Grounding a metal building ?

[jCarroll]

I'm having a metal skin shed built (post and beam with metal siding
and roof). Will eventually have electric service.

Should the building be grounded? How do lightning rods fit into
this issue?
 

[David G]

I am not aware of any regulation regarding this. It will be interesting to hear other responses. Any electrical outlet or device should be grounded.
 

[buickanddeere]

Yes, no and maybe. If the door frames are metal, it's not unusual to see those grounded.
If there is any livestock in the future. Then the water system and metal stalls should all be bonded together.
Running four wires to the shed panel instead of a three wire will prevent a lot of problems with tingle voltage.
This would be the time to deep bury a couple of ground plates 10 ft deep and 8 ft each side of the shed panel. Run #6 copper up for the connection.
 

[Ted in NE-OH]

Lightning rods depends on how frequently you get lightning storms.
 

[Bill46]

For a single circuit bldg, if the sysyem is grounded...you need not have one. If you have more than 1 circuit, you must have at least 10ft of metal waterline in the ground to attatch to or an 8ft ground rod. The ground rod wire must be at least as as large as the feeder wires to the bldg.
 

[buickanddeere]

What code book are you looking at ?
 

[John T]

Its been yearssssssss since I was an electrical design engineer, but way back when there wasnt any requirement the outer metal skin of a pole barn shop etc be grounded, but it wouldnt hurt if you wished to do so. Problem is theres half A$$ "grounding" like if you bonded to one sheet of metal and relied on all the screws n nails for an effective current path among all the panels orrrrrrrrrrr run a braided copper wire around the building and bond to each n every piece which I doubt youre interested in doing....

ITS THE ELECTRICAL SERVICE THAT REQUIRES PROPER GROUNDING instead of the metal skin sheets.

Sure you can install lightning rod protection if you wish but again its not a requirement Im aware of and Id worry less about the metal shop then a frame home as far as fire is concerned.

John T
 

[Bill46]

Went to the shop and looked it up in the new code.
They changed the rules. If it is a new building, you must have a piece of re-bar in the concrete grounded to the box and the building also. Then, the boulding and the box must be grounded to the ground rod.
NEC 250.52.