NEC-Required Ground Fault Protection

 

Ground fault protection is needed in commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities. The National Electrical Code (NEC) addresses the need for ground fault protection in NEC Section 215-10 for feeders, NEC Section 230-95 for services, and NEC 240-13 as part of overcurrent protection. Specific ground fault protection requirements in health care facilities that exceed the general NEC requirements are provided in NEC 517-17. In general, the NEC requires that ground fault protection be installed on services and feeders that meet all of the following criteria:

 

• The distribution system is a solidly grounded wye system.
• The nominal voltage to ground is greater than 150 volts and less than or equal to 600 volts line to line.
• The disconnecting means is rated 1,000 amperes or more.