250.64 Grounding electrode conductor installation
What changed in 250.64
Aluminum GEC rules were reorganized, and where protection is needed, PVC must be Schedule 80 and RTRC must be the XW type.
Point by point
- Aluminum and copper-clad aluminum GECs can't touch concrete or face corrosive conditions unless they have an extruded polymer jacket.
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- 4 more points on exactly what changed
- The 2017 rule next to the 2020 rule, side by side
- Why it changed
- What to do and check on the job
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This section across NEC® editions
2020 NEC®RevisedYou're here
Aluminum GEC rules were reorganized, and where protection is needed, PVC must be Schedule 80 and RTRC must be the XW type.
2023 NEC®Revised
PVC protecting a GEC that's exposed to damage has to be Schedule 80, and a GEC can't pass through an enclosure's vent openings.
Open the 2023 page →2026 NEC®Revised
GECs can now be spliced with listed devices where accessible, ferrous cable armor gets bonded at both ends, and drain and mounting holes are off-limits.
Open the 2026 page →More 2020 changes in Article 250
This is a plain-English summary, not the NEC®'s exact wording. Always check the full section in the NEC® edition your area has adopted, plus any local amendments.
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