AskCodeMan

The use of Ufer grounds in residential slab-on-ground foundations here is prevalent and allowed by the NEC.

E3508.1.2 Concrete-encased electrode. An electrode
encased by at least 2 inches (51 mm)of concrete, located within
and near the bottom of a concrete foundation or footing that is
in direct contact with the earth, consisting of at least 20 feet
(6096 mm) of one or more bare or zinc-galvanized or other
electrically conductive coated steel reinforcing bars or rods of
not less than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) diameter, or consisting of at
least 20 feet (6096 mm) of bare copper conductor not smaller
than 4 AWG shall be considered as a grounding electrode.
Reinforcing bars shall be permitted to be bonded together by
the usual steel tie wires or other effective means.

My question concerns the wording "coated steel". I have not yet seen anything used other than regular uncoated reinforcing steel bars. Is this a code violation? And, what coatings are allowed?

aaronm wrote: .. one or more bare or zinc-galvanized or other
electrically conductive coated steel ...

My question concerns the wording "coated steel". I have not yet seen anything used other than regular uncoated reinforcing steel bars. Is this a code violation? And, what coatings are allowed?

"one or more bare or"

Bare (uncoated) is allowed.

Galvanized is allowed, I'm not sure what other coatings there are which are electrically conductive.

What that is also saying is that epoxy coated is not allowed.

Stainless steel is also allowed.

The author's multiple usages of the term "or" as opposed to a more reasonable bullet point list is misleading and should be avoided.

As to the coating, I am also not certain what sort of coating would still allow electrical conductivity.

The codes are replete with this sort of nebulous English prose to the point that I sometimes think I am reading a distinctly foreign language.

aaronm wrote:As to the coating, I am also not certain what sort of coating would still allow electrical conductivity.

The way to answer that would be: If the rebar is not bare, not galvanized, or not stainless steel, then I would ask for some listing information showing that the coating is electrically conductive.

codes are replete with this sort of nebulous English prose to the point that I sometimes think I am re ading a distinctly foreign language.

You are correct, it is basically unformatted text.

Codes would be easier to read if they were indented and consisted of list items. But then where would the.fun be?