Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

[tlr4q2]

I have a question on some homework for a Thirty Hour OSHA class that reads:

" What is the proper wire color of the following terms under 1926.449(definitions);
" Grounded"
" Grounding"
I've look under that OSHA standard but have not seen any reference to the color code of the two terms in question.

 

[mjf]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

grounded-white
grounding-green

 

[pierre]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Does grounding in this case mean Grounding Electrode Conductor (GEC) or Equipment Grounding Conductor (EGC)?
If it is the EGC, green is the color. If it is the GEC, there is no color requirement in the NEC for the GEC.

250.119 Identification of Equipment Grounding Conductors. Tells us the EGC has to be bare, covered or insulated. If covered or insulated, than generally it is to be green in color.

Technically speaking, a GEC should not be identified as green in color, because the EGC as per NEC is to be green.

In the 2005 NEC, I believe this has been addressed and the GEC will be permitted to be identified as green in color.

Pierre

 

[ryan_618]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Hi Pierre. I'm not sure that I agree with your statement regarding the color of the GEC.

When I read 200.6/200.7, it tells me that if you have a white conductor, it cvan only be used as a grounded conductor (with some exceptions).

Wehn I read 250.119, it tells me that if I have an EGC, it must be green or bare, but I don't see the limitation on the green's use like I see the limitation of the color white's use.

I agree that the GEC need not be green, but I also believe that having a green GEC is not a violation. JMO

 

[websparky]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Hi Guys,

Come 2005, I think this will be what we will see!

250.119 Identification of Equipment Grounding Conductors.
Unless required elsewhere in this Code, equipment grounding conductors shall be permitted to be bare, covered, or insulated. Individually covered or insulated equipment grounding conductors shall have a continuous outer finish that is either green or green with one or more yellow stripes except as permitted in this section. Conductors with insulation that is green, green with one or more yellow stripes, or identified as permitted by this section shall be used only as an equipment grounding conductor.
(ROP 5?1, 5?220)

 

[ryan_618]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Hi Dave. Thanks for posting this. I must add, if I may, that I think this being passed is a mistake. This would mean that any bonding jumper could not be green in color.


Let me edit this. I have no problem with a bonding jumper or grounding electrode conductor this black, but I do think it is silly to not allow a green GEC or bonding jumper. It simply makes no sense considering the fact that the EGC and bonding jumpers are both serving the same purpose, which is establishing the effective ground fault current path, as defined in 250.2 and discussed in 250.4.

[ March 28, 2004, 11:33 AM: Message edited by: ryan_618 ]

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Dave,
That proposal was edited in the commnet stage because the proposal as accepted in the proposal stage would have prohibited the use of green for grounding electrode conductors and bonding conductors.

5-196 Log #385 NEC-P05 Final Action: Accept in Principle
Revise 250.119 to read as follows:
?250.119 Identification of Equipment Grounding Conductors.
Unless required elsewhere in this Code, equipment grounding conductors shall be permitted to be bare, covered, or insulated. Individually covered or insulated equipment grounding conductors shall have a continuous outer finish that is either green or green with one or more yellow stripes except as permitted in this section. Conductors with insulation or individual covering that is green, green with one or more yellow stripes, or otherwise identified as permitted by this section shall not be used for ungrounded or grounded circuit conductors.?

This added wording will permit the use of bare conductors and conductors with green insulation to be used for all bonding and grounding purposes.
Don

 

[pierre]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

I am curious to see if I am reading the current NEC properly. I have read Ryan's post (with due respect). What do others think of the requirement as presently written to be restricting the use of the GEC to not be identified as green, or that it does not restrict the color green to EGCs, and the GEC can be identified with green color.

