Metal sections of water piping syatems, grounding

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jnconinc

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Residential units that are piped in plastic piping usually contain short sections of copper piping at the water softner, hot water tank, pre-assembled bathtub units and hose bibs. The NEC, since 1993 recognized this as an issue. I believe, because water is a conductor(actually the ions are) , that these sections need to be bonded under the NEC. Any help here?
JN
 
Re: Metal sections of water piping syatems, grounding

Agreed. The water heater, if electric, is grounded via the EGC, so provides the necessary grounding for the metal in contact with it, as the source likely to do the energizing.
 
Re: Metal sections of water piping syatems, grounding

The code requires that metal water piping systems be bonded. It does not require that short sections of metal pipe be bonded.
Don
 
Re: Metal sections of water piping syatems, grounding

Metal water piping systems have to be bonded. A short section of metal pipe at a sink is not a system, it dones not have to be bonded.
In washington state we have a state rule that clarifies this.
 
Re: Metal sections of water piping syatems, grounding

Originally posted by ryan_618:
How are they ever going to become energized?
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Water softners are usually connected with SO or SJ cord and can be damaged (especially in garages), Romex can and is run behind some shower stalls where there are 3-4 feet lengths of pipe, Hot water tanks are fed with ALFLEX or flex that can be damaged. All of these might not trip the breaker if the piping is not grounded.
 
Re: Metal sections of water piping syatems, grounding

jnconinc,
90.1 Purpose
(A) Practical Safeguarding The purpose of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.
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The code does not claim to remove all possible electrical hazards.
Don
 
Re: Metal sections of water piping syatems, grounding

jnconinc,
The NEC, since 1993 recognized this as an issue.
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Where does the code require that short sections of metal water pipe be bonded?
Don
 
Re: Metal sections of water piping syatems, grounding

Originally posted by jnconinc:
All of these might not trip the breaker if the piping is not grounded.
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All these will probably still not trip the breaker if an isolated metallic component is bonded in a distant location.

Water softners are usually connected with SO or SJ cord and can be damaged (especially in garages),
Click to expand...
Which is why flexible cord is required to be visible for it's entire length, so that the damage that may occur can be inspected and repaired.

Romex can and is run behind some shower stalls where there are 3-4 feet lengths of pipe,
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So?

Hot water tanks are fed with ALFLEX or flex that can be damaged.
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...Which, when connected to the bonded outlet box of the water heater, will be bonded.
 
Re: Metal sections of water piping syatems, grounding

Originally posted by electricmanscott:
They do not have to be bonded but, assuming they did how would you go about it?
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How about plain ol' pipe-grounding clamps, and a suitable copper wire run along the piping, and home-run back to the panel, or nearest piping "system"?
 
Re: Metal sections of water piping syatems, grounding

Larry I have visions of spaghetti going through my head. :D

[ February 02, 2006, 07:53 PM: Message edited by: electricmanscott ]
 
Re: Metal sections of water piping syatems, grounding

Thanks for all the replies! The issue seems up in the air here in Las Vegas. Some installers bond the hot and cold at the water tank together. Some do that and bond to the service. Some bond just to the cold side. One expert has a retrofit job and has the electrician bonding "any pipes that are within five feet of an outlet." God knows what this is for!
The various inspectors seem to pass just about anything on this and they really don't know for sure!
 
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