Go To Full Code Chapter 406.1.5 Repairs, Grounding of Appliances 406.1.5 Repairs, Grounding of Appliances
Wenatchee Home Inspections
Existing Installations. Prior to the 1996 edition of the NEC 250.60 permitted the frames of electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, surface cooking units, and clothes dryers to the grounded to the neutral conductor. By way of Tentative Interim Amendment 53, this special permission was put into effect in July of 1942 and was supposedly an effort to conserve raw materials during World War II.
Many have said that there seem to be no inherent risk associated with these pre-1996 installation but in 2018 there was a couple of electrocution attributed to instillation of dryers most likely in older installations. Though I could not confirm the exact dates of build for the buildings the information in the article leads me to believe these are likely older installations. Here is the modern requirement that basically come into effect in 1996. 250.140 Frames of Ranges and Clothes Dryers Frames of electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units, clothes dryers, and outlet or junction boxes that are part of the circuit for these appliances shall be connected to the equipment grounding conductor in the manner specified by 250.134 or 250.138. Exception: For existing branch-circuit installations only where an equipment grounding conductor is not present in the outlet or junction box, the frames of electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units, clothes dryers, and outlet or junction boxes that are part of the circuit for these appliances shall be permitted to be connected to the grounded circuit conductor if all the following conditions are met.
So in 1999 we move the article that covers the requirement from 250.60 & 250.59 to 250.140 and 250.138 respectively and where we are today.
Non-current-carrying metal parts of cord- and plug-connected equipment if grounded, shall be grounded by one of the following methods. (a) By Means of an Equipment Grounding Conductor. By means of an equipment grounding conductor run with the power supply conductors in a cable assembly or flexible cord properly terminated in a grounding-type attachment plug with one fixed grounding contact. Exception: The grounding contacting pole of grounding-type plug-in ground-fault circuit interrupters shall be permitted to be of the movable, self-restoring type on circuits operating at not over 150 volts between any two conductors, or over 150 volts between any conductor and ground. (b) By Means of a Separate Flexible Wire or Strap. 250-140. Frames of Ranges and Clothes Dryers. This section shall apply to existing branch-circuit installations only. New branch-circuit installations shall comply with Sections 250-134 and 250-138. Frames of electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units, clothes dryers, and outlet or junction boxes that are part of the circuit for these appliances shall be grounded in the manner specified by Section 250-134 or 250-i 38; or, except for mobile homes and recreational vehicles, shall be permitted to be grounded to the grounded circuit conductor if all of the following conditions arc met. (1) The supply circuit is 120/240-volt, single-phase, 3-wire; or 208Y/120-volt derived from a 3-phase, 4-wire wye-connected system. (2) The grounded conductor is not smaller than No. 10 copper or No. 8 aluminum. (3) The grounded conductor is insulated, or the grounded conductor is uninsulated and part of a Type SE service-entrance cable and the branch circuit originates at the service equipment. (4) Grounding contacts of receptacles furnished as part of the equipment are bonded to the equipment. This is the demarcation point. From this point forward we are to provide a grounding conductor and it is the first time they actually specify the grounded conductor size based on material, copper or aluminum. Noncurrent-carrying metal parts of cord- and plug-connected equipment, where required to be grounded, shall be grounded by one of the methods indicated in (a), (b), or (c) below. (a) By Means of the Metal Enclosure. By means of the metal enclosure of the conductors supplying such equipment if a grounding-type attachment plug with one fixed grounding contact is used for grounding the metal enclosure, and if the metal enclosure of the conductors is secured to the attachment plug and to equipment by approved connectors. Exception: A self-restoring grounding contact shall be permitted on grounding-type attachment plugs used on the power supply cord of portable hand-held, hand-guided, or hand-supported tools or appliances. (b) By Means of an Equipment Grounding Conductor. By means of an equipment grounding conductor run with the power supply conductors in a cable assembly or flexible cord properly terminated in a grounding-type attachment plug with one fixed grounding contact. An uninsulated equipment grounding conductor shall be permitted, but, if individually covered, the covering shall have a continuous outer finish that is either green or green with one or more yellow stripes. Exception: A self-restoring grounding contact shall be permitted on grounding-type attachment plugs used on the power supply cord of portable hand-held, hand-guided, or hand-supported tools or appliances. (c) By Means of a Separate Flexible Wire or Strap. By means of a separate flexible wire or strap, insulated or bare, protected as well as practicable against physical damage, where part of equipment.
This section shall apply to existing branch-circuit installations only. New branch-circuit installations shall comply with Sections 250-57 and 250-59. Frames of electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units, clothes dryers, and outlet or junction boxes that are part of the circuit for these appliances shall be grounded in the manner specified by Section 250-57 or 250-59; or, except for mobile homes and recreational vehicles, shall be permitted to be grounded to the grounded circuit conductor if all of the conditions indicated in (a) through (d) below are met. (a) The supply circuit is 120/240-volt, single-phase, 3-wire; or 208Y/ 120-volt derived from a 3-phase, 4-wire wye-connected system. (b) The grounded conductor is not smaller than No. 10 copper or No. 8 aluminum. (c) The grounded conductor is insulated; or the grounded conductor is uninsulated and part of a Type SE service entrance cable and the branch circuit originates at the service equipment. (d) Grounding contacts of receptacles furnished as part of the equipment are bonded to the equipment. In 1975 is the first requirement that the circuit for ranges and dryers can use a 3-wire feed as long as it derives from service equipment. The underlined section is where the requirement lies. 1975 NEC-
(b) The grounded conductor is not smaller than No. 10. (c) The grounded conductor is insulated; or the grounded conductor is uninsulated and part of a service entrance cable and the branch circuit originates at the service equipment. (d) Grounding contacts of receptacles furnished as part of the equipment are bonded to the equipment.
branch circuit shall originate at the service-entrance equipment. The frames of wall-mounted ovens and counter-mounted cooking units shall be grounded and may be grounded in the same manner as electric ranges. Grounding contacts of receptacles furnished as a part of equip- ment grounded to the neutral circuit conductor shall be bonded to the equipment which is so grounded.
1968 NEC Where service-entrance cable having an uninsulated neutral conductor is used, the branch circuit shall originate at the service-entrance equipment. The frames of wall-mounted ovens and counter-mounted cooking units shall be grounded and may be grounded in the same manner as electric ranges. Grounding contacts of receptacles furnished as a part of equipment grounded to the neutral circuit conductor shall be bonded to the equipment which is so grounded.
In the 1965 NEC this is where we really have no direction on this. Article 250-60 states we can use the grounded conductor with no other provision or guidance other than it cannot be smaller than a #10 AWG conductor. You notice it gives no reference to conductor type, copper or aluminum. 1965 NEC Frames of electric ranges and electric clothes dryers shall be grounded by any of the means provided for in Sections 250-57 and 250-59: or, where served bv a 120/240 volt, three wire branch circuit, they may be grounded by connection to the grounded circuit conductors, provided the grounded circuit conductors are not smaller than No. 10 AWG. Here is some of the earlier articles covering this and you will notice a change. In 1953 we now have ranges and dryers in this article and in 1951 we only address ranges. So if you happen to had a dryer in 1951 (pretty unlikely) you would have had to provide a grounding conductor. 1953 NEC- Frames of Electric Ranges and Electric Clothes Dryers shall be grounded by any of the means provided for in Sections 2557 and 2559 or where served by 120-240 volt, three-wire branch circuits, they may be grounded by connection to the grounded circuit conductors, provided the grounded circuit conductors are not smaller than No 10 AWG.
2560 Frames of Electric Ranges.
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