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SECTION 16450
GROUNDING

PART 1 - GENERAL
SPEC WRITER NOTE: Delete //________// if
not applicable to project. Also delete any
other item or paragraph not applicable in
the section and renumber the paragraphs.
Insert additional provisions as required
for this project.

1.1 DESCRIPTION
A. This section specifies general grounding and bonding requirements of
electrical installations for personnel safety and to provide a low
impedance path for possible ground fault currents.
B. “Grounding electrode system” refers to all electrodes required by NEC,
as well as including made, supplementary, lightning protection system
and telecommunications system grounding electrodes.
C. The terms “connect” and “bond” are used interchangeably in this
specification and have the same meaning.
1.2 RELATED WORK
A. Section 16050, BASIC METHODS AND REQUIREMENTS (ELECTRICAL): General
electrical requirements and items that are common to more than one
section of Division 16.
B. Section 16127, CABLES, LOW VOLTAGE (600 VOLTS AND BELOW): Low Voltage
power and lighting wiring.
C. Section 16670, LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM: Requirements for a
lightning protection system.
1.3 SUBMITTALS
A. Submit in accordance with Section 16050, BASIC METHODS AND REQUIREMENTS
(ELECTRICAL).
B. Shop Drawings:
1. Sufficient information, clearly presented, shall be included to
determine compliance with drawings and specifications.
2. Include the location of system grounding electrode connections and
the routing of aboveground and underground grounding electrode
conductors.
C. Test Reports: Provide certified test reports of ground resistance.
D. Certifications: Two weeks prior to final inspection, submit four copies
of the following to the Resident Engineer:

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1. Certification that the materials and installation is in accordance

with the drawings and specifications.
2. Certification, by the Contractor, that the complete installation has
been properly installed and tested.
1.4 APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS
Publications listed below (including amendments, addenda, revisions,
supplements, and errata) form a part of this specification to the extent
referenced. Publications are referenced in the text by the basic
designation only.
A. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):
70-2002.................National Electrical Code (NEC)
99-2002.................Health Care Facilities
B. Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL):
44-1999.................Thermoset-Insulated Wires and Cables
83-1998.................Thermoplastic-Insulated Wires and Cables
467-1993................Grounding and Bonding Equipment
486A-2000...............Wire Connectors and Soldering Lugs for Use With
Copper Conductors
C. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM):
B1-2001.................Standard Specification for Hard-Drawn Copper
Wire
B8-1999.................Standard Specification for Concentric-Lay-
Stranded Copper Conductors, Hard, Medium-Hard,
or Soft
D. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE):
81-1983.................IEEE Guide for Measuring Earth Resistivity,
Ground Impedance, and Earth Surface Potentials
of a Ground System
PART 2 - PRODUCTS
2.1 GROUNDING AND BONDING CONDUCTORS
A. Equipment grounding conductors shall be UL 83 insulated stranded copper,
except that sizes No. 10 AWG and smaller shall be solid copper.
Insulation color shall be continuous green for all equipment grounding
conductors, except that wire sizes No. 4 AWG and larger shall be
permitted to be identified per NEC.
B. Bonding conductors shall be ASTM B8 bare stranded copper, except that
sizes No. 10 AWG and smaller shall be ASTM B1 solid bare copper wire.

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C. Isolated Power System: Type XHHW-2 insulation with a dielectric constant

of 3.5 or less.
D. Conductor sizes shall not be less than what is shown on the drawings and
not less than required by the NEC, whichever is greater.
2.2 GROUND RODS
A. Copperclad steel, 19 mm (3/4-inch) diameter by 3000 mm (10 feet) long,
conforming to UL 467.
B. Quantity of rods shall be as required to obtain the specified ground
resistance.
2.3 SPLICES AND TERMINATION COMPONENTS
Components shall meet or exceed UL 467 and be clearly marked with the
manufacturer, catalog number, and permitted conductor size(s).
PART 3 - EXECUTION
3.1 GENERAL
A. Ground in accordance with the NEC, as shown on drawings, and as
hereinafter specified.
B. System Grounding:
1. Secondary service neutrals: Ground at the supply side of the
secondary disconnecting means and at the related transformers.
2. Separately derived systems (transformers downstream from the service
entrance): Ground the secondary neutral.
3. Isolation transformers and isolated power systems shall not be system
grounded.
C. Equipment Grounding: Metallic structures (including ductwork and
building steel), enclosures, raceways, junction boxes, outlet boxes,
cabinets, machine frames, and other conductive items in close proximity
with electrical circuits shall be bonded and grounded.
SPEC WRITER NOTE: If appropriate for
project, include details involving
grounding for patient equipment and areas
on plans. Standard Details may be obtained
at
http://www.va.gov/facmgt/standard/detailse
lec.asp.

