What Should the Grounding Resistance Values Be (Ohms)?
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Water pipes have been used as a part of grounding systems for a long time. But how reliable is this, and what do the standards recommend? We wanted to examine this topic in this article.
First, let’s answer this question. Yes, you can use water pipes for grounding measurement purposes. However, there are rules you must follow. First of all, water pipes are not structures tested for grounding. At the same time, paints or plastics on the pipes can endanger our grounding system. The NEC standards tell us what we need to comply with in this regard.
There are standards to follow when using water pipes for grounding.
1- If a water pipe is used as a grounding electrode, at least one more electrode should be added to the grounding system.
2- Three meters of the water pipe can be directly connected to the ground.
3- Joints of the water pipes should be electrically continuous.
4- Water meters should preferably not be included in the grounding line.
5- Primary connections to the water pipe should not be on the line going to water meters.
6- Primary connections to the water pipe should be located within the first 1.5 meters of the building entrance.
Most importantly, according to NEC standards, water pipes should be brought to equipotential.
