Identifying Equipment Ground Conductors and the NEC

How to Identify Equipment Grounding Conductors as Required by the National Electrical Code

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How to Identify Equipment Grounding Conductors
Electrical Question: Can I use green electrical tape at each end of a black #6 as a second ground to a cold water pipe for a 200 amp residential service? Or does the NEC say I could do that for a wire only larger than #6?

This electrical question came from: Steve, a Electrician from Georgetown IN

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Steve.

Identifying Equipment Grounding Conductors

The NEC rules for Equipment Grounding Conductors (EGC) are as follows:

250.119 Identification of Equipment Grounding Conductors.
Equipment grounding conductors shall be permitted to be bare, covered, or insulated. Individually covered or insulated equipment grounding conductors shall have a continuous outer finish that is either green or green with one or more yellow stripes except as permitted in this section. Conductors with insulation or individual covering that is green, green with one or more yellow stripes, or otherwise identified as permitted by this section shall not be used for ungrounded or grounded circuit conductors.
(A) Conductors Larger Than 6 AWG. Equipment grounding conductors larger than 6 AWG shall comply with 250.119(A)(1) and (A)(2).
(1) An insulated or covered conductor larger than 6 AWG shall be permitted, at the time of installation, to be permanently identified as an equipment grounding conductor at each end and at every point where the conductor is accessible.
Exception: Conductors larger than 6 AWG shall not be required to be marked in conduit bodies that contain no splices or unused hubs.
(2) Identification shall encircle the conductor and shall be accomplished by one of the following:
a. Stripping the insulation or covering from the entire exposed length
b. Coloring the exposed insulation or covering green
c. Marking the exposed insulation or covering with green tape or green adhesive labels

To summarize the NEC for Equipment Grounding

For conductors larger then #6 you can identify an EGC that is not green by painting or covering the exposed insulation green, removing the exposed insulation, or marking the insulation with green tape or labels. Note that the restriction of using white or gray for anything other than a grounded conductor still applies so you cannot re-identify a white or gray conductor for use as an EGC.

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Home Electrical Wiring and Electrical Repairs Please Note: Unless otherwise posted, please refer to the following Guidelines when working on Electrical Projects: Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced - Electrical Repairs and Circuit Wiring is Best Performed by a Certified Electrician or Licensed Electrical Contractor. Electrical Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch of Hand Tools, a Voltage Tester and a Multi Meter. Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with tools, work with electrical wiring, and the available access to the project area. Precaution: Identify the project circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring. Important: Modifying existing electrical circuits or installing additional electrical wiring should be done according to local and National Electrical Codes, with a permit and be inspected.

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