Ground Rod Vs. Water Pipe— What Is The Difference?

A sound grounding system is essential for all building types, whether residential, commercial, or industrial.

You might have heard of ground rods and water pipes used as grounding electrodes. So we researched the difference between them, and here is what we found.

One of the key differences between a ground rod and a water pipe is that water pipes need to be "bonded" and in contact with the earth for at least 10 feet to qualify as a grounding electrode.

Additionally, when using a water metal pipe as an electrode, the National Electrical Code (NEC) mandates that you place at least one additional electrode.

Ground rods, on the other hand, must be at least 8 feet long, in touch with the earth, and at least trade size 5/8 when they are rod-type electrodes. Use 3/4 inch size when they are pipes or conduits. 

Keep reading as we elaborate more on why you need an electrical grounding system and the characteristics of these grounding electrodes.

We'll also cover the requirements to consider a water pipe as a grounding electrode and how to bond it so you can use it as a grounding electrode.

Moreover, we'll also provide other grounding options accepted by the National Electrical Code.

collab photo of a ground rod on ground and a water pipe on the ground, Ground Rod Vs. Water Pipe - What Is The Difference?

Why Does Your Electrical System Need A Ground?

To safeguard building inhabitants and equipment from the threat of excessive voltage, grounding your electrical systems is essential.

A conductive surface, such as metal, can carry enough voltage to deliver a lethal shock when not grounded and electrically activated.

Although it receives little attention, grounding is one of the most important aspects of modern construction and equipment upkeep.

An effective grounding system guarantees that:

  • Circuits feature a functional return channel that connects the power source to the device.
  • Gives low resistance to trip or short-circuit a breaker in the case of an electrical malfunction.
  • To prevent a voltage connection from forming between metallic components, they are electrically connected.
  • Establishing and maintaining a zero-voltage reference point.

Ground Rods: Safeguarding Your Electrical System

The grounding system of an electrical system is connected to the ground using ground rods. Although you can use many materials to make ground rods, most homes frequently install copper.

Ground rods are excellent electrical conductors that allow any potentially hazardous voltage to flow to the ground, removing it from you and the electrical panel.

Ground rods typically shouldn't be shorter than eight feet long. It's recommended to position ground rods deeply for parched ground conditions, using a specific clamp to join them to obtain sufficient length.

Most local building code inspectors and power providers approve the 2-ground rod conjoined method.

A footing or foundation ground connection may also be permitted or necessary for a new building in some counties.

How Does A Ground Rock Work?

photo of a ground copper installed on the ground of the constructed house

Ground rods protect your circuit from blowing up by providing a path for the electricity to flow back to its source. During a lightning strike, for example, the electricity will attempt to return to the ground.

So, lightning strikes a power source, traveling along the route until it can find the bottom.

A grounding rod will redirect lightning, preventing the power from surging through the electrical system.

This power excess can damage the lines and units not designed to transport that much electricity simultaneously. The grounding rod minimizes the surge.

To further understand how ground rods work, you can watch this video below:

What Are The Requirements For A Water Pipe To Be Considered As Grounding Electrode?

photo of a big pipe installed on the ground construction on a hot summer day

Aside from being in direct contact with the earth for 10 feet, here are some of the additional requirements for a water pipe to be considered as a grounding electrode:

  • Electrically continuous joints.
  • A water meter cannot be considered part of the grounding system.
  • Use bonding jumpers around any insulating pipe, joints, and meter.
  • If a road traverses the grounding system, the water pipe and meter connection must be on the same street.
  • The water pipe connection should be within 5 feet of the building's entrance point.

Why The Need To "Bond" The Water Pipe?

Metal water pipe systems must be bonded to the electrical system under Section 250.104(A) of the NEC if installed in or connected to a building.

The grounded conductor at the service, the grounding electrode conductor when it is big enough, the electrical service enclosure, one or more grounding electrodes for the service, or the metal water pipe can all be bonded to.

