NO GROUND ROD?

Status
Not open for further replies.
telak engineer

telak engineer

Member
Location
Alaska
As a telecommunications company I require all premise locations to be bonded to the electric utility ground under article 800.100 in aerial applications. I have multiple instances where the electric utility does not have a ground rod at the premise and they state that the ground is at the utility pole which feeds the premise.

Is this acceptable?
 
Re: NO GROUND ROD?

The utility company is not responsible for installing grounding electrode systems on customer premises. Even on new construction a ground rod may not always be used, a substitute may be chosen, there are several other methods available, see the NEC.

As far as grounding phone systems, you are on the right track................it must be bonded back to the main grounding electrode system. So if you decide to drop a ground rod at the phone service, continue on with a bonding jumper from the rod to house grounding electrode system,(water line, UFER, etc.) If the house grounding system is all inside, then you will need to drill a hole and pull your bond wire inside.
 
Re: NO GROUND ROD?

Thanks for your reply.
To be a little more specific I was inquiring if it was acceptable that the electric utility not have any bond at the premise to any of the acceptable locations as stated in 250.52 and are solely relying on the utility pole ground. They are stating that their path to ground is from their meterbase thru the aerial service wire back to the pole.
 
Re: NO GROUND ROD?

The neutral wire that comes to the premise is grounded at the pole / transformer. They are grounding their side of the service. The premises is grounded by the installer of the service equipment. There is no need for them to do any type of grounding at the premises. Once they bring their service to the premises, there responsibility ends as far as wiring, grounding and bonding. Now once they take care of their end and the installer properly grounds the premises system, everything is fine, safe and meets NEC requirements.

When it comes to Phone, Cable, Satellite, etc. the installer MUST bond their installation to the premises grounding electrode system......even if they drop their own ground rod, they still have to bond it to the building system.

Again, as far as the utility company goes, I have never seen a case where they were responsible for handling any type of grounding at the premises.
 
Re: NO GROUND ROD?

Teltak, to be more specific, their service drop is bonded at the pole, meter base and service equipment. Once the installer makes their grounding connection, all requirements are met and everything you see is bonded. So YES their statements / position is correct.
 
Re: NO GROUND ROD?

By Stud696981: If the house grounding system is all inside, then you will need to drill a hole and pull your bond wire inside.
Click to expand...
This is not quite how it is required in the NEC.

800.40(B) clearly allows it to be bonded to many places in the electrode system and can be bonded to the "outside" service pipe, Meter cabnet, Etc...

(B) Electrode. The grounding conductor shall be connected in accordance with 800.40(B)(1) and (B)(2).

(1) In Buildings or Structures with Grounding Means. To the nearest accessible location on the following:
(1) The building or structure grounding electrode system as covered in 250.50
(2) The grounded interior metal water piping system, within 1.5 m (5 ft) from its point of entrance to the building, as covered in 250.52
(3) The power service accessible means external to enclosures as covered in 250.94
(4) The metallic power service raceway
(5) The service equipment enclosure
(6) The grounding electrode conductor or the grounding electrode conductor metal enclosure
(7) The grounding conductor or the grounding electrode of a building or structure disconnecting means that is grounded to an electrode as covered in 250.32.
For purposes of this section, the mobile home service equipment or the mobile home disconnecting means, as described in 800.30(B), shall be considered accessible.
Click to expand...
 
Re: NO GROUND ROD?

Teltak, to be more specific, their service drop is bonded at the pole, meter base and service equipment. Once the installer makes their grounding connection, all requirements are met and everything you see is bonded. So YES their statements / position is correct.
Click to expand...
Installing a meter pan and / or service equipment it is the responsibility of the EC to ground the equipment, not the utility company. It is then also the EC's responsibility to BOND the customers prem.
 
Re: NO GROUND ROD?

Added: You should never rely on the utility company to provide you with a proper ground or "bond".

You should only use the ground that was provided at the service equipment by the EC.

The utility company is only responsible for what happens outside of the prem and the EC is responsible inside the prem.

Good Luck
 
Re: NO GROUND ROD?

Doesn`t all service equipt have to be bonded /grounded to building steel ???? ground rods are suplimental .If a copper water system it has to be in the loop ;)
 
Re: NO GROUND ROD?

I belive Metal Frame of the building or structure is a permitted grounding electrode but is not necessary if other means of grounding are met.

I may be wrong, or half wrong... Just looking at 250.52
 
Re: NO GROUND ROD?

Originally posted by coppertreeelectric:
I belive Metal Frame of the building or structure is a permitted grounding electrode but is not necessary if other means of grounding are met.

I may be wrong, or half wrong... Just looking at 250.52
Click to expand...
If it is available on the premise it must be used. It is not optional.
--
Tom H
 
Re: NO GROUND ROD?

Steve look at 250.50:
250.50 Grounding Electrode System.
If available on the premises at each building or structure served, each item in 250.52(A)(1) through (A)(6) shall be bonded together to form the grounding electrode system. Where none of these electrodes are available, one or more of the electrodes specified in 250.52(A)(4) through (A)(7) shall be installed and used.
Click to expand...
It has to be used if available, and metal building steel is second in the list in 250.52
The word "shall" Is a requirment word, see 90.5
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top