Shaking my head

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ivsenroute

ivsenroute

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Florida
I am doing some private work for a bank inspecting an extremely large residential home as it is constructed. It is a massive project, all concrete, including 18" of concrete between floors. Rather unique and quite the bunker.

Anyway, I stopped in and was taking some photos of the 400A main panel and I noticed that they had a #6 bare copper coming out of the panel & went through the foundation to the exterior.

They already have a 1/0 bare copper wire running through the entire footer all the way around this complex and it is attached at 6 of the corners with 8' ground rods so the GEC system is extensive and oversized.

I asked the guys what the bare copper wire was going out to bond and they said that it went outside to the 2 ground rods that they had to add. I asked why they had to add them. The answer was that the inspector said they were required and told them what to do.

I just shook my head, what a waste.
 
ivsenroute said:
..... The answer was that the inspector said they were required and told them what to do.

I just shook my head, what a waste.
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I have often contemplated how much money and material has been wasted every year just because someone doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to ask those three little words men find so hard to say... "Code reference, please".
 
wbalsam1 said:
Another example of an inspector making up code. :mad:
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perhaps not. In our area it would be a example of antiquated POCO rules.
local POCO says ground rod regardless. they also say any exterior service conduit must be metallic. still a waste, but not always the INSPECTOR's fault.
 
augie47 said:
perhaps not. In our area it would be a example of antiquated POCO rules.
local POCO says ground rod regardless. they also say any exterior service conduit must be metallic. still a waste, but not always the INSPECTOR's fault.
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You're absolutely right. I forgot about the Poco. They are quite smitten with those venerably historic ground rods!:smile:
 
On the flip side of the coin, it's equally frustrating to walk past a footer being constructed for a garage, and offer a casual reminder that we need to be sure provisions are made to connect to the Ufer - to hear "No, we don't, it's not on the prints. It calls for a 3/4" copper ground rod."

Well, in that case I guess I can quit carrying staples around, because they're not shown on the prints either. :D
 
ivsenroute said:
POCO not a factor in this case whatsoever
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That being the case, the ground rods are not required. 250.50 ('05 NEC) states that all grounding electrodes described in 250.52(A)(1) through (6) that are present at each building...shall be bonded together to form the GES.
The Ufer is present. Unless someone has driven ground rods at this building/structure, they are not present.
The "inspector" should be able to interpret something that clear. After all, the clarity has been worked on for a couple of code cycles now. Good luck.
 
Not always the POCO.

I was doing a church and asked the phone company what they require. The said two 4" PVC under the footer. I said they only wnt two lines. They said ..make that one 1" PVC.
 
1/0 for the UFER and #6 to the rods? Ask the inspector out for coffee. See what else he has to say. Don't forget the #1 rule, be polite as possible. Don't ridicule him, just see what he knows and what he doesn't.

This is priceless:cool:
 
ivsenroute said:
I am doing some private work for a bank inspecting an extremely large residential home as it is constructed. It is a massive project, all concrete, including 18" of concrete between floors. Rather unique and quite the bunker.

Anyway, I stopped in and was taking some photos of the 400A main panel and I noticed that they had a #6 bare copper coming out of the panel & went through the foundation to the exterior.

They already have a 1/0 bare copper wire running through the entire footer all the way around this complex and it is attached at 6 of the corners with 8' ground rods so the GEC system is extensive and oversized.

I asked the guys what the bare copper wire was going out to bond and they said that it went outside to the 2 ground rods that they had to add. I asked why they had to add them. The answer was that the inspector said they were required and told them what to do.

I just shook my head, what a waste.
Click to expand...
By me at least a water main ground if it were copper or metalic or in the abscence of a watermain ground at LEAST 1 ground rod. Not unusual 2 ground rods on 1 wire would be meaningless anyway would need 2 separate wires for 2 ground rods.
 
By me at least a water main ground if it were copper or metalic or in the abscence of a watermain ground at LEAST 1 ground rod. Not unusual 2 ground rods on 1 wire would be meaningless anyway would need 2 separate wires for 2 ground rods.
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I am now lost too on that one
 
76nemo said:
1/0 for the UFER and #6 to the rods? Ask the inspector out for coffee. See what else he has to say. Don't forget the #1 rule, be polite as possible. Don't ridicule him, just see what he knows and what he doesn't.

This is priceless:cool:
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Good answer...everyone needs to get on the same page.
 
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