Electrical Grounding and Bonding per the National Electrical Code

Learn about the requirements of the National Electric Code^® Article 250, requirements for grounding and bonding in several other NEC^® articles, and how to avoid grounding and bonding problems using practical solutions.

Learning Outcomes:

Take the mystery out of grounding and bonding requirements
Provide awareness of changes in Article 250 of the National Electrical Code
Cover requirements for facility grounding and bonding in a comprehensive manner
Present practical solutions to grounding and bonding problems
Assist the students in applying the NEC to their specific on-the-job installations

Who Should Attend:

Designers, engineers, contractors, and consultants responsible for the design and installation of building electrical grounding systems
Electricians, technicians, inspectors, electrical maintenance staff, safety personnel, and other employees responsible for the operation and maintenance of electrical grounding and bonding systems in commercial, industrial, institutional, or utility customer-interface settings

Course Details: RA00004-D879

Course Outline

Industry and NEC Definitions

Defining the terms related to grounding and bonding
Differentiating between “grounding” and “bonding”
Differentiating between a short-circuit and a ground-fault
What is a grounded conductor?
What is a system grounded conductor vs a grounding electrode conductor?
When is a neutral conductor a grounded conductor?
What is an equipment grounding conductor?

Low-Impedance Fault Return Path

Definition of effective ground-fault current path
Requirements for effective ground-fault current path
Purpose and function of effective ground-fault current path
Earth return prohibited installations
Installing parallel sets of conductors

System Grounding Requirements

Reducing objectionable current flow over grounding conductors
Systems that are required to be grounded and those that are permitted to be grounded
Choosing a solidly grounded, impedance grounded, or ungrounded system
High-and low-resistance grounding applications
Grounding the neutral of a wye-connected system
Grounding the mid-point of a delta system winding (high-leg system)
Corner-grounded delta systems
Purpose of the grounding electrode system on an ungrounded system

Purpose of the Grounded Conductor on a Grounded System

Providing a low-impedance path for fault-clearing capability
The function of the main bonding jumper and a system bonding jumper
Sizing the neutral for services with a single and parallel set of supply conductors
Maintaining neutral isolation on the load side of either a service or a source of separately derived system

The Grounding Electrode System

What grounding electrodes are required to be used if present?
Types of grounding electrodes, including the Ufer ground
How to determine if grounding electrodes qualify for use
Bonding requirements for the grounding electrode system
Using busbars for connecting grounding electrode system components
Optional grounding electrode system connections
Understanding the purpose of the grounding electrode
Bonding requirements for all grounding electrodes, including those installed for lightning protection systems, communication systems, and data processing systems

Separately Derived Systems

What is a separately derived system (SDS)?
How is a SDS grounded?
Sizing neutral, bonding, and grounding electrode conductors for SDSs
When is an on-site generator a separately derived system?
How are automatic transfer switches appropriately applied?
Requirements if the source is outdoors

Grounding and Bonding at Separate Buildings

When a grounding electrode is not required
Choosing grounding and bonding scheme at separate buildings
When the neutral is permitted to be grounded at separate buildings
Sizing grounding electrode conductors at separate buildings
Buildings or structures supplied by a separately derived system

Equipment Grounding Conductors

When equipment is required to be grounded
Metal raceways as equipment grounding conductors
How to calculate the maximum length of metal conduits when used as equipment grounding conductors
Supplementing metal raceways with equipment grounding conductors
Sizing equipment grounding conductors for motor circuits and for parallel conduit runs
Sizing equipment grounding conductors for available short-circuit current
Color code requirements
Branch circuit extensions and GFCI protection of replacement receptacles

Ground Fault Protection

Types of ground fault protection
Capacitive charging current effects
Coordinating GFP settings with downstream protection

Grounding and Bonding Conductor Connections

Types of connections: welded, brazed, and pressure type
Selecting connectors for the application

Bonding Requirements

Bonding requirements for service equipment
Intersystem bonding requirements
Bonding of metal piping systems
Bonding of metal frames of buildings
Bonding requirements for areas supplied by separately derived systems
Bonding requirements for receptacles and boxes

Use of the Neutral for Bonding

When it is permitted to use the neutral for bonding and when it is not
Use of the neutral for line-side bonding
Use of the neutral for equipment grounding

