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Section 09

Grounding Methods for

Electric Supply and
Communications Facilities

090. PURPOSE

The purpose of Sec. 09 is to provide practical methods of grounding. Grounding

is one of the ways to protect people from hazardous voltages. Grounding also
allows protective devices to operate during a fault condition. The basic theory
behind grounding is to keep the voltage of a grounded part (e.g., equipment case,
neutral conductor, etc.) as close as possible to the potential of the earth so that a
voltage difference does not exist between a person and a grounded metal object.
The Code states in this rule that grounding is used as one of the means of safe-
guarding employees and the public from injury. Other means include, but are not
limited to, guarding, clearance heights, short circuit protection, etc.

091. SCOPE

The scope of Sec. 09 is to provide the methods of protective grounding for sup-
ply and communication conductors and equipment. The requirements for
grounding are listed in the other parts of the Code (i.e., the grounding rules in
Part 1, “Electric Supply Stations,” Part 2, “Overhead Lines,” Part 3, “Under-
ground Lines,” and Part 4, “Work Rules”). The scope of Sec. 09 does not
include the grounded return of electric railways or lightning protection not
associated with supply and communication wires, for example, lightning pro-
tection installed on a commercial building.

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18 GENERAL SECTIONS Rule 092A

092. POINT OF CONNECTION OF GROUNDING

CONDUCTOR

092A. Direct Current Systems That Are to Be Grounded. This rule has basic
connection requirements for direct-current (DC) systems. For 750 V and less,
the grounding conductor connection must be made only at the supply station.
For three-wire DC circuits, the connection must be made to the neutral. For DC
systems over 750 V, the grounding conductor connection must be made at both
the supply and load points. The connection must be made to the neutral of the
system. The ground or grounding electrode can be external or remote from
each of the stations. This permits separating the electrode from areas with
ground currents that can cause electrolytic damage. The Code permits one of
the two stations to have its grounding connection made through a surge
arrester as long as the other station has the neutral effectively grounded. An
exception is provided for the 750 V and greater category for back-to-back DC
converter stations that are adjacent to each other. For this condition the neutral
of the system should be connected to ground at one point only.

092B. Alternating-Current Systems That Are

to Be Grounded

092B1. 750 V and Below. The point of grounding connection on alternating-

current (AC) grounding connection on wye-connected, three-phase, four-wire,
and single-phase, three-wire systems operated at 750 V and below is shown in
Fig. 092-1.
On other one-, two-, or three-phase systems feeding lighting circuits, a ground-
ing connection must be made to a common circuit conductor. Common examples
include a 120/240-V, three-phase, four-wire center tap delta service, a 120/208-V,
single-phase, three-wire service fed from a 120/208-V, three-phase, four-wire serv-
ice, or a 120-V, single-phase, two-wire service fed from a 120/240-V, single-phase,
three-wire service.
Wye and delta circuits that are not grounded or do not use a common (neutral)
conductor for grounding cannot be used to serve lighting loads. See Fig. 092-2.
Grounding connections must be made at the source and line side of a service
as shown in Fig. 092-3.
092B2. Over 750 V. Nonshielded conductors (e.g., bare neutral conductors)
must be grounded as shown in Fig. 092-4.
The wording in Rule 092B2a requires unigrounding at the source (substation
transformer) and permits, but does not require, multigrounding along the line.
However, various rules in Part 2, “Overhead Lines,” and Part 3, “Underground
Lines,” will require systems to be effectively grounded. Effectively grounded
systems typically need to be multigrounded to provide sufficiently low ground
impedance. Multigrounded systems are discussed in Rule 096C.
Shielded conductors on riser poles must be grounded as shown in Fig. 092-5.
Shielded cables without an insulating jacket must be grounded as shown in
Fig. 092-6.
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Rule 092B2 GROUNDING METHODS: SUPPLY & COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES 19

Fig. 092-1. Grounding connection on wye-connected three-phase, four-wire and single-

phase, three-wire systems (Rule 092B1).
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20 GENERAL SECTIONS Rule 092B2

Fig. 092-2. Wye and delta systems not to be used for lighting loads (Rule 092B1).
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092B2 GROUNDING METHODS: SUPPLY & COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES 21

Fig. 092-3. Grounding connections at source and line side of a service

(Rule 092B1).
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22 GENERAL SECTIONS Rule 092B3

See
Photo

Fig. 092-4. Grounding connections for nonshielded cables over 750 V (Rule 092B2a).

