Both authors were elevated to the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers’ (IEEE) Grade of Fellow. Ralph died July 2, 1987 at the age of 76 after an outstanding career generating many technical papers on diverse subjects. Gene is still active in the IEEE.

Several variations of the Ufer rebar paper were presented such as at the PCIC, Industrial Applications Group Annual Meeting, (Later to become IAS) and led to the adoption into the NEC of the use of rebar for earthing electrode.

One must recognize that concrete in intimate contact with the earth, no matter how dry the earth, will act as a semi-conductor. Ever turn over a rock in a dry area and find under the rock moisture? Concrete such as in a parking garage on the upper floors will be a semi-insulator.

Obtain and read Ufer’s original study.

When the Lee Fagan paper was first presented there were adverse comments about the use of the Ufer grounding method especially with respect to concrete foundations such as electrical transmission towers. The comments were that Ufer grounding would blow apart concrete foundations.

Research of the IEEE Standards about 30 years ago revealed that there were two separate IEEE Power Engineering standards for transmission tower construction. One standard was for the foundation while the other was for the tower construction.

The foundation standard at that time showed rebar in the base which was NOT connected to any grounding electrodes not that such a connection would be necessary. There was a drawing of the foundation which showed “J” bolts for connection of the steel structure for the transmission tower. However, there was NO connection of the “J” bolts to the rebar. This allowed a gap in the electrical circuit from the transmission tower to the “J” bolt to the rebar to the concrete to the earth. Nor was there any grounding of the tower shown on the tower standard. This oversight has been rectified.

When ever a lightning strike hit a transmission tower the current would have to arc across the gap from the “J” bolt to the rebar which would allow the lightning current to flow through the concrete into the earth. This gap produced heat and would result in cracking the foundation. This was the explanation for the cracking of concrete foundations.

I personally was responsible for construction of a large open steel structure approximately 4 or 5 stories tall that was a chemical processing facility. Ralph was a personal friend I adopted their (du Pont) Ufer method of earthing, grounding. At least one “J” bolt in each pier was either welded or wired to the rebar cage.

During startup the structure was hit by a very large lightning strike. So massive was the lightning stroke that the concussion from the strike physically moved the mechanical actuator on three (3) of the five (5) fire water deluge systems, flooding the structure. The foundation piers had not been backfilled and were inspected for any damage. NO damage to the foundation was found. Needless to say that the operators on duty had to change their clothes.

Back in the early 1980s at a green field site in Orlando FL the individual concrete piers spaced 25 feel apart were tested. This was to be a large factory for the assembly of fire trucks. Each concrete pier was isolated and not connected to any other pier. It had not rained for several weeks and the earth was dry. The person conducting the testing of the piers had not been familiar with the Ufer grounding and came away amazed at the low resistance readings of each pier.

Flat four to six inch thick substation concrete pads using the rebar to connect to the earth through the rebar - concrete link have been tested and found to usually be under 25 ohms these flat concrete pads with the rebar installed and connected to the switch gear became the grounding method. No additional ground rods were ever installed.

In the construction of my home I installed 25 feet of # 4/0 copper conductor at the bottom of the foundation to serve as my grounding electrode 30 years ago. I forget what the resistance of the concrete encased copper conductor serving as the earthing electrode, grounding method was then. But with the secondary connected to the bastardized multigrounded neutral electrical underground distribution system measured 1.945 ohms today.