California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety
Subchapter 5 - Electrical Safety Orders
Group 1 - Low-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders
Article 11 - Grounding
GROUNDING ELECTRODES
Section 2395.83 - Made Electrodes

Universal Citation: 8 CA Code of Regs 2395.83

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

Where none of the electrodes specified in Sections 2395.81 and 2395.82 is available, one or more of the electrodes specified in (a) or (b) below shall be used. Where practicable, electrodes shall be embedded below permanent moisture level. Where more than one electrode is used (including those used for signaling or communication circuits, radio or television installations, or lightning rods), each electrode shall not be less than 6 feet from any other electrodes. All electrodes shall be free from nonconductive coatings, such as paint or enamel.

NOTE: Two or more electrodes that are effectively bonded together are to be treated as a single electrode in this sense.

(Title 24, Part 3, Section 250-83(a).)

(a) Rod and Pipe Electrodes. Rod and pipe electrodes shall not be less than 8 feet in length and shall consist of the following materials, and shall be installed in the following manner:

(1) Electrodes of pipe or conduit shall not be smaller than 3/4 -inch trade size and, where of iron or steel, shall have the outer surface galvanized or otherwise metal-coated for corrosion protection.

(2) Electrodes of rods of steel or iron shall be at least 5/8 -inch in diameter. Nonferrous rods or their equivalent shall be listed and shall be not less than 1/2 -inch in diameter.

(3) The electrode shall be installed such that at least 8 feet of length is in contact with the soil. It shall be driven to a depth of not less than 8 feet except that where rock bottom is encountered, the electrode shall be driven at an oblique angle not to exceed 45 degrees from the vertical or shall be buried in a trench that is at least 2 1/2 feet deep. The upper end of the electrode shall be flush with or below ground level unless the aboveground end and the grounding electrode conductor attachment are protected against physical damage.

(Title 24, Part 3, Section 250-83(c).)

(b) Plate Electrodes. Each plate electrode shall expose not less than 2 square feet of surface to exterior soil. Electrodes of iron or steel plates shall be at least 1/4 -inch in thickness. Electrodes of nonferrous metal shall be at least 0.06-inch in thickness.

(Title 24, Part 3, Section 250-83(d).)

1. Editorial correction filed 11-2-83 (Register 83, No. 45).
2. Amendment filed 8-27-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, No. 37).

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code; and Section 18943(c), Health and Safety Code.

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