User and
Installation Guide
It shall be sized for the largest grounding electrode conductor required among all the available electrodes.
(a)Metal Underground Water Pipe. A metal underground water pipe in direct contact with the earth for 10 feet (3.05m) or more (including any metal well casing effectively bonded to the pipe) and electrically continuous by bonding around insulating joints or sections or insulating pipe to the points of connection of the grounding electrode conductor and the bonding conductors. Continuity of the grounding path or the bonding connection to interior piping shall not rely on water meters. A metal underground water pipe shall be supplemented by an additional electrode of a type specified in Section 250- 81 or in Section
Where none of the electrodes specified in Section
(a)Rod and Pipe Electrodes. Rod and pipe electrodes shall not be less than 8 feet (2.44m) in length and shall consist of the following materials, and shall be installed in the fol- lowing manner:
(1)Electrodes of pipe or conduit shall not be smaller than
(2)Electrodes of rods of iron or steel shall be at least 5/8 inch (15.87mm) in diameter. Stainless steel rods less than 5/8 inch (15.87mm) in diameter, nonferrous rods, or their equivalent shall be listed and shall not be less than 1/2 inch (12.7mm) in diameter.
(3)The electrode shall be installed such that at least 8 feet (2.44m) except that, where rock bottom is encountered, the electrode shall be driven at an oblique angle not to exceed 45 degrees from the vertical or shall be buried in a trench that is at least 2 1/2 feet (762mm) deep. The upper end of the electrode shall be flush with or below ground level unless the aboveground end and the grounding electrode conductor attachment are protected against physical damage as specified in Section