Do Existing Overhead Cranes Need a Separate Grounding Conductor?

Bradley Sliedrecht
Jan 1
3 min read

One of the most common questions we hear during crane inspections is:

“This crane has been operating for years without a separate grounding conductor — do we need to add one now?”

The short answer is:

it depends.

The correct answer requires understanding how the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) and CSA B167 work together, and what “grandfathered” actually means in Canadian code enforcement.

The Two Standards at Play

1. Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), Section 40

CEC Section 40 governs the electrical installation of cranes and hoists.

The CEC allows crane grounding to be achieved through metal-to-metal contact between crane wheels and runway rails, provided a continuous, low-impedance grounding path exists and is reliable.

However, the CEC also states that where paint, corrosion, contamination, wear, or other conditions interfere with reliable contact, a separate bonding or grounding conductor is required.

In other words:

Rail grounding is permitted, not guaranteed.
Reliability must be demonstrable.

2. CSA B167 – Overhead Crane Safety Standard

CSA B167 is a safety and equipment standard, not an electrical installation code.

CSA B167 requires cranes and hoists to be properly grounded and clearly states that runway conductors shall provide a separate grounding conductor.

This reflects best practice, assuming real-world conditions such as:

Painted rails
Grease and dust
Corrosion
Vibration
Variable contact resistance
Modern electronics (VFDs, controls, sensors)

CSA B167 intentionally takes a conservative safety position.

So… Do Existing Cranes Get “Grandfathered”?

The critical distinction:

Grandfathering does NOT mean “no upgrades ever.”

In Canada, existing installations may remain in service only if:

They complied with the code at the time of installation.
They do not present a safety hazard
They have not been materially altered

When an Existing Crane MAY Remain As-Is

An existing crane may not require immediate retrofit if:

It was compliant when installed.
Rail-to-wheel grounding is continuous and effective.
No VFDs or sensitive electronics are present.
No evidence of grounding-related faults exists.
No modifications have been made to the electrical system.
The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) has not required upgrades.

In these cases, the system is often considered electrically acceptable, though not ideal by modern standards.

When a Separate Grounding Conductor IS Required

A separate grounding conductor is not optional when:

The crane has been modified or upgraded
- VFD added
- Controls modernized
- Power feed altered
Rail continuity is unreliable or cannot be verified.
Paint, corrosion, or contamination is present.
Electrical faults, nuisance trips, or control issues are occurring.
An AHJ requires compliance with current standards.
A safety inspection identifies grounding as a risk.

At that point, the installation is no longer “grandfathered” — it has become altered work, and current code expectations apply.

How Venter Cranes Approaches This in Practice

We do not automatically tell customers:

“You must upgrade immediately.”

Rather, let`s take a documented, defensible approach:

Assess the existing grounding method.
Evaluate rail continuity and real-world conditions.
Identify safety or operational risks.
Reference applicable code and standards.
Provide clear recommendations, not blanket demands.

If a separate grounding conductor is required:

Why?
Under which code?
What risk does it mitigate?
Whether it is mandatory or recommended.

This protects:

The owner
The operator
The inspector
The employer

The Bottom Line

CEC tells us what is permitted
CSA B167 tells us what is prudent
Existing systems may remain in service only if safe.
Once modified, upgraded, or shown to be unreliable, modern grounding expectations apply.

In today’s environment — with VFDs, electronics, and stricter safety oversight — a dedicated grounding conductor is often the correct long-term solution, even when not strictly required by original installation rules.