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Is there a good way to add a rebar-type concrete encased grounding electrode AFTER the slab is in?

Home Improvement Asked on May 27, 2021

My workshop project has a 1200 sqft slab with 40 cu-yards of concrete! and 900 lbs of rebar in it. Unfortunately, I didn’t set up to put in a proper concrete encased grounding connection…
is there any way to do this after the fact? ( I cant actually get to any of the exposed rebar as its all got at least 2" of concrete on it per code)
I do have a "normal" earth ground consisting of an 8′ piece of 5/8 copper rod buried at 36" in the dirt outside the foundation and tied in with #2 Cu wire… And my water comes in via PVC, so that’s not tied in…

I cant be the first person to finish the slab before I got the electrical planned fully…
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One Answer

Basically not without chiseling (or drilling and chiseling) in to find rebar (and it would have to be a 20 foot chunk unless it was all tied properly for use as a ground even though you forgot that part at the time.) Covered by 2" concrete is not actually inaccessible, particularly if the concrete is relatively fresh/green. You can do that, and patch where you chisel out, or you can drive a few extra ground rods (one more will technically do, but they are not that expensive...)

Note if you have (code acceptably, but practically dubious) buried your rod horizontally at 3 feet, do consider actually driving it and any friends you give it in. I have 5 driven from the bottom of a 3 foot trench (so they go down to 11 feet) myself. My concrete contractor ignored local code and did not provide a ground connection as is required in all new concrete foundations here.

Correct answer by Ecnerwal on May 27, 2021

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