Grounding And Bonding – Bonding is the electrical connection of all exposed metal objects that are not designed to carry electricity in a room or building. Grounding is the attachment of connected systems to the ground. Bonding and grounding are necessary to protect people and property from electrical hazards.
This guide explains how grounding and bonding work and the related 2020 and 2023 NEC requirements.
Grounding And Bonding
Electrical grounding, also known as grounding, connects electrical equipment to the ground. The goal is to create a conductive path for current to flow in the event of lightning strikes, accidental contacts, static charges and surges. In this case, discharges in grounded equipment will flow to earth instead of to sensitive equipment, sensitive circuits, or personnel.
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Grounding systems, including those for homes, use grounding rods, wires, and clamps that are sometimes called grounding conductors. For general applications, bars must be at least 8 feet long and 3/8 inch in diameter, per National Electrical Code® (NEC) Section 250.
Longer or more rods are often needed in drier locations where the soil is less conductive. For this, 10-foot rods and special grounding clamps are available to connect and extend the rods. If multiple bars are used, they must be spaced at least 6 feet apart to comply with NEC requirements.
Electrical connection is the connection of several conductive components that are not intended for current transmission. This creates a conductive path between equipment, enclosures, panels, metal parts and other structures. In the event of an electrical fault or surge, lightning strikes or accidental contacts, current will flow through the connected components.
The main difference between bonding and grounding is that bonding distributes electrical charge while grounding neutralizes it. To ensure that connected systems are as safe as possible, they should also be grounded. This is called grounding, and some electrical systems use specialized equipment to connect connected components to ground.
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For example, a busbar provides a common grounding point for all equipment within a single electrical cabinet. Similarly, bonding conductors can guide the flow of electricity from a large equipment rack to a ground bus or other grounding system.
Bonding and grounding work together to ensure that all components are in the path of a ground fault. This protects systems and personnel and aids in the proper operation of circuit breakers and ground fault detectors. Systems that are connected but not grounded are called floating systems and do not offer the same level of protection.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines grounding as the connection between an electrical circuit and a ground or an equivalent body that replaces the ground such as a grounding screen or counterweight. In contrast, a bond is defined as a connection between conductive parts designed to create a common electrical potential.
Management emphasizes that grounding cables carry fault current, while bonding cables generally do not. OSHA considers patch cords that carry fault current to be equivalent to grounding cords for this reason and to ensure safety for electricians.
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Grounding and bonding are dependent and essential parts of a safe electrical system. The NEC grounding and bonding requirements have been updated in the 2020 NEC standards.
To meet the protection needs of various industries, Article 250 of the NEC specifies which systems require grounding, grounding locations, types and sizes of grounding and bonding rods, and various methods of grounding and bonding. The NEC’s broad approach is necessary for widespread application, but leaves room for interpretation.
According to the NEC, grounded and ungrounded systems are allowed. Article 250 prohibits isolated foundations as the only protection measure. If multiple ground rods are available, all must be included in the systems.
Generally, systems must be grounded if they supply 120 volts or line to neutral loads. In particular, systems require grounding when:
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The NEC issues the same requirements for ungrounded systems except for electrical system grounding. Familiarize yourself with NEC Article 250 as well as local electrical codes to avoid misinterpretations, violations and provide effective protection.
Metal parts, equipment and housings should be glued. Special exceptions for equipment that must be isolated are not common, but they do exist. The general rule applies to any material that could become live in an event, especially items that are not intended to carry electricity. Examples of materials to be glued include:
NEC updates its code every three years. Recently, the code was updated to include new requirements for ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), which protect circuits if they come into contact with water. See our NEC 2023 Code Changes guide for an explanation of all the latest updates.
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Grounding and bonding are different but complementary ways of protecting against dangerous currents and electrical hazards. When properly applied, grounding and bonding create effective ground fault current paths that allow devices such as circuit breakers to operate and protect against faults. To ensure the highest level of protection, familiarize yourself with NEC Article 250 and your state or municipal codes.
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The information provided here does not constitute or is intended to constitute legal advice; instead, all content is for informational purposes only. This site does not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader and The Home Depot Pro. You should consult your attorney for advice regarding any legal question or concern. According to Inter’s standards of home inspection practice, an inspector is not required to inspect pools or spas. However, learning about the basic components and functions of residential pools, with a focus on permanent in-ground pools, will help inspectors identify deficiencies in their condition and installation. One important aspect of electrical safety is proper grounding and bonding of electrical and metal pool and spa equipment.
It is important to remember that water and electricity do not mix. Home inspectors should advise homeowners to consult with or hire an electrician instead of doing the electrical work themselves. Always proceed with caution and use personal protective equipment. Be aware of your surroundings when performing an inspection, especially when electrical parts and water are in close proximity to each other.
Grounding And Bonding: Introduction
Never grasp wires or components without disconnecting them from the power source. Wear rubber-soled shoes and rubber gloves. Do not stand in water while working on or inspecting electrical equipment. Be sure to identify all circuits that are connected to the pool equipment. When inspecting a pool or spa, check for unfinished or poor workmanship, especially electrical components, wiring and installation.
If you are only doing a visual inspection, stick to your eyes only, not your hands. Do not open anything that does not need to be opened, especially electrical components, boxes and panels.
Check for ground wire connections, loose wires and lines, and water leaks. Don’t forget that water is an efficient conductor of electricity. If there is an electrical problem with the pool equipment, it can malfunction and charge the entire pool or spa, making it deadly.
Electrical pool equipment must be grounded and connected by wiring methods in accordance with NFPA 70 National Electric Code® (NEC®).
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Grounding and bonding terminals should be identified as those used for wet and corrosive environments. Grounding and bonding connections should be made of copper, copper alloy or stainless steel. They should also be listed for direct burial.
Lighting fixtures and accompanying equipment should also be grounded. All lighting fixtures and fixtures must be connected to an insulated copper ground conductor not smaller than 12 AWG. Where non-metallic conduit is installed, it may be necessary to install an 8 AWG insulated copper bonding jumper in the conduit. Luminaires with wet niches powered by a flexible cable must have all exposed metal parts that are not under current voltage grounded.
The equipment grounding conductor should be installed with feeder conductors between the grounding terminal of the pool equipment panel and the grounding terminal of the corresponding service equipment.
Bonding is necessary so that all metal parts of the electrical equipment and non-electrical metal parts of the pool/spa structure achieve equal electrical potential. Bonding metal parts of electrical equipment creates a low-impedance path for fault current back into the source circuit to trip the surge current device. For equipment grounding, a separate insulated copper grounding conductor should be installed to the equipment grounding terminal on the main service panel. Sheet metal screws must not be used to connect connecting conductors.
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The following parts of swimming pools, spas and hot tubs must be interconnected with at least 8 AWG conductors or rigid metal conduit, including:
Bonding is the joining of metal parts to create an electrically conductive path that will result in electrical continuity between the components to ensure that the electrical potential will be the same throughout the part. This is called equipotential bonding. Keeping the electrical potential at the same level reduces the danger created by stray currents in the pool or in the ground around the pool. Connecting (or gluing) everything metal inside and around
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