CSA C22.2 No. 43-17: Complete Technical Guide to Grounding and Bonding Equipment

Published under the Canadian Electrical Code (CE Code, CSA C22.1) framework, CSA C22.2 No. 43-17 – Grounding and bonding equipment is the essential standard defining the safety, construction, and performance requirements for products used to connect electrical systems to the earth and bond non-current-carrying metallic parts. This standard is harmonized with UL 467, ensuring alignment with North American best practices while addressing specific Canadian installation environments.

This article provides a comprehensive technical walkthrough of the standard, covering its scope, key test protocols, practical field applications, and compliance pathways essential for engineers, specifiers, and electrical safety inspectors.

1. Scope and Application

CSA C22.2 No. 43-17 applies to grounding and bonding equipment intended for use on electrical systems typically up to 600 V nominal. It covers a wide range of components critical to establishing an effective ground fault current path and reliable earth connection.

1.1 Equipment Covered

• Ground Rods: Copper-bonded steel, stainless steel, and galvanized steel rods for direct earth burial.
• Ground Clamps: Types for wire-to-rod, wire-to-pipe, and wire-to-rebar connections (Type G, GR, H, etc.).
• Bonding Jumpers: Flexible and fixed conductors for bridging expansion joints, water meters, and structural gaps.
• Bushings: Grounding and bonding bushings for conduit termination and bonding of concentric/eccentric knockouts.

1.2 Exclusions

The standard does not cover the installation methods (governed by the CE Code, Part I) or equipment like fittings for armored cable (which fall under C22.2 No. 0.4 or No. 30). It strictly addresses the manufactured product itself.

2. Technical Requirements for Certification

Manufacturers seeking CSA certification must subject their products to a rigorous battery of tests designed to simulate harsh environmental conditions and electrical stresses.

2.1 Material and Corrosion Resistance

Materials must withstand corrosive environments. The standard mandates:

• A 10-day cyclic salt spray test (modified from ASTM B117) to verify plating integrity.
• A 30-day damp ammonia vapor test to detect stress corrosion cracking in brass or bronze components.

2.2 Mechanical Integrity

Connectors must maintain electrical continuity under tensile and torsional stress. For example, clamps must withstand a 500 lbf pull force without loosening, followed by a torque-to-strip test where the screw must not fail before achieving 125% of the rated tightening torque.

2.3 Electrical Performance

The assembled joint is measured for electrical resistance. For standard wire range clamps, the resistance cannot exceed 100 microhms across the connection. Table 1 summarizes typical test criteria.