This article was posted 03/22/2006 and is most likely outdated.

The Use of Concrete-Enclosed Reinforcing Rods as Grounding Electrodes
 

 
Topic - Grounding and Bonding
Subject - The Use of Concrete-Enclosed Reinforcing Rods as Grounding Electrodes

March 22, 2006  

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The Use of Concrete-Enclosed Reinforcing Rods as Grounding Electrodes

 

The findings of Ufer that metal encased in concrete performs as an effective grounding electrode constitutes a major breakthrough in grounding technology. This has been recognized to the extent that copper wire embedded in the concrete footings of a structure is now an acceptable alternate to driven rods or pipe electrodes in the soil. This comes as a welcome relief from the condition of ineffective grounding by the use of water pipes due to insulated material or couplings and the antagonism of the proprietors of the water pipes.

 

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Comments
  • T.M. so to summarize your comments, when everything is done well there will be no problem. I guess I could share your view, only as of now, I doubt this will often be the case.

    My concern is that the process of assembling rebar with wire ties is engineered to serve structural requirements, not electrical continuity or current capacity. Wire ties are only a temporary structure in the concrete. That wire ties last beyond the initial curing of the concrete or are electrically conductive is only by happenstance, not design.

    If we are going to make use of rebar for lightning protection, which requires a high current carrying capacity, then the rebar assembly should be engineered and the rebar assembly controlled for this new purpose. I think current rebar assembly standards are inadequate to safely carry tens of thousand Amperes of current.

    Once adequate rebar assembly standards are set we can address the next issue; are we going to make the concrete guys electrical subcontractors, or are we going to have the electricians fiddling around in the dirt before the concrete is poured?

    Cheers,



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