Code Q&A

Q. I’ve been looking online, but I can’t seem to find a consistent answer on whether a television antenna placed in the attic needs to be grounded. Does it? A. No. Each lead-in conductor from an outdoor antenna must be provided with a listed antenna ...

Mike Holt

Feb. 23, 2005

Q. I’ve been looking online, but I can’t seem to find a consistent answer on whether a television antenna placed in the attic needs to be grounded. Does it?

A. No. Each lead-in conductor from an outdoor antenna must be provided with a listed antenna discharge unit or a ground block if the cable has a shield-like coaxial cable [810.20(A)]. Antennas located indoors (like in an attic) aren’t required to have an antenna discharge unit. Therefore, they aren’t required to be grounded.

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About the Author

Mike Holt

Mike Holt is the owner of Mike Holt Enterprises (www.MikeHolt.com), one of the largest electrical publishers in the United States. He earned a master's degree in the Business Administration Program (MBA) from the University of Miami. He earned his reputation as a National Electrical Code (NEC) expert by working his way up through the electrical trade. Formally a construction editor for two different trade publications, Mike started his career as an apprentice electrician and eventually became a master electrician, an electrical inspector, a contractor, and an educator. Mike has taught more than 1,000 classes on 30 different electrical-related subjects — ranging from alarm installations to exam preparation and voltage drop calculations. He continues to produce seminars, videos, books, and online training for the trade as well as contribute monthly Code content to EC&M magazine.