electrode conductor required?

[andy32821]

We have a fiberglass vault 8 foot cubed that contains a 480 volt pump motor and a 120 volt distribution panel for lights, sump pumps, exhaust fan, etc. This supplies pumping operation of a fountain. The top of the vault is at ground level, and has easy access and egress.

The original vault installation was a pre built UL package and included all the required electrical components. There was no grounding electrode conductor supplied in the original installation.

The vault was flooded. We striped the vault to the bare walls and installed new panels and electrical equipment to code including an equipment ground with every set of power conductors.

There is a ground with the motor phase conductors that grounds the motor that is c-face bolted to the pump, which is bolted to the supporting steel.

A similar setup with other metal items (fan, sump pumps, panel boards) in the vaults grounds all the metal via the equipment ground, except for an abandoned steel rack that has no longer has power supplied. (power conductors have been removed).

Does this installation require a grounding electrode and an electrode conductor to bond the metal parts to the electrode?

 

[bphgravity]

Re: electrode conductor required?

By code definition, you have a separate structure being supplied by a common service. In this case, you are required to establish a grounding electrode system at that structure per 250.32(A).

However, you state, "...including an equipment ground with every set of power conductors." This tells me you have brought multiple feeders and or branch circuits to this structure which is in violation 225.30.

I feel you have two options. One, install one feeder to the structure and distribute to equipment from that point and establish a GES, or two, don't call it a structure and simply bond all metallic parts to the EGC's. Get your AHJ approval.