External Ground Bars Telco

Status
Not open for further replies.
dereckbc

dereckbc

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Plano, TX
Ran into a new one today at a telephone switching office with a walk through with AHJ. He questioned the listing of various copper ground bars installed on the walls and under raised floors. These bars are used for external equipment frame grounds. I have them made at electrical shops to $ave a few bucks. Basically they are copper 1/4 x 4 x 36.

Any ever heard of a copper buss needing to be listed for such purposes? If so where in the code can that be enforced? For that matter where would a person buy a listed buss bar. Cannot ever recall seeing any such animal.
 
Dereck, we have ours made most of the times as well, but I have just finished a Children's Outpatient Center where the engineer spec HARGER
ground bars in all of the comm rooms. They are pretty nice, you can order them with engraved covers for identification.

After clicking on the link scroll down to the "Ground Bars & Accesories".

With that said, I don't know of any requirement for a listed bar either.

Roger
 
Pierre is the code you quoted 2002 or 2005? All I have right now os 2002. Can't imagine it has anything to do with SDS AC systems.
 
Roger I am familar with Harger as well as Newton and Graybar. I do know Harger has listed bars, but for the life of me know of no reason to do so.

Just searching my resources before I pitch a fit and make sure there isn't something in the NEC I have overlooked.
 
A) Listed connections to aluminum or copper busbars

or

B) Listed connections to aluminum or copper busbars

I would read this as you need to use a listed lug, clamp, etc.
 
dereckbc said:
OK here is a follow-up, the Inspector is citing 110.2 Huh?
Click to expand...

The ever popular "Approval" clause.....who had that thread "I am The.." LOL.

Good luck with that one.

****
I'll go with tonyi's option A.
 
I don't see that there is a listing standard for busbars in the UL white book. With that said, your inspector might be asking for something that is not possible, unless CSA or TUV or ETL or somebody else lists them.

I personally don't have any issues with what you have done, since the code gives presciptive guidelines in 250.30 (as Pierre said). In my opinion, if it is good enough for an SDS, it is good enough for what you have done.

I could understand the inspector requiring a feild evaluation if this busbar was being used to carry current in a panel (I have requested this evaluation myself), but I disagree with the inspector in this case.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top