The 5 ft.

Ground Rod
ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALSMAY/JUNE 2018

The 5 ft. Ground Rod and its little-known use in the

NEC

Joseph Wages, Jr.July 30, 2018Electrical FundamentalsMay/June 2018

If I have heard it once, I have heard it a thousand times. The only legal ground rod must be installed a
minimum of 8-foot in the ground. The length of rod and pipe electrodes is located at 250.52(A)(5) in the 2017
National Electric Code (NEC). See figures 1 and 2 for the section requirements.

However, what if I were to tell you this statement is not entirely true? What if there was an instance, or
maybe two, where a 5-foot ground rod was acceptable? To find this elusive information, one must travel to
the latter chapters of the NEC. To understand why this different length exists, you need to know the history.

Article 250 of the NEC — The 8 ft. Ground Rod

Article 250 contains general requirements for grounding and bonding of electrical installations. Sections
250.52(A)(1) through (A)(7) instruct users that all grounding electrodes present at each building or structure
served shall be bonded together to form the grounding electrode system. Where none of these grounding
electrodes exist, one or more of the grounding electrodes specified in 250.52(A)(4) through(A)(8) shall be
installed and used (see figure 3).
Figure 1. Requirements for ground rods.
Figure 2. Requirements for ground rods continued.

Figure 3. Grounding electrode system requirements.

 Figure 3. Grounding electrode system requirements.

Information on grounding electrodes can be found in 250.52. Within this section, various types of grounding
electrodes are explained in detail. This article discusses the one located at 250.52(A)(5). See language below
as well as figure 4.

(5) Rod and Pipe Electrodes. Rod and pipe electrodes shall not be less than 2.44 m (8 ft) in length and shall
consist of the following materials.

(a) Grounding electrodes of pipe or conduit shall not be smaller than metric designator 21 (trade size 3∕4)
and, where of steel, shall have the outer surface galvanized or otherwise metal-coated for corrosion
protection.

(b) Rod-type grounding electrodes of stainless steel and copper or zinc-coated steel shall be at least 15.87
mm (5∕8 in.) in diameter, unless listed. (2017 NEC)

Figure 4. Various ground rods.

 Figure 4. Various ground rods.

Other information specific to the installation of ground rods, such as installation and minimum resistance,
can be found at Section 250.53(G) and 250.53(A)(2). See figures 5, 6 and 7 for additional information.

Figure 5. Options for installing a driven ground rod.

Figure 6. The main rule for supplementing a rod, pipe, or plate electrode.

Figure 7. Here is the exception to the main rule for supplementing a rod, pipe, or plate
 Figure 7. Here is the exception to the main rule for supplementing a rod, pipe, or plate
electrode, if assured the single rod, pipe or electrode meets 25 ohms or less.

A Journey to Chapter 8 of the NEC — In search of the 5-foot

Ground Rod
Now, here is the information that you have all been waiting for. Where do I find this “members only, highly
classified” information where I can install a 5-foot ground rod? I am tired of driving 8-foot ground rods into
the ground. This information could save years off my back and shoulders, not to mention money. Could it be
that simple? Is there a place that allows me to install shorter ground rods for my electrical service?

The answer is “Yes, No, and Not so fast.” It is necessary to have a thorough understanding of the NEC to
understand where these 5-foot ground rods are allowable and under what specific circumstances.

Article 800 is entitled, “Communication Circuits.” The purpose of this article is to cover various
communication circuits and equipment. Section 800.2 defines a communication circuit as the circuit that
extends voice, audio, video, data, interactive services, telegraph (except radio), outside wiring for fire alarm
and burglar alarm from the communications utility to the customer’s communications equipment up to and
including terminal equipment such as a telephone, fax machine, or answering machine. This article is not
subject to the requirements of chapters 1 through 7 of the NEC except where the requirements are
specifically referenced in chapter 8 (see figure 8).

Figure 8. The Code arrangement as found in the 2017 NEC at Section 90.3.

The NEC is comprised of various parts; we need to next look in Part IV entitled “Grounding Methods.”
Section 800.100 discusses cable and primary protector bonding and grounding. It states here that the
primary protector and the metallic member(s) of the cable sheath shall be bonded or grounded as specified
in 800.100(A) through 800.100(D).
If you are looking for the grounding electrode requirements, these are found in 800.100(B). This section
If you are looking for the grounding electrode requirements, these are found in 800.100(B). This section
states that the bonding conductor or grounding electrode conductor shall be connected in accordance with
800.100(B)(1), 800.100(B)(2), or 800.100(B)(3). Let’s look at the information contained in 800.100(B)(3).

