What must the continuity of a grounding conductor not depend on?

The continuity of a grounding conductor is essential for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the grounding system. It must not depend on a connection to a metallic enclosure, raceway, or cable armor because these components may not provide a reliable or continuous path for grounding.

Unlike other types of connections, such as to a ground rod, main service panel, or bonding strap, which are intentionally designed to ensure effective grounding and bonding, metallic enclosures, raceways, and cable armor can be subject to damage, corrosion, or discontinuities that can disrupt the grounding path. This means that while these components can be part of the grounding system, they should not be solely relied upon for the continuity of the grounding conductor.

In essence, grounding conductors need to have dedicated, reliable connections to ensure that any fault or electrical surge is safely grounded and that the entire system remains functional and safe. This perspective highlights the importance of each component in the grounding system and the need for direct and robust connections to grounding electrodes and the main service panel for effective protection against electrical faults.