D. Special Grounding: For patient care area electrical power system

grounding, conform to Chapter 4, "Electrical Systems ", of NFPA 99, and
Article 517, “Health Care Facilities” of NFPA 70.

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3.2 INACCESSIBLE GROUNDING CONNECTIONS

Make grounding connections which are buried or otherwise normally
inaccessible (except connections for which periodic testing access is
required) by exothermic weld.
3.3 MEDIUM-VOLTAGE EQUIPMENT AND CIRCUITS
A. Switchgear: Provide a bare grounding electrode conductor from the
switchgear ground bus to the grounding electrode system.
SPEC WRITER NOTE: Include duct bank and
manhole grounding detail(s) on plans.
Standard Details may be obtained at
http://www.va/gov/facmgt/standard/details-
elec.asp.

B. Duct Banks and Manholes: Provide an insulated equipment grounding

conductor in each duct containing medium or high voltage conductors,
sized per NEC except that minimum size shall be No. 2 AWG. Bond the
equipment grounding conductors to the switchgear ground bus, to all
manhole hardware and ground rods, to the cable shielding grounding
provisions of medium or high voltage cable splices and terminations, and
equipment enclosures.
C. Pad Mounted Transformers:
1. Provide a driven ground rod and bond with a grounding electrode
conductor to the transformer grounding pad.
2. Ground the secondary neutral.
D. Lightning Arresters: Connect lightning arresters to the equipment ground
bus or ground rods as applicable.
E. Outdoor Metallic Fences Around Electrical Equipment: // Fences shall be
grounded as indicated. // //Fences shall be grounded with a ground rod
at each fixed gate post and at each corner post. // Drive ground rods
until the top is 300 mm (12 inches) below grade. Attach a No. 4 AWG
copper conductor, by exothermic weld to the ground rods and extend
underground to the immediate vicinity of fence post. Lace the conductor
vertically into 300 mm (12 inches) of fence mesh and fasten by two
approved bronze compression fittings, one to bond wire to post and the
other to bond wire to fence. Each gate section shall be bonded to its
gatepost by a 3 by 25 mm (1/8 by one inch) flexible braided copper strap
and ground post clamps. Clamps shall be of the anti-electrolysis type.
F. Metallic Conduit: Metallic conduits which terminate without mechanical
connection to an electrical equipment housing by means of locknut and

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bushings or adapters, shall be provided with grounding bushings. Connect

bushings with a bare grounding conductor to the equipment ground bus.
3.4 SECONDARY EQUIPMENT AND CIRCUITS
A. Main Bonding Jumper: Bond the secondary service neutral to the ground
bus in the service equipment.
B. Metallic Piping, Building Steel, and Supplemental Electrode(s):
1. Provide a grounding electrode conductor sized per NEC between the
service equipment ground bus and all metallic water and gas pipe
systems, building steel, and supplemental or made electrodes. Jumper
insulating joints in the metallic piping. All connections to
electrodes shall be made with fittings that conform to UL 467.
2. Provide a supplemental ground electrode and bond to the grounding
electrode system.
C. Service Disconnect (Separate Individual Enclosure): Provide a ground bar
bolted to the enclosure with lugs for connecting the various grounding
conductors.
D. Switchgear, Switchboards, Unit Substations, and Motor Control Centers:
1. Connect the various feeder equipment grounding conductors to the
ground bus in the enclosure with suitable pressure connectors.
2. For service entrance equipment, connect the grounding electrode
conductor to the ground bus.
3. Connect metallic conduits, which terminate without mechanical
connection to the housing, by grounding bushings and grounding
conductor to the equipment ground bus.
E. Transformers:
1. Exterior: Exterior transformers supplying interior service equipment
shall have the neutral grounded at the transformer secondary.
Provide a grounding electrode at the transformer.
2. Separately derived systems (transformers downstream from service
equipment): Ground the secondary neutral at the transformer. Provide
a grounding electrode conductor from the transformer to // the
nearest component of the grounding electrode system // // the ground
bar at the service equipment //.
F. Conduit Systems:
1. Ground all metallic conduit systems. All metallic conduit systems
shall contain an equipment grounding conductor.

