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Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Question:
Hi Charlie,
Is it allowable to bend a ground rod? We encountered rock base and could only pound ground rod at 45 deg angle as allowed but wanted to bend the ground rod so it’s vertical when it penetrates the equipment slab as opposed to being exposed at the 45 deg angle.
Thank you, Jake
A
Answer:
Hey Jake thanks for your question. Bending ground rods is not addressed in 250.53(G) but I've seen many ground rods that were bent so that the upper portion was vertical. UL 467 the Grounding and Bonding Equipment Standard requires a 30 degree bend test for ground rods to ensure that coatings do not crack. Keep in mind that the ground rod must have 8 feet in contact with the soil as stated in 250.53(G).