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Green Ground Screws

jar546

jar546

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Does this mean that a ground screw in a box must be green?

250.126 Identification of Wiring Device Terminals.
The terminal for the connection of the equipment grounding conductor shall be identified by one of the following:
  • (1) A green, not readily removable terminal screw with a hexagonal head.
  • (2) A green, hexagonal, not readily removable terminal nut.
  • (3) A green pressure wire connector. If the terminal for the equipment grounding conductor is not visible, the conductor entrance hole shall be marked with the word green or ground, the letters G or GR, a grounding symbol, or otherwise identified by a distinctive green color. If the terminal for the equipment grounding conductor is readily removable, the area adjacent to the terminal shall be similarly marked.
01200Wx1200H__34191.jpg
 
ICE said:
Yet they come with green screws. That is an indication that it’s a machine screw with the two threads engaged.
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That's fine, but where in the NEC does it require that boxes have green screw heads? The code section cited specifically and explicitly says "devices." A box is not a device.
 
Just a thought, if the screw is part of the grounding for the device, and the grounding is required to be green...is the screw part of the grounding?

250.126 Identification of Wiring Device Terminals
The terminal for the connection of the equipment grounding conductor shall be identified by one of the following:
A green, not readily removable terminal screw with a hexagonal head.
A green, hexagonal, not readily removable terminal nut.
A green pressure wire connector. If the terminal for the equipment grounding conductor is not visible, the conductor entrance hole shall be marked with the word green or ground, the letters G or GR, a grounding symbol, or otherwise identified by a distinctive green color. If the terminal for the equipment grounding conductor is readily removable, the area adjacent to the terminal shall be similarly marked.
 
Would the screw be a device?

Device. A unit of an electrical system, other than a conductor, that carries or controls electric energy as its principal function. (CMP-1)
 
Joe.B said:
Would the screw be a device?

Device. A unit of an electrical system, other than a conductor, that carries or controls electric energy as its principal function. (CMP-1)
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I did not say the screw is a device, i said part of the grounding of the device. Is the screw part of the grounding of the device?
250.126 Identification of Wiring Device Terminals
 
Codes are, ultimately, laws (technically, administrative regulations adopted pursuant to law). As such, they must be read according to the plain meaning. The NEC says "devices" must have green grounding screws.

What's the definition in the NEC of "device"?

Device. A unit of an electrical system, other than a conductor, that carries or controls electric energy as its principal function. (CMP-1)
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I'm going to argue that a box does not carry or control electrical energy as its principal function, and therefore it is not a "device." That doesn't say the screw and the box aren't part of the grounding system, but the fact is -- if there's current flowing through the ground, it's an ABnormal condition and a problem. The principal function of a box is to contain wiring connections.
 
Yankee Chronicler said:
Codes are, ultimately, laws (technically, administrative regulations adopted pursuant to law). As such, they must be read according to the plain meaning. The NEC says "devices" must have green grounding screws.

What's the definition in the NEC of "device"?



I'm going to argue that a box does not carry or control electrical energy as its principal function, and therefore it is not a "device." That doesn't say the screw and the box aren't part of the grounding system, but the fact is -- if there's current flowing through the ground, it's an ABnormal condition and a problem. The principal function of a box is to contain wiring connections.
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We are talking about the screw, not the box. and the code does dictate screw color for devices.
250.126 Identification of Wiring Device Terminals
 
mark handler said:
We are talking about the screw, not the box. and the code does dictate screw color for devices.
250.126 Identification of Wiring Device Terminals
Click to expand...

Yes -- the screw in the device. The box is not a device.

I asked our electrical inspector today. In addition to being a licensed electrical inspector and building official, he is also a licensed electrician with many years of field experience. His answer is that the box is not a device. He said those screws are often painted green, but that it's NOT required.
 
Yankee Chronicler said:
Yes -- the screw in the device. The box is not a device.

I asked our electrical inspector today. In addition to being a licensed electrical inspector and building official, he is also a licensed electrician with many years of field experience. His answer is that the box is not a device. He said those screws are often painted green, but that it's NOT required.
Click to expand...
I never said the box is a device, the code does not say the box is a device.
The grounding of the device, equipment grounding conductor, (see code in previous posts) shall have a green screw. the question is, is the screw, in the box, part of the, equipment grounding conductor.

IMPO
If the equipment is wired directly to the box, the screw is a part of the, equipment grounding conductor.
 
mark handler said:
IMPO
If the equipment is wired directly to the box, the screw is a part of the, equipment grounding conductor.
Click to expand...

And I never said the screw isn't part of the equipment grounding conductor system. The question was:

Does this mean that a ground screw in a box must be green?
Click to expand...

And the code section cited says that the screw must be green if it is a "wiring device terminal." The box is not a wiring device, so the screw does not have to be green.
 
Yankee Chronicler said:
And I never said the screw isn't part of the equipment grounding conductor system. The question was:



And the code section cited says that the screw must be green if it is a "wiring device terminal." The box is not a wiring device, so the screw does not have to be green.
Click to expand...

The question I posed is the the device is wired directly into the box, is the grounding screw a part of the equipment grounding conductor system, As defined in the code?

If it is not a part, then it can be removed entirely.....
`

250.126 Identification of Wiring Device Terminals​
The terminal for the connection of the equipment grounding conductor shall be identified by one of the following:​
A green, not readily removable terminal screw with a hexagonal head.​
A green, hexagonal, not readily removable terminal nut.​
A green pressure wire connector. If the terminal for the equipment grounding conductor is not visible, the conductor entrance hole shall be marked with the word green or ground, the letters G or GR, a grounding symbol, or otherwise identified by a distinctive green color. If the terminal for the equipment grounding conductor is readily removable, the area adjacent to the terminal shall be similarly marked.​
Click to expand...
It does not say, in the device or to the device (equipment)
 
Last edited:
The screws in metal outlet boxes that are green for grounding are green to be easy to spot. If there is a screw that is not green you might have to pull out more wire to find it. Then you might have to decide if it's a 10/32 machine screw in the right hole. It just makes life a little easier.
 
jar546 said:
Does this mean that a ground screw in a box must be green?

250.126 Identification of Wiring Device Terminals.
The terminal for the connection of the equipment grounding conductor shall be identified by one of the following:
  • (1) A green, not readily removable terminal screw with a hexagonal head.
  • (2) A green, hexagonal, not readily removable terminal nut.
  • (3) A green pressure wire connector. If the terminal for the equipment grounding conductor is not visible, the conductor entrance hole shall be marked with the word green or ground, the letters G or GR, a grounding symbol, or otherwise identified by a distinctive green color. If the terminal for the equipment grounding conductor is readily removable, the area adjacent to the terminal shall be similarly marked.
View attachment 11812
Click to expand...
No not required to be green for bonding to box. The bonding screw in the box is not a wiring device terminal, Only specification for screw to be green is main bonding jumper 250.28B
 
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