An equipment grounding conductor shall be identified by _____ .

• A. Color coding
• B. Marking system
• C. Traceable markings
• D. Any of these

Answer: (D)

Identifying an equipment grounding conductor must be permanent and clearly indicate its grounding role so it isn’t mistaken for a live or neutral conductor. The NEC allows this identification by color or by other approved means, so you can use color coding (green or green with a yellow stripe, or a bare copper), or you can employ a marking system or traceable markings on the conductor. As long as the method is permanent and readily observable, any of these approaches are acceptable. This flexibility exists because the important aim is to ensure the grounding path is unmistakable and safe, preventing misidentification during installation, testing, or maintenance.