(3) In Buildings or Structures Without an Intersystem Bonding Termination or Grounding Means. If the
building or structure served has no intersystem bonding termination or grounding means, as described in
800.100(B)(2), the grounding electrode conductor shall be connected to either of the following:

(1) To any one of the individual grounding electrodes described in 250.52(A)(1), (A)(2), (A)(3), or (A)(4).

(2) If the building or structure served has no intersystem bonding termination or has no grounding means, as
described in 800.100(B)(2) or (B)(3)(1), to any one of the individual grounding electrodes described in
250.52(A)(7) and (A)(8) or to a ground rod or pipe not less than 1.5 m (5 ft) in length and 12.7 mm (1∕2 in.) in
diameter, driven, where practicable, into permanently damp earth and separated from lightning protection
system conductors as covered in 800.53 and at least 1.8 m (6 ft) from electrodes of other systems. Steam,
hot water pipes, or lightning protection system conductors shall not be employed as electrodes for
protectors and grounded metallic members. (2017 NEC)

Wow, did you see it? One of the locations states the use and installation of a 5-foot ground rod. However,
did you also see the specifics of this language? First, this is only allowable if the building or structure has no
intersystem bonding termination or grounding means. In this instance, the use of a 5-foot ground rod is
allowable.

The ground rod or pipe:

1. shall not be less than 1.5 m (5 ft) in length and 12.7 mm (1/2 in.) in diameter;
2. driven, where practicable, into permanently damp earth; and
3. separated from lightning protection system conductors as covered in 800.53 and at least 1.8 m (6 ft)
from electrodes of other systems.

The next usage of a 5-foot ground rod is found in Article 830, which covers network-powered broadband
communications systems. These systems provide any combination of voice, audio, video, data, and
interactive services through a network interface unit (NIU).

A typical basic system configuration includes a cable supplying power and broadband signal to a network
interface unit that converts the broadband signal to the component signals. Typical cables are coaxial cable
with both broadband signal and power on the center conductor, composite metallic cable with a coaxial
member(s), or twisted pair members for the broadband signal and twisted-pair members for power, and
composite optical fiber cable with a pair of conductors for power. Larger systems may also include network
components such as amplifiers that require network power.

Article 830 contains various parts. In Part IV of Article 830, you will find grounding methods. The language
here states that network interface units containing protectors, NIUs with metallic enclosures, primary
protectors, and the metallic members of the network-powered broadband communications cable that are
intended to be bonded or grounded shall be connected as specified in 830.100(A) through 830.100(D).

Information about the electrode is also located at 830.100(B). Let’s look at the language at 830.100(B)(3)(2).

(3) In Buildings or Structures Without an Intersystem Bonding Termination or Grounding Means.

If the building or structure served has no intersystem bonding termination or grounding means, as described
in 830.100(B)(2), the grounding electrode conductor shall be connected to either of the following:

(1) To any one of the individual grounding electrodes described in 250.52(A)(1), (A)(2), (A)(3), or (A)(4).

(2) If the building or structure served has no intersystem bonding termination or has no grounding means, as
described in 830.100(B)(2) or (B)(3)(1), to any one of the individual grounding electrodes described in
described in 830.100(B)(2) or (B)(3)(1), to any one of the individual grounding electrodes described in
250.52(A)(7) and (A)(8), or to a ground rod or pipe not less than 1.5 m (5 ft) in length and 12.7 mm (1∕2 in.) in
diameter, driven, where practicable, into permanently damp earth and separated from lightning conductors
as covered in 800.53 and at least 1.8 m (6 ft) from electrodes of other systems. Steam, hot water pipes, or
lightning protection system conductors shall not be employed as grounding electrodes for protectors, NIUs
with integral protection, grounded metallic members, NIUs with metallic enclosures, and other equipment.
(2017 NEC)

Wow, did you see it once again? This is the second location that states the use and installation of a 5-foot
ground rod. But, did you also see the specifics of this language? First, this is only allowable if the building or
structure has no intersystem bonding termination or grounding means. In this instance, the use of a 5-foot
ground rod is allowable. The ground rod or pipe:
1. shall not be less than 1.5 m (5 ft) in length and 12.7 mm (1∕2 in.) in diameter;
2. driven, where practicable, into permanently damp earth; and
3. separated from lightning protection system conductors as covered in 800.53 and at least 1.8 m (6 ft) from
electrodes of other systems.

