Grounding a Metal Building

[thecj3man]

I recently started running wire and conduit for lights and receptacles in my shop. The building is all steel construction. For the lights, the junction boxes are screwed to the metal rafters, as are the T8 lighting fixtures. I have run grounds from the fixtures back to the main ground bar in the panel.

My question is whether or not I should ground the panel itself to the building steel? Before I hung the panel, I sheeted the wall it is hung on with plywood, so there is no physical connection from the panel to the building steel. Should I run a heavy ground out of the panel and bond it to the building steel?

Thanks,
WP

 

[sberry]

You absolutely MUST ground a steel building. You would be criminally negligent if you didn't. Whoops I read this again, yes it needs to be bolted or run a number 6 or better as a bond. The panel and the building should be as one.

 

[sberry]

Is the service mounted to this building or fed from another service?

 

[_Dock_]

Not trying to be rude but by reading your post it I would recommend reading up on the differences between grounding and bonding and where it is required and what the purpose of it is....

https://www.mikeholt.com/instructor2/img/product/pdf/1292432628sample.pdf

https://www.mikeholt.com/videodisplaynew.php?pageid=4328

 

[sberry]

Yes, he can read up on it. In the end he has to do it understand or not. Got to have a wire or pipe carrying the wire back to the panel with any circuit and everything metal in the place should be bonded together, no potential difference between it and any of the equipment in it.

 

[_Dock_]

Yes, he can read up on it. In the end he has to do it understand or not. Got to have a wire or pipe carrying the wire back to the panel with any circuit and everything metal in the place should be bonded together, no potential difference between it and any of the equipment in it.

I agree but its whole lot easier when you understand WHY then just having someone on the internet telling him he has to do it.

Same difference between a mechanic and a parts changer.

 

[thecj3man]

Is the service mounted to this building or fed from another service?

The 200 amp service is mounted to my barn about 100 ft. away. I had new service installed in the barn last year in hopes that I would have the garage this year. I have the power to the garage ran with 4 wire USE-2

Not trying to be rude but by reading your post it I would recommend reading up on the differences between grounding and bonding and where it is required and what the purpose of it is....

https://www.mikeholt.com/instructor2/img/product/pdf/1292432628sample.pdf

https://www.mikeholt.com/videodisplaynew.php?pageid=4328

No rudeness that I see. Thank you for the links. I will start reading up on them at lunch today.

WP

 

[sberry]

We are saying the same thing. It wasn't until I had some actual under the belt that the code application made any sense and no one realized I really didn't understand for years. Its now like a spider web and a reflex to consider all the implications piece by piece.
I still don't know anything about electric, I am lot when it comes to a 3 way and got to look at the fuggin pic, I really am. For me its equipment installation and 99% mechanical.
What is a bottle neck for me is service entrance and I don't carry a paper so cant afford faulty work or not pass inspection or forensic and have simply learned in reverse by worming out the details.
I aint always there when inspectors look and get the green, I don't always want to be there but when I get a chance where he cant corner me about owner etc I am on it and I usually get to deer hunting or golf or farming but they almost always comment about my jobs.
I really felt guilty last time I met with the guy and he said, its obvious and really should have gave credit to the internet. I went to the forum system on electric before welding which was a good thing but bought a book and studied some for about a year and get past my "hearsay" understanding.

 

[sberry]

You want the neutral and all the white wires in the place to be connected to the insulated bar in the panel, no bond and another ground bar bonded to the box, the building, the rods, any green or bare wires and to the 4th wire coming from the service. And to any buried metal piping or metal gas, water, phone, TV, even antennas.