Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 7

Earthing Systems Design steps – Part Six ~ Electrical Knowhow http://www.electrical-knowhow.com/2013/11/metal-piping-and-structure...

Earthing Systems Design steps – Part Six SEARCH

Search
In Article " Earthing Systems Design steps – Part One ", I indicated the following points:

Earthing Systems Design Steps

Follow Us on
A grounding system design process has (3) main steps:

1. Data Collection,
2. Data Analysis,
3. Grounding Design Calculations. Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

In the above Article and Article " Earthing Systems Design steps – Part Two ", I explained the first step: Data Collection.

Also, in Article " Earthing Systems Design steps – Part Three ", I explained the second step: Data Analysis.

And in Article " Earthing Systems Design steps – Part Four "  I explained What we are going to design for grounding system in any building?

What we are going to design for grounding system in any building?

Grounding system in any building can be broken down into several subdivisions:

1. The building exterior grounds,


2. The electrical service grounding,
3. The building interior bonding,
4. Equipment grounding and bonding,
5. Lightning protection.

In this Article, I explained the Building Exterior Grounds and Today I will explain Other Building’s Earthing System Divisions as follows.

You can preview the following Articles for more info:

Introduction to Grounding System Design – Part One


Introduction to Grounding System Design – Part Two
Types of Earthing System – Part One
Types of Earthing System – Part Two
How to Select the Best Earthing System
Earthing System Components – Part One
Earthing System Components – Part Two
Earthing System Components – Part Three
Electrical Properties of the Earthing System

In Article " Earthing Systems Design steps – Part Five ", I indicated the five subdivisions of The Building Interior Bonding which were:

1 of 7 16/11/2021, 14:25
Earthing Systems Design steps – Part Six ~ Electrical Knowhow http://www.electrical-knowhow.com/2013/11/metal-piping-and-structure...

The Building Interior Bonding

Building Interior Bonding can be broken down into several subdivisions:

1. Bonding of Equipment for Services.


2. Bonding for Other Systems
3. Bonding Other Enclosures.
4. Bonding for Over 250 Volts
5. Bonding of Piping Systems and Exposed Structural Steel.
6. Bonding of Interior Metal Columns and Beams

And I explained three subdivisions in this article and today I will continue explaining other subdivisions of The Building Interior Bonding.

4- Bonding for Over 250 Volts

4.1 The bonding requirements for electrical circuits which operate at over 250 volts to ground:

NEC Section 250-97 requires that such circuits be bonded to ensure electrical continuity of metal raceways or cable armors or sheaths that contain any conductor
other than service conductors shall be ensured by one or more of the methods specified for services in 250.92(B), except for (B)(1).

4.2 Methods of Bonding for Circuits Over 250 Volts

First case: Where oversized concentric or eccentric knockouts are present in a


box or an enclosure (see fig.1)

The permissible methods which can be used to achieve the required bonding are:

1. Threaded connections,
2. Threadless couplings and connectors,
3. Bonding jumpers,
4. Other approved devices.

Notes:

These methods are the same as those used for service equipment with
the exception of the grounded conductor which is not permitted for over
250 volt applications.
If the box or enclosure has been listed for use with these concentric or
eccentric locknuts it will be identified or labeled as such. If a box or
enclosure is encountered and such identification is not provided, one of
the methods listed above must be used and the exception is not
applicable.

2 of 7 16/11/2021, 14:25
Earthing Systems Design steps – Part Six ~ Electrical Knowhow http://www.electrical-knowhow.com/2013/11/metal-piping-and-structure...

Fig-1

Second case: Where oversized concentric or eccentric knockouts are not


encountered or where they are encountered in a box or enclosure which
has been tested and listed as suitable for bonding

The permissible methods which can be used to achieve the required bonding
are:

1. Threadless couplings and connectors for cables with metal sheaths,


2. Two locknuts, on rigid metal conduit or intermediate metal conduit, one
inside and one outside of boxes and cabinets,
3. Fittings with shoulders that seat firmly against the box or cabinet, such
as electrical metallic tubing connectors, flexible metal conduit
connectors, and cable connectors, with one locknut on the inside of
boxes and cabinets,
4. Listed fittings.

Note:

The second case permits the connection of a raceway or cable to an


enclosure without having to use special bonding hardware under any
of the three methods.

