R U S Acceptance Procedures for Ground Rod and Pipe Clamps
(Item aj)

In addition to requirements shown under the general acceptance procedures, the following information is required in a request for initial acceptance of ground rod and pipe clamps.

Product Description

The present category of Item "aj" - Ground Rod and Pipe Clamps considered include:
Indoor Pipe Clamps:

#6 AWG copper conductor to copper or steel pipe of 5/8" to 1-1/4" (15.9 mm to 31.75 mm) outside diameter*.

#10 AWG copper conductor to copper or steel pipe of 5/8" to 1-1/4" (15.9 mm to 31.75 mm) outside diameter*.

#12 AWG copper conductor to copper or steel pipe of 5/8" to 1-1/4" (15.9 mm to 31.75 mm) outside diameter*.

Outdoor/Buried Ground Rod Clamps:

#12, #10 and #6 AWG copper conductors connected to 1/2" (12.7 mm) to5/8" (15.9 mm) diameter galvanized steel or copper-covered steel ground rods*.

*Clamps noted with asterisks may be used to attach a station protector grounding conductor to an acceptable National Electrical Code (NEC) grounding electrode and, as such, should be approved/listed by an organization such as Underwriters Laboratories which satisfies the NEC Article 100 definition for "Listed."

Conformance to Standards

Indoor pipe clamps should be constructed of materials that are compatible for use on copper or galvanized steel or both copper and galvanized steel.

Ground rod clamps for use on copper or copper-covered ground rods should be made of copper alloy with at least 81% copper and not more than 7.5%zinc. Clamps made of aluminum bronze, 9D as per ASTM B 148 are also acceptable. Clamps for use with steel ground rods should be made either of 300 series stainless steel or hot dip galvanized steel. The galvanizing should be in accordance with ASTM Specification A 153. Galvanized steel clamps maybe furnished with a suitable bimetal insert for connecting to the copperwire. Clamps made of a copper alloy, such as bronze, plated with a tin alloy are also acceptable. Specific acceptance of alternative materials will be considered by RUS on a case-by-case basis.

Where the connector is required to meet "Listing" provisions of NEC, photocopy(ies) of the Underwriters Laboratories or other NEC acceptable "Listing" organization which details such agency's approval of the product, including the actual text identifying the approval conditions related to approved uses, i.e., indoor, outdoor, buried and metal-to-metal compatibility. The entire listing agency report, however, need not be submitted.

Samples

One sample should be submitted for each type of clamp for which acceptance consideration is requested.

Questions regarding acceptance of ground rod and pipe clamps should be addressed to:

 

Norberto Esteves

norberto.esteves@usda.gov