Gounding Screw

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Is there any specific requirement in the code that says you must use a green grounding screw in a junction box? We ran into an incident where a contractor used a regular steel button head screw to tie his pigtail into the 4x4 box.
 
Re: Gounding Screw

Is there any specific requirement in the code that says you must use a green grounding screw in a junction box?
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No, but why not make it easy on everyone. go out and buy a box of green ground screws and these problems will not come up :eek: .

[ January 25, 2006, 12:59 PM: Message edited by: Jhr ]
 
Re: Gounding Screw

Originally posted by Jhr:
No, but why not make it easy on everyone. go out and buy a box of green ground screws and these problems will not come up.
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Why buy screws when the one holding the spare clamp works fine (once the clamp is removed)

If everyone new the rules the question would not come up.

Originally posted by Jhr:
Now the question and thus the unnecessary problem, is this type of screw code compliant according to 250.148 (C).
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I don't have my 2005 handy but I believe 250.148(C) only applies to the screws used on devices. (the factory installed grounding screw)

[ January 25, 2006, 01:21 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]
 
Re: Gounding Screw

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A UL LISTED GROUNDING SCREW.

The only place that a green screw is mentioned is 250.148(C) which only applies to devices. The only requirment I can remember is machine threads only, no sheet metal screws.

UL does list combinations of grounding wire and screws, but not the screws themselves. I don't believe any other NRTL covers screws either.
 
Re: Gounding Screw

I was literally having a discussion with one of my employees on this same question at the exact time of the OP. The answer is that you do not need to use a green grounding screw. Any color is code compliant. There is some misconception regarding this which I think is due to 250.28(B) which only applies to main bonding jumpers and system bonding jumpers in the form of a screw which would need to be green.
 
Re: Gounding Screw

The only place that a green screw is mentioned is 250.148(C) which only applies to devices.
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I disagree 250.148 (C): "A connection shall be made between the one or more equipment grounding conductors and a metal box by means of a grounding screw that shall be used for no other pupose or a listed grounding device". This part does not mention a wiring device, this would be in a metal box with or without a device, such as a 4sq box with a blank plate where splices are made.
 
Re: Gounding Screw

jhr,
Where does that section say "green"? The word "grounding" does not specity a type of screw, but only identifies the function of the screw.
Don
 
Re: Gounding Screw

The color GREEN is mentioned in 250.126:


250.126 Identification of Wiring Device Terminals.
The terminal for the connection of the equipment grounding conductor shall be identified by one of the following:
(1) A green, not readily removable terminal screw with a hexagonal head.
(2) A green, hexagonal, not readily removable terminal nut.
(3) A green pressure wire connector. If the terminal for the grounding conductor is not visible, the conductor entrance hole shall be marked with the word green or ground, the letters G or GR, a grounding symbol, or otherwise identified by a distinctive green color. If the terminal for the equipment grounding conductor is readily removable, the area adjacent to the terminal shall be similarly marked.
FPN: See FPN Figure 250.126.
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Re: Gounding Screw

That section is for devices, not for terminations to the metallic boxes.

It would be pretty hard, even for apprentices in this industry to not understand the purpose of the screw that terminates the EGC to the enclosure.
 
Re: Gounding Screw

Originally posted by pierre:
It would be pretty hard, even for apprentices in this industry to not understand the purpose of the screw that terminates the EGC to the enclosure.
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And if they can't should they become electricians? :D
 
Re: Gounding Screw

And if they can't should they become electricians?
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I'm not sure about that. CMP5 doesn't know the purpose of that screw based on the code wording. It is a bonding and not a grounding screw.
Don
 
Re: Gounding Screw

That section is for devices, not for terminations to the metallic boxes.
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That is correct but I wasn't implying that it applied to grounding screws. Someone asked about where in the code is the word green mentioned. I was just providing one article, which happens to be the one that I hear a lot when someone tells me (incorrectly) that the grounding screw in the metallic box must be green.


Trevor
 
Re: Gounding Screw

"I'm not sure about that. CMP5 doesn't know the purpose of that screw based on the code wording. It is a bonding and not a grounding screw.
Don "


Don
I hope that is more from bad habits, than from not knowing.

Some of the code requirements in 250 are more from fear or some other reason that does not always make sense... such as needing a second ground rod if the first does not meet the 25 ohms to ground.
 
Re: Gounding Screw

jhr,
Where does that section say "green"? The word "grounding" does not specity a type of screw
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I never posted that, Don if you read my first reply I agree that a green screw is not necessary, the only thing I will stand by is , why not use a green screw in these boxes, cuts out a lot of hassling over is it a ground screw or not, one other thing I agree it should be called a bonding screw, that is what is done when these screws are used.
 
Re: Gounding Screw

It is of my opinion that being green they are easy to identify in a box of misc. scews. You know that a green screw will work because it is the right length, size and tpi.
And how about that yellow and pink romex. Is that code? No. But it does it simpler to identify and being #14, #20, or #30 before and after installation.
It could be that the green screw and romex cable colors are simply a different way of marketing a product with more convenience in mind.
Somebody is starting to think of a better way to do things.
 
Re: Gounding Screw

By Jhr:

why not use a green screw in these boxes, cuts out a lot of hassling over is it a ground screw or not,
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I don't see what's confusing about what the screw on the bottom of the box with an EGC on it is.

If I didn't have a green screw with me I sure wouldn't be coming back tommorow with one when I have this silver one here right now.

Now 5 or 6 people standing around this box with the silver screw for twenty minutes................. :D :D :D
 
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