Section 39.68. Methods of ground connection

(a) Ground connections to metallic piping systems shall be made on the street side of water meters, which might interrupt the continuity of the underground metallic pipe systems, unless otherwise provided in subsection (b), but connections may be made immediately inside building walls to secure accessibility for inspection and test. When water meters are located outside buildings or in concrete pits within buildings where piping connections are inbedded in concrete flooring, the ground connection may be made on the building side of the meters, if they are suitably shunted.

(b) When the making of a ground to a piping system outside the meter or other device would involve a long run, connection for equipment or wire runways, not for circuits, may be made to the water piping system at a point near the part to be protected, if there are no insulating joints in the pipe to prevent a good ground. In such cases care shall be taken to electrically connect all parts of the piping system liable to create a hazard, if they become alive, to shunt the pipe system where necessary around meters, and so forth, in order to keep the connection with the underground piping system continuous. Gas piping systems within buildings shall not be used for purposes of this rule, except that gas piping need not be insulated from otherwise well-grounded electrical fixtures and if the making of another ground connection for a fixture would involve a long run and the fixture is, therefore, not within reach of plumbing or plumbing fixtures, the gas piping may for small fixtures be utilized as the sole ground connection. If so used the gas piping and water piping systems within the building shall be grounded at their points of entrance. Reference should also be made to § § 39.65 and 39.66 (relating to ground conductor; and nature of ground connection).

(c) The ground connection to metallic piping systems shall be made by sweating the ground wire into a lug attached to an approved clamp and firmly bolting the clamp to the pipe, after all rust and scale have been removed, or by soldering the ground connection into a brass plug which has been tightly screwed into a pipe fitting or, where the pipe is of sufficient thickness, screwed into a hole in the pipe itself, or connection may be made by other equivalent means. The point of connection shall be as readily accessible as possible, and the position should be recorded. With bell and spigot joint pipe it may be necessary to connect to several lengths where circuits or equipment of large current-carrying capacity are being grounded.

(d) Artificial grounds shall be located, where practicable, below permanent moisture level, or failing this at least 6 feet deep. Each ground should present not less than 2 square feet surface to exterior soil. Areas where ground water level is close to the surface shall be used when available.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 39.61 (relating to applicability); 34 Pa. Code § 39.62 (relating to scope); 34 Pa. Code § 39.63 (relating to modification or waiver of provisions); 34 Pa. Code § 39.65 (relating to ground conductor); 34 Pa. Code § 39.66 (relating to nature of ground connection); 34 Pa. Code § 39.69 (relating to ground resistance); 34 Pa. Code § 39.103 (relating to protective grounding); 34 Pa. Code § 39.183 (relating to ground wires); 34 Pa. Code § 39.197 (relating to grounding); 34 Pa. Code § 39.219 (relating to grounding or isolating service conduits); 34 Pa. Code § 39.292 (relating to grounding noncurrent-carrying parts); and 34 Pa. Code § 39.304 (relating to grounding of arresters for signaling systems).