Pierre

[ March 28, 2004, 12:49 PM: Message edited by: pierre ]

 

[charlie b]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Here?s how I read it. Per 200.6, ?Grounded? cannot be green. Per 200.7, white, gray, and white stripes must be used for ?Grounded,? and for nothing else. Per 250.119, ?Equipment Grounding Conductors? must be green or green with yellow stripes. Per 400.23, in a flexible cord, the green can be used for nothing other than ?for equipment grounding purposes.? There are other rules related to green screw terminals and to green conductors in theaters, mobile homes, and RVs. 551.55 explicitly forbids the use of green for anything other than equipment grounding and bonding conductors, but it applies only to RVs and to RV Parks. 552.56 has a similar, but not quite identical restriction, in that it forbids the use of green for anything other than equipment grounding conductors (i.e., it doesn?t mention bonding conductors). Here again, this article applies only to Park Trailers. I could find not general statement that would forbid the use of green for ?Ungrounded,? for ?Grounding Electrode Conductor,? or ?Main Bonding Jumper.?

My conclusion is that green is OK for the GEC, and it is also OK for the hot conductor. At least, it is not a code violation to use green for either application. But I think we should avoid green hots, even if the code doesn?t tell us to.

 

[iwire]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Charlie I agree with you if we read the code word for word and do not apply commonsense to it (pretend we are lawyers ) it seems green is OK for hots.

We do have this to 'get around'.

310.12(C) Ungrounded Conductors. Conductors that are intended for use as ungrounded conductors, whether used as a single conductor or in multiconductor cables, shall be finished to be clearly distinguishable from grounded and grounding conductors. Distinguishing markings shall not conflict in any manner with the surface markings required by 310.11(B)(1).
Exception: Conductor identification shall be permitted in accordance with 200.7.

I think we could say in an all NM building with all bare grounding conductors that green hots are clearly distinguishable from grounded and grounding conductors.

 

[websparky]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Hi Don,

I'm glad you pointed this out!

shall not be used for ungrounded or grounded circuit conductors - VS - shall be used only as an equipment grounding conductor

Makes a lot more sense

 

[charlie b]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Originally posted by iwire: We do have this to 'get around'.

Good catch Bob. I was hoping someone would find something that I had missed. I was surprised that I could find no prohibition against green hots. But I think the article you quoted would serve in most cases.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

... Conductors with insulation or individual covering that is green, green with one or more yellow stripes, or otherwise identified as permitted by this section shall not be used for ungrounded or grounded circuit conductors.

Will the panel action on comment 5-196 which resulted in the above wording prohibit the use of bare grounded and ungrounded conductors? It appears to me that it will.
Don

 

[websparky]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Don,
Do you mean because of this?

equipment grounding conductors shall be permitted to be bare, covered, or insulated.

Besides, when would we use a bare conductor for the "grounded" or "ungrounded" conductor?

Or, am I missing your point??

 

[iwire]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Dave typically SE uses a bare conductor for the grounded conductor.

There are a few items listed in 230.41 where we are allowed to use bare grounded conductors.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Dave,
I was thinking about triplex and open wires on insulators.
Don

 

[ryan_618]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Hi Don. If I were inspecting a service that had Triplex for an overhead drop, I wouldn't consider red-tagging it for the proposed change to 250.119. In my opinion, the grounded conductor on the supply side is doing the exact same thing as the EGC is on the load side: clearing faults. With that in mind, I would have no problem with it, but you are correct, it would be a violation.

 

[iwire]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Ryan thats nice of you but do you not see a conflict between the new proposed wording of 250.119 and the exceptions to 230.41?

230.41 Insulation of Service-Entrance Conductors.

Service-entrance conductors entering or on the exterior of buildings or other structures shall be insulated.

Exception: A grounded conductor shall be permitted to be uninsulated as follows:

(a)Bare copper used in a raceway or part of a service cable assembly.

(b)Bare copper for direct burial where bare copper is judged to be suitable for the soil conditions.

(c)Bare copper for direct burial without regard to soil conditions where part of a cable assembly identified for underground use.

(d)Aluminum or copper-clad aluminum without individual insulation or covering where part of a cable assembly or identified for underground use in a raceway, or for direct burial.

(e)Bare conductors used in an auxiliary gutter.

[ March 29, 2004, 04:42 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

Ryan,
I was not thinking about the service drop because that is not normally within the scope of the NEC. Triplex or quadplex is often used on the load side of the service and this change could prohibit the use of the bare conductor as the grounded conductor.
Don

 

[caosesvida]

Re: Proper wire color for Grounded, Grounding

urd is black with a yellow stripe around here, for the grounded conductor. It identified, just curious about the black with white stripe note.