Hello,

Working on designing an electrical grounding system for a industrial building and was wondering if bonding metal hand rails to ground system is a requirement?

Thanks in advance

Not unless you determine that they are "likely to become energized". Then you bond them to the circuit EGC that will be likely to energize them. (like if there was ice melting equipment on the steps).

Thanks for the reply. These are interior stairs and do not anticipate them to be energized. The customer has requested them to be bonded.

In that case...the customer is right! Not required by NEC, but by customer spec.

John, I like your attitude.

I get quite irate when I specifically call for something in the plans and specs only to have the Contractor tell me that "It's not required by the Code so I didn't include it. If you really want it you have to pay me extra".
Then we end up with the fight over what is included in the signed contract and it gets ugly really fast.

Not every job is 'design-build'...sometimes I want something just because I want (or need) it.

Ghost:
Specs that are within or part of the plans, that exceed the required NEC standards must be installed. (Period)

Option is provide a signed and sealed letter from the Lic Design Professional to withdraw the spec item(s).

Thanks for the compliment

I know that frustration. Currently dealing with a a contractor to install two simple parts that were spelled out, part number, vendor's name, the works. After missing the deadline by six months, they installed the wrong parts...

Really frustrating as a bidding contractor to get beaten for a project with a price that could ONLY be met by ignoring specs. Project gets built out of spec and someone, somewhere, signs off. Maddening.
I'm with HotLine and Ghost, build it the way its written. Code is a MINIMUM.

Maybe we need to take a lesson from our local GC's ... or, perhaps, from trades that don't worry about "code.'

I mean ... can you even imagine a customer giving a GC a plan for a 4-bedroom house,and the GC arguing that the zoning ordinance only required three bedrooms for the family? Can you imagine the GC refusing to build it - or building three bedrooms and then arguing with the customer?

Can you imagine a painter arguing with a customer over what color to use?

Now ... let's fast-forward to the end of the job. The GC has built three bedrooms (because that was 'enough' by code) and the painter has decided that 'teal' was a better choice than 'aquamarine.' Would you expect the customer to be happy with that?

All you can do is quote the plans, and note any objections or questions you might have.

So I see you worked in Alaska Reno...