5- Bonding of Piping Systems and Exposed Structural Steel

5.1 Metal Water Piping

5.1.1 Requirements for bonding interior metal water piping systems

Section 250-104 of the NEC contains requirements for bonding interior


metal water piping systems, other piping systems and structural steel.
Metal water piping system(s) installed in or attached to a building or
structure shall be bonded to the service equipment enclosure, the
grounded conductor at the service, the grounding electrode conductor
where of sufficient size, or to the one or more grounding electrodes
used.
The use of nonmetallic water piping mains can result in the interior
metal piping system of a multiple-occupancy building to be isolated from
ground and from the other occupancies. Therefore, the water pipe is
permitted to be bonded to the panelboard or switchboard that serves
only that particular occupancy.
The grounded conductor of each separately derived system shall be
bonded to the nearest available point of the metal water piping
system(s) in the area served by each separately derived system. This
connection shall be made at the same point on the separately derived
system where the grounding electrode conductor is connected.

3 of 7 16/11/2021, 14:25
Earthing Systems Design steps – Part Six ~ Electrical Knowhow http://www.electrical-knowhow.com/2013/11/metal-piping-and-structure...

Metal Water Piping Bonding

Notes

Installers of electrical systems should note that even if for some reason
the metal water piping is not used as part of the grounding electrode
system it is still required to be bonded per Section 250-104.
The purpose of such bonding is to ensure that the metal water piping
throughout the building or structure is at the same potential to ground as
the service ground. Keeping the water piping at the same potential helps
to ensure that an electrical shock hazard could not exist if the metal
piping were to become inadvertently energized.
A separate bonding jumper to the metal water piping system shall not be
required where the metal water piping system is used as the grounding
electrode for the separately derived system and the water piping system
is in the area served.
A separate water piping bonding jumper shall not be required where the
metal frame of a building or structure is used as the grounding electrode
for a separately derived system and is bonded to the metal water piping
in the area served by the separately derived system.

5.2 Other Metal Piping

Requirements for bonding Other Metal Piping

Any interior piping systems, such as, domestic well water, or any piping which
contains a liquid or a gas, and “may become energized,” shall be bonded. Once
again the permissible bonding locations are to the service equipment enclosure, the
grounding electrode conductor, the service grounded conductor or the one or more
grounding electrodes that comprise the grounding electrode system.

General Rule for Metal Piping Bonding

If the interior metal piping system contains any electrical devices, such as, solenoids
or mechanized valves, the piping “may become energized” and it should be bonded.

5.3 Exposed Structural Metal

4 of 7 16/11/2021, 14:25
Earthing Systems Design steps – Part Six ~ Electrical Knowhow http://www.electrical-knowhow.com/2013/11/metal-piping-and-structure...

Requirements for bonding Exposed Structural Metal

Any Exposed structural metal that is interconnected to form a metal


building frame and is not intentionally grounded or bonded and is likely
to become energized shall be bonded to the service equipment
enclosure; the grounded conductor at the service; the disconnecting
means for buildings or structures supplied by a feeder or branch circuit;
the grounding electrode conductor, if of sufficient size; or to one or more
grounding electrodes used.
Where exposed structural metal that is interconnected to form the
building frame exists in the area served by the separately derived
system, the grounded conductor of each separately derived system shall
be bonded to the at the same point on the separately derived system
where the grounding electrode conductor is connected.

Bonding of Exposed Structural Metal 

Notes

This requirement does not apply to isolated steel girders or beams which
may be installed in a building or structure. Such beams or girders are not
“interconnected to form a steel building frame” and need not be bonded.
A separate bonding jumper to the building structure metal shall not be
required where the building structure metal is used as the grounding
electrode for the separately derived system and the water piping system
is in the area served.
A separate bonding jumper to the building structural metal shall not be
required where the water piping of a building or structure is used as the
grounding electrode for a separately derived system and is bonded to the
building structural metal in the area served by the separately derived
system.

In the next Article, I will continue explaining the last Building Interior Bonding Division: Bonding of Interior Metal Columns and Beam. Please, keep following.

5 of 7 16/11/2021, 14:25
Earthing Systems Design steps – Part Six ~ Electrical Knowhow http://www.electrical-knowhow.com/2013/11/metal-piping-and-structure...

7 of 7 16/11/2021, 14:25

You might also like