ESA Certified Alarm Technician Practice Exam

Grounding to which of the following is a violation of code?

1. Water pipe

2. Gas pipe

3. Steel frame

4. Concrete slab

The correct answer is: Gas pipe

Grounding to a gas pipe is a violation of code due to safety concerns related to the potential for fire and explosion hazards. Gas pipes are typically not designed to carry electrical current, and any inadvertent fault current flowing through a grounding connection could pose a serious risk, particularly in the presence of gas leaks. In contrast, grounding to a water pipe, steel frame, or concrete slab has specific guidelines prescribed by electrical codes and standards. Water pipes, for instance, can provide a good conductive path as long as they are metal and bonded correctly. Steel frames, when properly maintained and part of the building structure, are also acceptable grounding points. Concrete slabs can be utilized for grounding as well if they are adequately connected to grounding electrodes. Therefore, grounding to gas pipes poses unique and significant safety risks, making it a code violation.