[TowerTalk] Tower grounding

[Steven H Sawyers (na0ia)]

ACI code requires the concrete to have a minimum of 3" of "cover" 
concrete whether between the rebar and the outside world - either the 
concrete form or the ground. This "cover" allows the full strength of 
the rebar to be utilized in the structure.

Steve NA0IA

At 08:55 PM 7/17/2013, David Gilbert wrote:

>Your hysterics aside, almost all of that is patently false, and in 
>most locations is directly contrary to code.  You really need to 
>study what a Ufer ground is and why they work.
>
>By the way, this same old wives tale comes up every so often here 
>and on other forums, and each time it does I spend about a half hour 
>doing Google searches to find any documented instances of a block of 
>concrete exploding because of steam expansion from a lightning 
>strike.  I have found TONS of discussion and endless repetitions of 
>the same old exhortation you just made, but not a single first hand 
>account of exploding concrete due to steam.  Concrete is quite 
>brittle and fractures easily, and I could far better imagine that 
>the intense thermal shock generated by a lightning hit would instead 
>be the culprit.  I have indeed witnessed first hand a lightning 
>strike blasting a chunk out of solid granite rock alongside the road 
>I was driving on (scared the hell out of me), and I guarantee that 
>rock was dry as a bone.
>
>Dave   AB7E
>
>
>
>
>On 7/17/2013 9:18 AM, Skip K3CC wrote:
>>I'm not sure I understand the thread however,  NEVER EVER, ground anything
>>into the concrete base !!!!!!!    NEVER use any ground rods in concrete !!!!
>>
>>If you would get a lightening strike, the current would carry into 
>>the concrete
>>and boil off the water.  When this happens the concrete will explode !!!
>>
>>de Skip K3CC _______________________________________________
>
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