34 Pa. Code § 39.304 - Grounding of arresters for signaling systems
(a)
Exemptions. The ground
connections for outside installations of cable protectors employed solely to
prevent electrical injury to the cable need not conform to the requirements of
this section. For the provisions governing the grounding of the metal cases of
outdoor apparatus as covered by this section, reference should be made to
§§
39.61-39.70 (relating to methods of
protective grounding).
(b)
Arresters. Arresters shall be permanently and effectively
grounded in the following manner:
(1)
Ground conductor. The ground conductor shall preferably be of
copper or other material which does not corrode under the conditions of use,
and shall be not less than No. 18 in size and in urban districts or within
buildings shall be covered with a suitable insulation. If necessary to guard
the ground conductor from mechanical injury on poles or if a ground conductor
on the outside of building walls is near a roadway, sidewalk or pathway thus
necessarily exposing it to tampering by unauthorized persons, it shall be
protected for a distance of eight feet from the ground by a wooden molding or
by conduit of nonmagnetic material.
(2)
Ground connection. The
ground connection shall be made to a cold water pipe, if available, connected
to the street mains and in service. An outlet pipe from a water tank fed by a
street main may be used if such outlet pipe is adequately bonded around the
tank to the inlet pipe connected to the street main. If a cold water pipe is
not available, the ground connection may be made to a gas pipe, if the ground
conductor is attached to the pipe between the meter and the street mains. If
cold water or gas pipes are not available, the ground connection may be made to
an iron rod or pipe driven into permanently damp earth, or to a plate or other
body of metal buried in permanently damp earth. Reference should also be made
to §
39.65 (relating to ground
conductor). Steam or hot water pipes should not be used for ground connections.
Driven rods or pipes, used as ground connections for protectors, shall not also
be used as ground connections for electrical supply circuits or electrical
apparatus, and where water or gas pipes are used for a ground connection,
attachment to such pipes shall be made at a different point than for
attachments to electrical supply circuits or equipment.
(c)
Connecting ground conductor to
pipes. Ground conductors shall be attached to pipes by means of
suitable ground clamps. The entire surface of the pipe to be covered by the
clamp shall be thoroughly cleaned.
(d)
Connecting ground conductor to
driven rod or pipe. The ground conductor shall be attached to the rod
or pipe so as to give reliable connection both mechanically and electrically
and in such a manner as to prevent corrosion when the joint is buried in the
earth.
(e)
Connecting
ground conductor to buried electrode. If a buried plate or other metal
electrode is employed, the ground conductor shall be securely fastened to it in
such manner as to make a reliable electrical and mechanical contact.
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