lady sparks lover
Senior Member
Can someone point me in the directions in which I can find illustrations on ufer grounds. I know what they are, and what they do, but I've never seen the actually lay-in process. I need more visuals. 
Ufer Grounding
- Thread starter lady sparks lover
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wanderer20001us
Senior Member
Re: Ufer Grounding
http://www.scott-inc.com/img/ufer.gif
Not a very good image. I'm looking for some other examples.
http://www.scott-inc.com/img/ufer.gif
Not a very good image. I'm looking for some other examples.
dnbob
Senior Member
- Location
- Rochester, MN
Re: Ufer Grounding
The term "UFER" is not exactly a generic term, it was named after the guy that invented it, I think his name was Henry Ufer.
The term "UFER" is not exactly a generic term, it was named after the guy that invented it, I think his name was Henry Ufer.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: Ufer Grounding
but what we electricians typically call a Ufer is only a concrete encased electrode.
That is not truly a Ufer, there is much more to a true Ufer than what the NEC calls a concrete encased electrode.
Yes that is true,
but what we electricians typically call a Ufer is only a concrete encased electrode.That is not truly a Ufer, there is much more to a true Ufer than what the NEC calls a concrete encased electrode.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: Ufer Grounding
Roger, Ryan told you to stop it, now your doing it with me.
Freaky.
Roger, Ryan told you to stop it, now your doing it with me.
Freaky.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
Re: Ufer Grounding
Iwire:
The orginal Ufer as investigated by Herb Ufer in the early 1960's was a 20 ft length of 4 AWG bare copper in the concrete footing of a building. The NEC allows both 1/2" rebar and 4 AWG bare copper.
What else are you referring to "there is much more to a true Ufer than what the NEC calls a concrete encased electrode", in case I am not aware of someother tid bit on the Ufer.
Iwire:
The orginal Ufer as investigated by Herb Ufer in the early 1960's was a 20 ft length of 4 AWG bare copper in the concrete footing of a building. The NEC allows both 1/2" rebar and 4 AWG bare copper.
What else are you referring to "there is much more to a true Ufer than what the NEC calls a concrete encased electrode", in case I am not aware of someother tid bit on the Ufer.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: Ufer Grounding
Tom I got hammered on this by I think Bennie (imagine that Bennie and grounding
Bob
Tom I got hammered on this by I think Bennie (imagine that Bennie and grounding
Bob
Re: Ufer Grounding
Tom I think you are referring too IEEE-63-1505 which was based on some of Ufer's concepts. He developed the system back in 1940's for bomb shelters in Flagstaff AZ. What is printed in the IEEE is not the system Ufer designed, but rather the concept IMO.
Ufer required all the re-enforcing rods to be tied or welded together simular to what Sam showed in his link
Tom I think you are referring too IEEE-63-1505 which was based on some of Ufer's concepts. He developed the system back in 1940's for bomb shelters in Flagstaff AZ. What is printed in the IEEE is not the system Ufer designed, but rather the concept IMO.
Ufer required all the re-enforcing rods to be tied or welded together simular to what Sam showed in his link
Re: Ufer Grounding
Patty, the Ufer ground can be as minimal as required by the NEC or as elaborate as what military, telecom and broadcast performs.
I would caution anyone using the minimum requirements of # 4 AWG laid in the bottom of the footing. I learned the hardway. In the rare event the site should be struck by lightning, you could suffer foundation damage.
In the telecom industry we require all the re-bar to be bonded together either by double tie wires, irreversible compression, or exothermic weld. I stub up a rebar near the AC service entrance and where ever I need access to the GE system, then weld the GEC or bonding jumper to the rebar. Its that simple, and fairly economical.
Patty, the Ufer ground can be as minimal as required by the NEC or as elaborate as what military, telecom and broadcast performs.
I would caution anyone using the minimum requirements of # 4 AWG laid in the bottom of the footing. I learned the hardway. In the rare event the site should be struck by lightning, you could suffer foundation damage.
In the telecom industry we require all the re-bar to be bonded together either by double tie wires, irreversible compression, or exothermic weld. I stub up a rebar near the AC service entrance and where ever I need access to the GE system, then weld the GEC or bonding jumper to the rebar. Its that simple, and fairly economical.
A
a.wayne3@verizon.net
Guest
Re: Ufer Grounding
Ok here is a thought...A monolithic footer slab,Laid in the footer is extensive rebar tied together.Either there is a #4 wire clamped to the rebar before it is poured(inspected of course) or
a length of rebar is stubbed out to be grounded to later(also inspected).Here is the kicker,plastic is laid in the footer and slab after termite treatment.So where does the rebar get contact with the earth ??? after concrete is poured.I brought this up because I was given a heads up that we will have to still use ground rods soon because of this same senario.So why bother.Any thoughts
Ok here is a thought...A monolithic footer slab,Laid in the footer is extensive rebar tied together.Either there is a #4 wire clamped to the rebar before it is poured(inspected of course) or
a length of rebar is stubbed out to be grounded to later(also inspected).Here is the kicker,plastic is laid in the footer and slab after termite treatment.So where does the rebar get contact with the earth ??? after concrete is poured.I brought this up because I was given a heads up that we will have to still use ground rods soon because of this same senario.So why bother.Any thoughts
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Ufer Grounding
Allen we still have contact on the outside for a min of 6 inches,that should be worth something
Allen we still have contact on the outside for a min of 6 inches,that should be worth something
lady sparks lover
Senior Member
Re: Ufer Grounding
You know in our spec, book spec, I think we spec a number #4 or #2 depending on the application, but you raised an important point. Think about the damage with a fault current. Water absorbed in concrete, and metal, looks like a possible damage to me. But this type of grounding can be economical if done correctly.
Hi Derek,
You know in our spec, book spec, I think we spec a number #4 or #2 depending on the application, but you raised an important point. Think about the damage with a fault current. Water absorbed in concrete, and metal, looks like a possible damage to me. But this type of grounding can be economical if done correctly.
Re: Ufer Grounding
Patty IMO and experience tells me the problem can be avoided all together by simply bonding the rebar together, and bonding the GEC to the rebar.
If it were me, I would just spec the rebar to be bonded, and stub up one piece near or in the service enswitch gear. Then weld the GEC to it.
Patty IMO and experience tells me the problem can be avoided all together by simply bonding the rebar together, and bonding the GEC to the rebar.
If it were me, I would just spec the rebar to be bonded, and stub up one piece near or in the service enswitch gear. Then weld the GEC to it.
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: Ufer Grounding
The building code does not permit the rebar to be exposed from the footing.
Pierre
The building code does not permit the rebar to be exposed from the footing.
Pierre
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