This assembly features a copper ground plate installed at least 24 inches below grade and 24 inches away from foundation walls or footings. The plate is bedded in a 1-inch layer of backfill both above and below, with a minimum 6-inch overlap of backfill beyond the outer edges of the plate. A lightning protection down conductor connects to the plate, and a copper ground loop is integrated where required. The assembly is housed within a reinforced concrete ground inspection well, which is capped with a cast iron lid marked "GROUND" and mounted flush with the finished grade. A 6-inch diameter hole is maintained for plate inspection. Aluminum lightning protection conductors must not contact the earth directly and require a UL-listed bimetallic fitting at least 18 inches above grade to transition to a copper conductor for the ground system connection.
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