In the context of bonding, why is it important to maintain the specified distance between conductors and structures?

Maintaining the specified distance between conductors and structures is crucial for reducing safety hazards and ensuring effective bonding. Proper bonding practices help to provide a pathway for electrical faults to safely dissipate ground currents, which is essential for preventing shock hazards and equipment damage. If conductors are too close to structures or other conductive materials, it can lead to unintended paths for electricity, increasing the risk of electrical arcing and potential explosions, particularly in environments with explosive materials. This careful spacing also reduces the chance of inadvertent connections that could compromise the integrity of the bonding system.

In addition to safety considerations, proper distance helps maintain the effectiveness of the bonding by ensuring that the conductors can operate as designed, without interference from nearby structures, which might otherwise both create additional hazards and diminish the reliability of the grounding system.