Plans say: "Ground metal water pipes."

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Joe.B

Joe.B

Senior Member
Location
Myrtletown Ca
Occupation
Building Inspector
ground.jpg

It was properly bonded elsewhere so I signed off, but this had me laughing a good old belly laugh. Hey, at least he used the right clamps right?
 
That looks like the pipe has one of those quick connect couplings. Are they listed for maintaining the electrical integrity? Also the back half of the clamp on the rod is backwards? Clamp too big for rod.
 
It's questionable whether the clamp is listed for the rod. It's also questionable whether he should have used clamps with bronze screws that will last much longer in the outdoor environment.
 
Without knowing the brand and model of the clamp, it's pure speculation. But I agree the screws should be bronze for DB listing.
 
Interesting that nobody mentioned the absurdity of grounding a metal pipe coming out of the ground. :unsure:
 
LarryFine said:
Interesting that nobody mentioned the absurdity of grounding a metal pipe coming out of the ground. :unsure:
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Just thought that was too obvious, But nobody commented about the push connect water pipe coupler used? Their "bond" was made above that. So did they drive the rod because the waterpipe was no longer the grounding electrode. I doubt it.
 
It is my understanding that the buildings have a mix of steel and copper water pipes, it's an apartment complex with about 12 buildings, all built at different times. None of the buildings are new enough to have plastic piping. I asked about the sharkbite connector and they are not intended to maintain conductivity. This is why they installed this setup, I would have thought that a little jumper around the compression fitting would have been cheaper and easier, but I guess this achieves the same goal. The buildings are properly grounded and bonded elsewhere so I felt that I could "ignore" this. I thought it was pretty funny though...
 
Joe.B said:
It is my understanding that the buildings have a mix of steel and copper water pipes, it's an apartment complex with about 12 buildings, all built at different times. None of the buildings are new enough to have plastic piping. I asked about the sharkbite connector and they are not intended to maintain conductivity. This is why they installed this setup, I would have thought that a little jumper around the compression fitting would have been cheaper and easier, but I guess this achieves the same goal. The buildings are properly grounded and bonded elsewhere so I felt that I could "ignore" this. I thought it was pretty funny though...
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If I had concerns or if this is a grounding electrode - I say jumper the sharkbite connector. That buried water pipe likely has less resistance to earth than that rod - presuming it was specifically driven for this purpose.
 
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