Grounding requirements for parallel circuits

The 1993 National Electrical Code requires that the equipment grounding conductor must be run in parallel when the circuit conductors are run in parallel and be sized on the basis of the ampere rating of the overcurrent device. This paper reviews the requirements for parallel circuits, the specific requirements for parallel equipment grounding conductors and the methods of complying with the NEC. Open wiring, raceway, cable tray and direct burial installations as normally utilized in an industrial facility are addressed; other wiring methods that are more commonly used in commercial applications are not included.<>