This bond's primary goal is to ensure that the service-grounded conductor and the metal water pipe are at zero voltage to the ground. A backup plan is to make sure that, if the metal water pipe electrifies, there is a way for electrical current to travel back to the service.

What Are Bonding Jumpers?

photo of an electrical high voltage ground copper bar installed on the wall

To guarantee the necessary electrical conductivity between metal components that must be electrically connected, a bonding jumper is used.

It must be done in a way that will provide an efficient grounding line when connecting a grounding electrode conductor or bonding jumper to one.

Bonding must be established around insulated joints and any equipment that might need to be disconnected for repairs or replacement to guarantee the grounding channel for a metal piping system utilized as a grounding electrode.

Bonding jumpers must be long enough, usually 20 feet or longer, to let you remove the device while maintaining the grounding path's integrity.

What Are Other Grounding Electrodes Accepted By NEC?

The NEC specifies a list of materials that may serve as grounding electrodes and mandates their usage, if any are available, to create a grounding electrode system.

The list of permitted grounding electrodes in Section 250.52 includes the following additional items:

Metal In-Ground Support Structure

photo of a rod celvis turnbuckle installed on the ground for support

Although "building steel" is frequently used to describe the metal in-ground support structure electrode, not all steel building frames fall under this category.

Direct contact with the ground or a concrete enclosure with direct contact with the earth is required for an electrode to be considered a grounding electrode.

Often, bolts installed in the concrete foundation that are not in direct touch with the earth are used to secure steel structure frames.

Building metal frames, whether or not they are enclosed in concrete, must be at least 10 feet vertically in contact with the ground to be considered electrodes.

If more than one metal piling satisfies this requirement, only one must be wired into the grounding electrode system.

However, nothing would impede the use of several metal in-ground electrodes as a component of the building.

Concrete-Encased Electrode

This is an electrode that connects to the Earth by using the concrete structural elements of a structure.

You can create this using two methods. This electrode may be:

  • unencapsulated reinforcing steel rods with a minimum diameter of 12 inches or
  • a minimum #4 AWG bare copper wire.

Either approach needs to be at least 20 feet long and covered in concrete at least 2 inches thick and in contact with the ground.

When reinforcing steel makes this electrode, it is acceptable to link several shorter rod sections together using the customary techniques, but the assembled length must be at least 20 feet long.

Ground Ring

An encircling grounding electrode is referred to as a ground ring electrode.

This consists of a bare copper conductor with a minimum conductivity of #2 AWG and a minimum length of 20 feet. Like the others, you must erect this type of electrode because it is not a component of the building or structure.

Plate Electrodes

You can create a grounding connection using a conductive plate. You must expose a minimum of 2 ft² of the plate's surface for contact with the ground.

Given that the grounding plate has two sides in contact with the earth, this could imply that it can be 12" × 12" in size.

The minimum thickness of the plate for uncoated iron or steel plates is 14 inches to allow for corrosion over time.

Plates made of non-ferrous metal are only allowed to be 1.5 millimeters thick.

Other Electrodes

The authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) may approve using an electrode of a type not previously described if it is classified as a grounding electrode by a nationally renowned testing facility.

You can also use other local subsurface metal constructions and systems, like piping networks, well casings not attached to metal water lines and underground tanks.

However, remember that you can't use some systems as grounding electrodes, such as metal underground gas lines and the equipotential bonding grid necessary for in-ground pools.

If such an item satisfies the criteria for a grounding electrode, the AHJ must decide.

Final Words

collab photo of a ground rod on ground and a water pipe on the ground

Although ground rods are the more commonly known grounding electrode, you can use water pipes. Given that you fulfill the additional requirements for it to be one.

Should you decide to use a water pipe as your grounding electrode, you still need to add one more as mandated by the NEC.

You can choose from the abovementioned options, depending on what works best for you.

If you enjoyed this post, you can check out related articles here:

How To Insulate In Ground Water Meter

What Size Breaker Do I Need For A 230 Volt Air Conditioner?

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