Streetlighting Pullbox

[cmart]

I had one of our inspectors ask for the reason that our city requires a pullbox next a street light that is fed by an individual service pedestal that is 50 ft. away from the pole. Our standard shows a 5/8 inch by 10 ft. ground rod in the box. I would like to know if we are correct in requiring this with regards to NEC.

Thank You

 

[iwire]

Re: Streetlighting Pullbox

No neither the pull box or the ground rod are required by the NEC, both are allowed.

It could be a local amendment.

 

[tom baker]

Re: Streetlighting Pullbox

Open bottom handholes are commonly used in roadway lighting. Its not a recognized code wiring method exactly, but will be shown in the scope of article 314 for the 2005 NEC. The conductors in the box should be rated for direct burial, and if a metal lid and frame it must be bonded to an effective ground fault return path.

The ground rod serves no usefull purpose. A civil engineer typically drives the bus on roadway lighting and traffic signal applications, so with out a real understanding of what a ground rod does they spec them.

If you find out who designed the system and they feel the ground rod protects the luminare from lightning or the pole foundation from lightning, and if they can point to recognized study or report that backs that claim up, I would like to see it.
And if they say it reduces touch potential, ask them to prove it.

[ January 28, 2004, 09:34 PM: Message edited by: tom baker ]