A Glossary of Grounding & Bonding Terms
As defined by the 2005 U.S. National Electrical Code (Section Numbers in Brackets)
Bonding (Bonded):
The permanent joining of metallic
parts to form an electrically conductive path that ensures electrical continuity and the capacity to conduct safely any
current likely to be imposed [100].
Ground:
A conducting connection, whether intentional or accidental, between an electrical circuit or
equipment and the earth or to some conducting body that serves in place of the earth [100].
Grounded:
Connected to earth or to some conducting body that serves in place of the earth [100].
Bonding Jumper System:
The connection between the grounded circuit conductor and the equipment grounding conductor at a separately derived system [100].
Effective Ground-Fault Current Path:
An intentionally constructed, permanent, low-impedance electrically conductive path designed and intended to carry current under ground-fault conditions from the point of a ground fault on a
wiring system to the electrical supply source and that facilitates the operation of the overcurrent protective device [250.2].
Ground Fault:
An unintentional, electrically conducting connection between an ungrounded conductor of an electrical circuit and the normally noncurrent-carrying conductors, metallic enclosures, metallic raceways, metallic equipment, or earth [250.2].
Ground-Fault Current Path:
An electrically conductive path from the point of a ground fault on a
wiring system through normally noncurrent-carrying conductors, equipment, or the earth to the electrical supply source [250.2].
Grounding Conductor:
A conductor used to connect equipment or the grounded circuit of a wiring system to a grounding electrode [100].
Grounding Conductor, Equipment:
The conductor used to connect the noncurrent-carrying metal
parts of equipment, raceways, and other enclosures to the system grounded conductor, the grounding electrode conductor, or both, at the
service equipment or at the source of a separately derived system [100].
Grounding Electrode:
A device that establishes an electrical connection to the earth [100].
HTH,
Gord May