Electrical plan check for a particular city requires that underground grounding taps be made using the exothermic welding process exclusively.
The 2002 NEC, article 250.8 and 250.70 both states that the exothermic welding process is one of many ways in which to connect ground conductors and bonding jumpers.
Our usual method of connecting ground wires is to use a Burndy type YGHC-C Hytap connector (UL listed for direct burial and concrete application).
The AHJ says that after 10 years or so, when the contaminated ground (petroleum refinery environment) has had a chance to work on corrosion of the bare copper ground wire, the pressure connectors will loosen causing a bad connection in the grounding system.
Any thought?
What recourse does an engineer have to argue the point with the apparent preferences of the AHJ???
Thanks
The 2002 NEC, article 250.8 and 250.70 both states that the exothermic welding process is one of many ways in which to connect ground conductors and bonding jumpers.
Our usual method of connecting ground wires is to use a Burndy type YGHC-C Hytap connector (UL listed for direct burial and concrete application).
The AHJ says that after 10 years or so, when the contaminated ground (petroleum refinery environment) has had a chance to work on corrosion of the bare copper ground wire, the pressure connectors will loosen causing a bad connection in the grounding system.
Any thought?
What recourse does an engineer have to argue the point with the apparent preferences of the AHJ???
Thanks
