If a circuit is installed in EMT and compression fittings are improperly secured, what impact does this have in the event of a ground fault?

When compression fittings in EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing) are not properly secured, it can lead to a poor electrical connection between the conduit sections. This situation can significantly impact how fault current behaves during a ground fault.

In the event of a ground fault, the expected path for fault current is through the grounding system and the conductor. However, if the compression fittings are loose or improperly secured, the resistance at these connection points increases. Higher resistance at connections leads to a reduced ability of the fault current to flow effectively. This can result in an increased overall fault current due to the potential difference in connection quality, particularly if the fault leads to heating and potential burning at the connections before they completely fail.

Additionally, the elevated resistance at the loose fittings can cause the overcurrent protection device (OCPD) to take longer to detect the fault and consequently delay its operation. The OCPD relies on detecting the amount of current flowing through the circuit to determine whether it needs to trip or not. With higher resistance and potentially higher fault currents, the OCPD may not react as quickly as it normally would.

Therefore, the potential for a higher fault current coupled with a delayed response from the OCPD is why this particular answer is accurate. Properly