Metal Studs

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Mike01

Mike01

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MidWest
Just curious the question was posed to me the other day and I never really thought about it after reading thru our companies electrical specifications and looking at different detail sheets no where does it indicate if metal studs are required to be grounded? Is there any requirement to ground these if so what is the common practice by electricians in the field? Thanks..:D
 
I don't believe there is any requirement to ground the metal studs. The studs will be inadvertently grounded when you attach your grounded outlet box to the stud.
 
Minuteman said:
After watching the video, I'm wondering if the original EC used plastic/fiber outlet boxes?
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I guess I am not use to nm being used with metal studs-- we never use them around here. I guess I am surprised that the guy died from 110volts. I get zapped all the time with 110V but I guess it takes a bad heart or something. It doesn't sound like he was connected through the load.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I guess I am surprised that the guy died from 110volts. I get zapped all the time with 110V
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Why is that Dennis, are you not following safety rules and procedures?

Dennis Alwon said:
but I guess it takes a bad heart or something.
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No it doesn't, 120v is deadly even to those with super strong hearts

Dennis Alwon said:
It doesn't sound like he was connected through the load.
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He was the load. Getting zapped and being hung up is a somewhat different terms , those who have had to run or fall off a circuit to get away from it know this difference.

Roger
 
Roger, you know as well as I do that every electrician has been hit many times by 120V. Most of us don't die and it's not because we are not taking precautions as you seem to be impling. I realize there are situations that you can die from it. I have been hit in a crawl space when my bald pate touched a duct-- 110volts through my entire body. Why didn't I die--- I don't know--- listening to the story and reading the article it didn't seem worse than my experience.

I have also been hit with 277V when I was a helper--- I wanted to die after that but I am still here. I have also been hung up on 120V when I was a kid and somehow was able to release myself.

The article states that it is a bizarre occurence. That's all I was trying to say.
 
Dennis, if I were getting "zapped all the time" I think I could come up with away to reduce the frequency of this occuring.

Anyways, go to to this page and do the math assuming the current is accross your chest.

Many times people want to use the "zapped" word when they are discribing a shock through a short distance on a single limb or hand, this is not the same as a current traveling through the body.

Roger
 
How

How

So how is this done in Fl do they run a ground conductor to a series of connected metal studs and connect with a mechanical connetion? What size ground conductor would you use??
 
It is not just a Fl. thing. It is required by the 2006 Fl. Building AND the 2006 IBC. Grounding is accompleshed by using at least one metal box in the system. You must look over all the framing and be shure it is continuis. If not add straps or more metal boxes.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I guess I am not use to nm being used with metal studs-- we never use them around here. I guess I am surprised that the guy died from 110volts. I get zapped all the time with 110V but I guess it takes a bad heart or something. It doesn't sound like he was connected through the load.
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Quoting from the story "Local 6 News also learned that Ugalde's shoes were wet..."

Presumably that contributed as well. If his shoes were wet, or there was water on the floor, he couldn't very well release himself. Very sad, and definitely very bizarre.

Short screw too... That would have been fine in a 1-1/4" bored hole.
 
Jomaul said:
You will find this requirement in the Florida Building Code Sec 2704 and the Florida Building Code Residential in sec E3302
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That is great, but I don't live in Florida.;)

Cavie stated that this requirement is in the 2006 IBC as well as the Florida building code. Utah is under the 2006 IBC and I would like to know where he is getting his information.

I am not sure if Mike01 is in Florida or not.

Chris
 
Not Florida

Not Florida

No actually I am not located in Florida in Michigan rather, however I have worked on projects in Florida, and as well in other states that have adopted this code (IBC 2006) and looking thru it (I plan to do so more later) I could not find this in the code. Unless it is placed in some obscure place. Also what kind of screw is required to fasten the metal box to the studs? Does the screw have to be listed as suitable use for ?grounding / bonding?
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I guess I am surprised that the guy died from 110volts.
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If you take a look at the numbers I believe you will find 120 volt circuits cause the highest number of electrocutions in the US.

There is a reason that in general GFCIs are not required with circuits above 120 volts.
 
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