Residential Electrical Panel Grounding Requirements

Here s a good rule of thumb.

Residential electrical panel grounding requirements. Grounding shall consist of a continuous grounding electrode conductor run from the panel to a grounding electrode. According to the national electrical code or nec a ground system should have a grounding resistance of 25 ohms or less. Most local codes are based on the national electrical code nec a document that lays out required practices for all aspects of residential and commercial electrical. Achieving this may require more than one ground rod.

A service panel requires a working clearance that s 30 in. The various types of grounding electrodes the systems that have to be bonded and a thorough discussion on why bonding is performed. 1 a grounding electrode system shall bond to one of the following items if they are available 2003 irc e3508 1. Second the main electrical panel must be grounded to a grounding electrode such as a ground rod or rods driven into the earth near the foundation of your house.

A residential grounding electrode is an 8 foot length of copper rod driven into the ground outside the home and connected to the neutral side of the main panel with a copper cable. The grounding wire that runs from your electrical panel to grounding electrode helps even out voltage increases that often occur because of lightning and. These clearances are designed to protect the person working on the panel. Residential electrical code examples for grounding.

Metal underground water pipe unless it is further than five feet from the building b. If you can t park a refrigerator in front of the panel you don t have enough working space. A premise s electrical service shall be connected to a grounding electrode system consisting of a metal underground water pipe in direct contact with earth for 10 feet or more if available on the premises and a supplemental electrode a rod pipe or plate electrode an additional electrode shall supplement the buried water pipe electrode. Electrical codes are in place to protect you the homeowner.

These general guidelines will give you the basics of what electrical inspectors are looking for when they review both remodeling projects and new installations. Wide three feet deep and six feet eight inches high in the national electric code. Concrete encased electrode footing rebar c. Although the piping system is bonded to the ground through your main electrical service panel the panel grounding and the piping bonding are unrelated when it comes to function.