Joe,
Ok, it doesn't exactly say that the GEC must be green, but it does say that whatever color that you use for the grounding electrode conductor cannot be used as an ungrounded conductor in that facility.
... shall be finished to be clearly distinguishable from grounded and grounding conductors
The grounding electrode conductor is a grounding conductor, or do you dispute this fact, too?
If you use black for the grounding electrode conductor you can't use black for any hot conductor within that same facility because to do so would violate 310.12(C). The easiest way to comply with 310.12(C) is to make the GEC green. There is no wording that restricts the use of green for EGCs only. The code rule in 250.119 just says that the EGC must be green if insulated, it doesn't say that other conductors can't be green. This section doesn't even say that hot conductors can't be green. The prohibition of the use of green for ungrounded conductors is found in 310.12(C). The rule in 310.12(C) is the only restriction on the use of the color green. This section does not prevent the use of green for the GEC. If the code intended that green be reserved for equipment grounding conductors exclusively, then why isn't 250.119 written using similar language to that in 200.7 where the use of white and gray is restricted to grounded conductors only?
This figure is from the NECH
www.nfpa.org and clearly shows where the GEC must be bare!
So now the rules in the handbook over ride those in the code book!!!. 250.62 clearly permits the grounding electrode conductor to be "covered, insulated or bare".
Don
[This message has been edited by resqcapt19 (edited 03-08-2003).]