Shielded cables with an insulating jacket must be grounded as shown in

Fig. 092-7.
Shielded cable without an insulating jacket that is buried in direct contact
with the earth has an advantage of being grounded all along its length. However,
direct-buried shielded cable without an insulating jacket is susceptible to corro-
sion. The insulating jacket can prevent corrosion of the shield or concentric neu-
tral, but grounding is not as effective. Shielded cables with an insulating jacket
may need to have a section of jacket removed and a ground attachment made to
meet the multigrounding requirements of Rule 096C. The same applies to both
bare and jacketed concentric neutral cables installed in conduit.
092B3. Separate Grounding Conductor. If a separate grounding conductor is
used on an AC system to be grounded as an adjunct (joined addition) to a cable
run underground, there are several conditions that apply. The separate grounding
conductor must be connected directly or through the neutral to items that must
be grounded. The conductor must be located as shown in Fig. 092-8.
Adjunct (joined addition) grounding conductors are typically used with
shielded supply cables. If the shield on the supply cable is not a sufficient
size to carry neutral current or fault current, an adjunct grounding cable can
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Rule 092B3 GROUNDING METHODS: SUPPLY & COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES 23

See
Photo

Fig. 092-5. Surge arrester cable—shielding interconnection (Rule

092B2b(1)).

See
Photo

Fig. 092-6. Grounding points for a shielded cable without an insulating jacket (Rule 092B2b(2)).
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24 GENERAL SECTIONS Rule 092B3

Fig. 092-7. Grounding points for a shielded cable with an insu-

lating jacket (Rule 092B2b(3)).

Fig. 092-8. Separate (adjunct) grounding conductor (Rule 983B3).

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Rule 092E GROUNDING METHODS: SUPPLY & COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES 25

be used. An adjunct grounding conductor should not be used to replace a cor-

roded concentric neutral conductor in a direct-buried cable. Rule 350B
requires that a direct-buried cable operating above 600 V have a continuous
metallic shield, sheath, or concentric neutral. The adjunct grounding con-
ductor can be used to supplement the concentric neutral but not replace it if
it has corroded away.

092C. Messenger Wires and Guys

092C1. Messenger Wires. The point of connection of the grounding conduc-
tor to messenger wires that are required to be grounded by other parts of the
code is shown in Fig. 092-9.
Communications messenger wires on joint-use poles are required to be
grounded in Part 2, “Overhead Lines,” to meet certain clearance and grade of con-
struction requirements. The messenger must meet certain ampacity and strength
criteria defined in Rules 093C1, 093C2, and 093C5. The four grounds per mile rule
appears here for the first time in the Code. It is discussed in detail in Rule 096C.
092C2. Guys. The point of connection of the grounding conductor to guys that
are required to be grounded by other parts of the code is shown in Fig. 092-10.
Guys must be either grounded or insulated per Rule 215C2 and Rule 279A2.
If they are grounded, they must be grounded using the methods in this rule.
092C3. Common Grounding of Messengers and Guys on the Same Supporting
Structure. When messengers and guys are on the same supporting structure
and they are required to be grounded by other parts of the Code, they must be
bonded together and grounded by the connection methods listed in this rule.
The methods listed are a combination of the messenger and guy connection
requirements. When a messenger and guy are on a common crossing structure,
they must be bonded together at that structure and grounded. For structures
other than crossing structures, the common grounding of messengers and guys
must be done at least four (or eight) times in each mile but not at any specific
structure. Common bonding and grounding of a messenger and guy at a com-
mon crossing structure are shown in Fig. 092-11.
092D. Current in Grounding Conductor. This rule recognizes that multi-
grounded systems, for example, a 12.47/7.2-kV, three-phase, four-wire circuit
that has four or more grounds per mile may develop objectionable current flow
on the grounding conductor. This rule provides methods to alleviate the objec-
tionable current flow.
Objectionable current flow may exist due to stray earth currents or other rea-
sons. Fault currents and lightning discharge currents are not considered objec-
tionable current flows when applying this rule.
092E. Fences. When fences are required to be grounded by other parts of
this Code, they must be connected to a grounding conductor as shown in
Fig. 092-12.
This rule provides both specific requirements for fence grounding (Rules
092E1 through 092E6) and general requirements by noting IEEE Standard 80,
which is the industry standard for substation grounding information. An
example of substation fence grounding is shown in Fig. 092-13.
Fence mesh strands are only required to be bonded if the fence posts are
nonconducting. For conducting (metal) fence posts, the fence mesh must be
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26 GENERAL SECTIONS Rule 093A

See
Photo
Fig. 092-9. Grounding of messenger wires (Rule 092C1).

under tension and electrically connected to the post for the mesh to be
grounded. In the example shown in Fig. 092-13, the grounding conductor feed
up to the barbwire strands is woven through the chain-link mesh for added
grounding continuity.

093. GROUNDING CONDUCTOR AND MEANS

OF CONNECTION

093A. Composition of Grounding Conductors. Grounding conductors can be

copper or other metals or combinations of metals that will not corrode during
their expected service life under the existing conditions. Surge arrester con-
nections must be short, straight, and free from sharp bends. Metallic electrical
equipment cases or the structural metal frame of a building can also be used as
a grounding conductor. Many utilities use copper for the entire length of the
grounding conductor. Some utilities use aluminum or ACSR. Typically, the alu-