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2. Non-metallic conduit systems shall contain an equipment grounding

conductor, except that non-metallic feeder conduits which carry a
grounded conductor from exterior transformers to interior or
building-mounted service entrance equipment need not contain an
equipment grounding conductor.
3. Conduit containing only a grounding conductor, and which is provided
for mechanical protection of the conductor, shall be bonded to that
conductor at the entrance and exit from the conduit.
G. Feeders and Branch Circuits: Install equipment grounding conductors with
all feeders and power and lighting branch circuits.
H. Boxes, Cabinets, Enclosures, and Panelboards:
1. Bond the equipment grounding conductor to each pullbox, junction box,
outlet box, device box, cabinets, and other enclosures through which
the conductor passes (except for special grounding systems for
intensive care units and other critical units shown).
2. Provide lugs in each box and enclosure for equipment grounding
conductor termination.
3. Provide ground bars in panelboards, bolted to the housing, with
sufficient lugs to terminate the equipment grounding conductors.
I. Motors and Starters: Provide lugs in motor terminal box and starter
housing or motor control center compartment to terminate equipment
grounding conductors.
J. Receptacles shall not be grounded through their mounting screws. Ground
with a jumper from the receptacle green ground terminal to the device
box ground screw and the branch circuit equipment grounding conductor.
K. Ground lighting fixtures to the equipment grounding conductor of the
wiring system when the green ground is provided; otherwise, ground the
fixtures through the conduit systems. Fixtures connected with flexible
conduit shall have a green ground wire included with the power wires
from the fixture through the flexible conduit to the first outlet box.
L. Fixed electrical appliances and equipment shall be provided with a
ground lug for termination of the equipment grounding conductor.
M. Raised Floors: Provide bonding of all raised floor components. // See
details on the drawings. //
N. Panelboard Bonding: The equipment grounding terminal buses of the normal
and essential branch circuit panelboards serving the same individual
patient vicinity shall be bonded together with an insulated continuous

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copper conductor not less than No. 10 AWG. These conductors shall be
installed in rigid metal conduit.
3.5 CONDUCTIVE PIPING
A. Bond all conductive piping systems, interior and exterior, to the
building to the grounding electrode system. Bonding connections shall be
made as close as practical to the equipment ground bus.
B. In operating rooms and at intensive care and coronary care type beds,
bond the gases and suction piping, at the outlets, directly to the room
or patient ground bus.
3.6 LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM
Bond the lightning protection system to the electrical grounding
electrode system.
3.7 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
Bond telecommunications system grounding equipment to the electrical
grounding electrode system.
3.8 GROUND RESISTANCE
A. Grounding system resistance to ground shall not exceed 5 ohms. Make
necessary modifications or additions to the grounding electrode system
for compliance without additional cost to the Government. Final tests
shall assure that this requirement is met.
B. Resistance of the grounding electrode system shall be measured using a
four-terminal fall-of-potential method as defined in IEEE Standard 81.
Ground resistance measurements shall be made before the electrical
distribution system is energized and shall be made in normally dry
conditions not less than 48 hours after the last rainfall. Resistance
measurements of separate grounding electrode systems shall be made
before the systems are bonded together below grade. The combined
resistance of separate systems may be used to meet the required
resistance, but the specified number of electrodes must still be
provided.
C. Services at power company interface points shall comply with the power
company ground resistance requirements.
D. Below-grade connections shall be visually inspected by the Resident
Engineer prior to backfilling. The Contractor shall notify the Resident
Engineer 24 hours before the connections are ready for inspection.

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3.9 GROUND ROD INSTALLATION

A. Drive each rod vertically in the earth, not less than 3000 mm (10 feet)
in depth.
B. Where permanently concealed ground connections are required, make the
connections by the exothermic process to form solid metal joints. Make
accessible ground connections with mechanical pressure type ground
connectors.
C. Where rock prevents the driving of vertical ground rods, install angled
ground rods or grounding electrodes in horizontal trenches to achieve
the specified resistance.
// 3.10 GROUNDING FOR RF/EMI CONTROL
A. Install bonding jumpers to bond all conduit, cable trays, sleeves and
equipment for low voltage signaling and data communications circuits.
Bonding jumpers shall consist of 4” wide copper strip or two No. 10
copper conductors spaced minimum 4” apart. Use No. 6 copper where
exposed and subject to damage.
B. Comply with the following when shielded cable is used for data circuits.
1. Shields shall be continuous throughout each circuit.
2. Connect shield drain wires together at each circuit connection point
and insulate from ground. Do not ground the shield.
3. Do not connect shields from different circuits together.
4. Shield shall be connected at one end only. Connect shield to signal
reference at the origin of the circuit. Consult with equipment
manufacturer to determine signal reference. //
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