GFI receptacles

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twada

Member
Instead of bringing a ground wire to GFI receptale, can we bond the conduit to GFI receptacles? We missed the ground wiring on the construction document.
 

BAHTAH

Senior Member
Location
United States
Re: GFI receptacles

The metal raceways can serve as grounding conductors when effectively bonded where necessary. I sounds like you have an Engineer calling out a grounding conductor to be installed in the conduit which is a common installation. You can bond the GFI ground to the metal box and meet the NEC but may not meet the job specifications if the Engineer called out the separate grounding conductor.
 

flightline

Senior Member
Re: GFI receptacles

Your profile indicates that you are a consultant, and now I better understand the specific meaning in your case of the statement " We missed the ground wiring on the construction document. " If you are using a metal raceway system, or some other metal enclosed wiring method by which the metal enclosure is rated for use as an equipment grounding conductor in accordance with article 250, then I would have to say you could. Since I'm from the Chicago area, that is how most homes and business are wired. One exception would be health care situations, especially within the city of Chicago, where an insulated equipment is required, in section 18-27-517.13 (a), among other places.
 

twada

Member
Re: GFI receptacles

The GFI receptacles in question are located outside of the building (in the field).
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Re: GFI receptacles

As has been said as long as these are not in patient care areas the raceway can serve as the grounding conductor.

But when you say

The GFI receptacles in question are located outside of the building (in the field).
My first though is to whether these are fed under ground with PVC and just the exposed part is metallic.

If there is PVC involved you are SOL. (something out of luck).
 

daveselectric

Member
Location
Ohio
Re: GFI receptacles

The construction document is part of your contract.

You are required to bond the device to the box. To have a ground wire in the conduit is another question which depends on the installation.

If not having a ground wire meets code you will need to get a change order because you are making changes to the specs. Consult with the engineer of record and have him write a change order to cover your butt.
 

ryan_618

Senior Member
Re: GFI receptacles

I don't have NEC my here, but I remember in the 99' it was article 210-7 and in the 2002 it is somewhere in 406 that discusses the installation of GFCI receptacles (and their slaves) with out an equipment ground, for the replacement of two-wire receptacles. I would assume that this is because the technology of a GFCI, to a certain degree, circumvents the nessecity of an equipment ground. With that in mind, would a GFCI without an equipment meet the intent of the code?
 

david

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
Re: GFI receptacles

Since a GFCI is a grounding type of rec. and this is a new installation and not the replacement of a non-grounding type rec. I would say an equipment ground would be required to be bonded to the rec.
 

cselectric

Senior Member
Location
Wisconsin
Re: GFI receptacles

David,

As far as it goes, you are correct. However, 250.118 allows for EMT, RMC and IMC to be used as an EGC. As Don previously stated, this practice is pretty much SOP in the Chicago area.
 

daveselectric

Member
Location
Ohio
Re: GFI receptacles

You are all correct. The conduit may be used as a the EGC. In health care facilities, patient care areas, a EGC must be pulled from the panel.

Some PE's will spec that there be a EGC pulled from the panel. This is the PE's spec and is part of the construction document / contract and thus is required.
 

david

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
Re: GFI receptacles

250.118 Types of Equipment Grounding Conductors.

I was referring to the conduit when I said bonded to the equipment ground. And from an inspection point of view the NEC would only require the equipment grounds present to be bonded to the rec.

I agree, when a contract asked for a certain type of equipment ground it should be installed but that additional requirement is a contract issue.
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Re: GFI receptacles

Originally posted by david:
I agree, when a contract asked for a certain type of equipment ground it should be installed but that additional requirement is a contract issue.
I also agree with this, what makes this question confusing is the original poster twada is a consultant.

So is he writing the job spec or does he need to follow them?

Bob
 
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