Figure 9 attempts to show the requirements found in Article 250 and the requirements found in Article 800
and Article 830 as it pertains to the use of an 8-foot or a 5-foot ground rod.

Figure 9. 8-foot versus 5-foot ground rood installations.

The History of the 5-foot Ground Rod

Rumor has it that the length of the 5-foot ground rod exists solely because that was the length of space in
the backbend of Bell Telephone service vehicles. However, is that entirely true? Research provided to me by
Mr. William McCoy of Telco Sales, Inc., who represents the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
(IEEE), shows that there was scientific research into the usage of these rods. Research indicated that the
wide-spread use of a 5-foot rod was used for the short-circuiting relay protectors and was considered to be
satisfactory under normal soil conditions (see figure 10).
 Figure 10. Information about low resistance rods from a joint study entitled “Engineering
Report No. 31” between the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and Bell Telephone System from
1935.

By researching the history of the NEC, I also found that that the first 8-foot length specified for a ground rod
is found in the 1940 NEC. In the 1937 NEC, language existed for acceptable grounding electrodes at 2571
for water pipe and 2572 for artificial grounds. The text here referred to an artificial ground as one whose
electrode consists of a driven pipe, driven rod, buried plate, or other device approved for the purpose. There
was no further information given to the user of the Code as to the required length of this rod (see figure 11).

In the 1940 NEC, installation requirements were placed at 2583 for artificial electrodes. One of the
stipulations is that the rod be driven to a depth of at least 8 feet regardless of size or number of electrodes
used. See Figure 12 for further details.

For you younger Code users out there, below is a photo of the 1937 and the 1940 NEC previously owned by
Mr. Cecil T. Jones. It is interesting to see that the 1937 edition was of complements of electrical giants such
as Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Square D Company, Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, and Westinghouse
Electric and Manufacturing Company.
Figure 11. 1937 NEC Grounding electrode requirements.
 Figure 12. 1940 NEC Grounding electrode requirements.

I am grateful to Mr. Jones as well as Mr. Philip H. Cox, a past CEO of the International Association of
Electrical Inspectors (IAEI), for passing this history on to me for use in my career. Though the actions of
these two gentlemen, information such as the history found above can be researched and brought to a new
generation of electrical professionals. If we do not know, honor and appreciate our electrical history and the
work of other pioneering individuals who went before us, we are doing dishonor to the electrical industry
(see figure 13).
 Figure 13. The 1937 and 1940 NEC.

In Conclusion
During the first draft stage for the 2020 NEC, I submitted public inputs asking the code-making panel (CMP)
responsible for Chapter 8 of the NEC to provide consistency by removing the 5-foot rod length and
replacing it with the 8-foot length in the above mentioned two sections. I was somewhat shocked that in
both cases the CMP-16 resolved or denied my request.

The 8-foot requirement is not specific to Article 250; there are two locations within Chapter 8 that allow a
lesser rod length, but for very specific installations. Members of CMP-16 reached out to me and provided
guidance and history for this reduced length. Many thanks to individuals such as Tom Moore, William
McCoy, and Jeff Sargent for the tidbits of information that helped produce this article.

I hope that if you have ever had these same concerns, this article has provided insight into providing
answers as to why the different lengths exist. This brings to mind a saying that is often thrown about in the
electrical trade. “If you don’t like the answer in the NEC, look harder. There is bound to be an exception
somewhere that will allow you to do it.”

TAGS:GROUND RODMAY/JUNE 2018NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODENEC

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Joseph Wages, Jr.

Joseph Wages, Jr.
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Joseph Wages, Jr., is the Director of Digital Education for IAEI. He previously served as the Education,
Codes and Standards Coordinator for the past 3 years for the IAEI. He represents IAEI on NFPA’s NEC Code
Making Panel 2 for the 2020 NEC Code cycle. He previously represented IAEI on NFPA’s NEC Code Making
Panel 3 for the 2014 and 2017 NEC Code cycle. He also serves on the Underwriters Laboratory Electrical
Council and on several UL Technical Standard Panels. He is an ICC Certified Building Official and holds
certifications as building plans examiner, building inspector, chief building code analyst and one- and two-
family dwelling inspector. He is also an IAEI Certified Electrical Inspector for one- and two-family dwellings.
Joseph holds a master electrical license and has taught electrical apprenticeship training programs. He
spent 15 years as an electrical inspector for a municipality and electric utility. Joseph is currently an
instructor for the International Office of IAEI. Joseph may be contacted on Twitter @jwages23 or on LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/pub/joseph-wages-jr/23/4b5/937