we don't need an EGC number 3 would?

http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=180738