Isolated Equipment Grounding

Isolated grounding of equipment
Isolated grounding of receptacles

Special Occupancy Grounding and Bonding

Grounding and bonding for hazardous locations
Requirements for patient care areas of health care facilities
Grounding and bonding for agricultural buildings
Requirements for mobile and manufactured homes

Course Schedule

Location and Lodging

Course Location

Pyle Center

702 Langdon Street
Madison, WI 53706

Map

608-262-1122

866-301-1753

Lodging

Fluno Center

601 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706

Map

Accommodations include: All reservations include hot breakfast buffet, fitness center, business center, convenient on-site parking. Guest rooms are complete with Keurig Coffee Makers, refrigerators, and complimentary high speed internet.

Online Reservations

877-773-5866

608-441-7117

Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor's Club

One West Dayton Street
Madison, WI 53703

Map

Room: rates start at $160

Accommodations include: Complimentary WiFi, Local/Airport Shuttle, Pool, and Fitness Center.

DoubleTree by Hilton Madison Downtown

525 West Johnson Street
Madison, WI 53703

Map

Accommodations include: Enjoy complimentary business center, WiFi and Local/Airport Shuttle. Each room has a refrigerator, microwave, 42-inch HDTV, and executive desk. Parking available $15/night.

Online Reservations

800-222-8733

608-251-5511

More Madison Lodging Options

Instructor and Program Director

Instructor
Noel Williams
Noel runs Noel Williams Consulting (more than 20 years) and serves as an instructor and developer of electrical training programs covering electrical safety, including the National Electrical Code and related standards. He has provided training services for Salt Lake Community College, NFPA, NTT, IAEI, and private clients that included Los Alamos National Labs, Alcan Cable, Thiokol, Honeywell, Salt Lake City Airport, and the University of Utah Hospital. He has taught thousands of students throughout most of the United States as well as a few other countries for over 25 years. He has also worked as a subject matter expert for development of online training programs and as an expert witness.
Program Director
Kevin Rogers

Additional Information

Total Credits:

CEU 1.8,

PDH 18,

Course Administration

Fee Information

This course has two attendance options, face-to-face or online.

Face-to-face attendance fee includes morning and afternoon breaks, scheduled lunches, course materials, and a copy of "Electrical Grounding and Bonding" by Phil Simmons.

Online attendance fee includes online instruction, course materials, and a copy of "Electrical Grounding and Bonding" by Phil Simmons. Online attendees will access course sessions via the Zoom web conferencing platform.

ONLINE ENROLLMENT DEADLINE:

The deadline to enroll for online participation will be June 16th, 2026. This allows time needed for the shipment and delivery of course materials prior to the start date.

Discounts

Team Discount. Receive $300 off the registration fee, per person, when 2 or more people from the same organization enroll. Team affiliation will be confirmed during the registration process.

Payment Options

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
Provide the registrations representative with:
- the course name, dates, and/or course number.
- the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

Request Purchase Order information from registration@cerc.wisc.edu
- If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email registration@cerc.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

Cancellation Policy

If you cannot attend, please notify us no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Cancellations received after this date and no-shows are subject to a $150 administrative fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.

"Your use of Zoom (web interface) was the best I've been part of! I've been in other web-based training sessions in the past 12-18 months and you by far have it down! I really enjoyed that you took the time for specific questions! Great training!"
—Joel LeMahieu, DeTroye Electric Services, Inc., Electrical Department Manager
"This training made me confident in what I felt I already knew and gave me an understanding of the areas that were not clear in the NEC."
—Richard Linke, Hilscher-Clarke Electrical Contractors and Engineers, Electrical Designer

Create a custom learning experience

We can deliver this course as an on-site learning experience tailored to your organization’s specific training needs.

Electrical Grounding and Bonding per the National Electrical Code

Learning Outcomes:

Who Should Attend:

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Course Details: RA00004-D879

Course Outline

Course Schedule

Location and Lodging

Instructor and Program Director

Additional Information

Course Administration

Fee Information

Discounts

Payment Options

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Pay by Purchase Order

Military

Event Cancellation

Cancellation Policy

Create a custom learning experience

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Past Courses

Electrical Grounding and Bonding

Electrical Grounding and Bonding per the National Electrical Code