When are grounding electrodes required in separate structures?

[Johnny123]

I'm a bit confused by section 250.32, when it comes to grounding a detached garage. 250.32(A) is pretty clear, in that it says. If it's a building or structure, and it's supplied by a feeder or branch circuit, it requires a grounding electrode. But then the exception confuses things.

Exception: A grounding electrode shall not be required where only a single branch circuit, including a multiwire branch circuit, supplies the building or structure and the branch circuit includes an equipment grounding conductor for grounding the normally non?current-carrying metal parts of equipment.

So if I bring a multiwire branch circuit from the house to a detached garage and use it to supply a few lights and receptacles, I don't need a grounding electrode?

But what if I install a subpanel in the detached garage? Do I follow a different code section? Does a subpanel automatically require a grounding electrode?

 

[Smart $]

I'm a bit confused by section 250.32, when it comes to grounding a detached garage. 250.32(A) is pretty clear, in that it says. If it's a building or structure, and it's supplied by a feeder or branch circuit, it requires a grounding electrode. But then the exception confuses things.



So if I bring a multiwire branch circuit from the house to a detached garage and use it to supply a few lights and receptacles, I don't need a grounding electrode?

But what if I install a subpanel in the detached garage? Do I follow a different code section? Does a subpanel automatically require a grounding electrode?

If you install a subpanel (or any other type of OCPD in the supply conductors, with the exception of a supplementary OCPD) then the supplying conductors would be a feeder... so the exception would not apply.