copper pipes grounded ?

[Terry]

When I first started plumbing we were required to leave 10" of soft copper outside the house for the electricians.
And then copper went up in price, and people were going around and cutting the copper off before it could be buried and selling it for scrap.

I haven't installed more then a foot of copper outside a foundation since the 70's.

[jwelectric]

When I first started plumbing we were required to leave 10" of soft copper outside the house for the electricians.
And then copper went up in price, and people were going around and cutting the copper off before it could be buried and selling it for scrap.

I haven't installed more then a foot of copper outside a foundation since the 70's.

In which case there is no grounding electrode and no need of a connection within the first five feet. Should the interior metal be installed in a manner where it was not 100% complete metal then the grounding electrode to the water heater is all that is required.