Salting the grounding electrode

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shooter1

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Baghdad, Iraq
I'm in Iraq and have to deal with very dry sandy soils so getting under the 25 ohms on our grounding electrodes is tough. I understand the use of chemicals such as Magnesium Sulfate, Copper Sulfate and Rock Salt. I've seached the code and can find nothing allowing this but on the other hand nothing saying I can't. The only negative that I can see using rock salt would be the corrosion issue. Give me your thoughts; NEC violation or not.

Thank you,

Shooter1
 
JohnJ0906 said:
Besides for a single ground rod, there is no NEC requirement for grounding electrode resistance.

Do you have a spec with this requirement?
Click to expand...

So you are saying that the below does not apply?

250.56 Resistance of Rod, Pipe, and Plate Electrodes.
A single electrode consisting of a rod, pipe, or plate that does not have a resistance to ground of 25 ohms or less shall be augmented by one additional electrode of any of the types specified by 250.52(A)(4) through (A)(8). Where multiple rod, pipe, or plate electrodes are installed to meet the requirements of this section, they shall not be less than 1.8 m (6 ft) apart.
 
shooter1 said:
So you are saying that the below does not apply?

250.56 Resistance of Rod, Pipe, and Plate Electrodes.
A single electrode consisting of a rod, pipe, or plate that does not have a resistance to ground of 25 ohms or less shall be augmented by one additional electrode of any of the types specified by 250.52(A)(4) through (A)(8). Where multiple rod, pipe, or plate electrodes are installed to meet the requirements of this section, they shall not be less than 1.8 m (6 ft) apart.
Click to expand...


Where does it say you must have 25 ohms or less?
 
JohnJ0906 said:
Besides for a single ground rod, there is no NEC requirement for grounding electrode resistance.

Do you have a spec with this requirement?
Click to expand...

Sorry, it should have been single rod, pipe or plate.

I've never installed, or even seen a plate or pipe electrode.
But that doesn't apply to multiple rods, or water pipe, CCEs, building steel, etc.

I can drive 2 rods and walk away, even with a resistance of 100 ohms.
 
stickboy1375 said:
Where does it say you must have 25 ohms or less?
Click to expand...

OK I understand where everyone is going. No where does it say "shall" or "must". I work for the Air Force and it is required on this project. Main question is the salting.

Thank you all for the quick responses.
 
Shooter1, it is as John says, just add the second rod and call it done.

BTW, welcome to the forums.

Roger
 
shooter1 said:
OK I understand where everyone is going. No where does it say "shall" or "must". I work for the Air Force and it is required on this project. Main question is the salting.

Thank you all for the quick responses.
Click to expand...

OK, so you do have a spec requireing it. That of course is different.
 
shooter1 said:
OK I understand where everyone is going. No where does it say "shall" or "must". I work for the Air Force and it is required on this project. Main question is the salting.

Thank you all for the quick responses.
Click to expand...

Yes, you can salt the ground to get the resistance to a given number but, how long will this number remain?

If you were to check this resistance periodically you will see it does not remain the same.

Roger
 
roger said:
Shooter1, it is as John says, just add the second rod and call it done.

BTW, welcome to the forums.

Roger
Click to expand...

Thank you Roger I lurk every now and then. I deal with government inspectors and most of them don't know much but I have to prove every thing we do is with in the guide lines of the NEC.

Thanks again.
 
I would like to thank everyone for their comments and for the warm welcomes. Just to clarify things I'm not US Militay, I'm just a DOD Civilian (ole man from Texas). I don't want to take any thing from the great men and women I work with on a daily bases.

Thanks again,

Shooter1
 
shooter1 said:
I would like to thank everyone for their comments and for the warm welcomes. Just to clarify things I'm not US Militay, I'm just a DOD Civilian (ole man from Texas). I don't want to take any thing from the great men and women I work with on a daily bases.

Thanks again,

Shooter1
Click to expand...

Shooter.......welcome..... I am in DC and work with DOD Inspectors everyday..........You guys and gals got it tough reading and following spec books that look like a complete library to me......Take care over there.
 
You don't have to get 25 ohmsto satisfy the NEC but if you want to get close or better than 25 ohms for other reasons, then try these chemical rods. Click Here

ChemRod.jpg
 
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