What is a ground rod?
A ground rod is a metal shaft used for grounding. With plastic pipe now being used for water systems these rods are being used for services and other devices to be grounded. These rods are to be driven in the ground at least 8 ft. These rods when made of iron or steel shall be at least 5/8 inches thick. Non ferrous rods should be free of paint or any other non coductive material shoud be listed and not less than 1/2 inches thick.
A ground rod is a metal shaft used for grounding. With plastic pipe now being used for water systems these rods are being used for services and other devices to be grounded. These rods are to be driven in the ground at least 8 ft. These rods when made of iron or steel shall be at least 5/8 inches thick. Non-ferrous rods should be free of paint or any other non-conductive material should be listed and not less than 1/2 inches thick. Most codes call for a ground system of 25 ohms or less. While, as a practical matter, you can’t get to zero ohms, you certainly can get to 25 ohms if the ground rods are properly installed. To verify the resistance of ground, it is most often tested with instruments using the fall-of-potential method by a trained technician. [ Back to FAQ.
