Bonding conductors ______ decrease in size as the bonding path moves closer to the termination point of the GES.

• A. SHALL NOT
• B. SHOULD
• C. WILL
• D. MAY

Answer: (A)

In this safety rule, the path that bonds equipment to the Grounding Electrode System must maintain its cross‑section as you move toward the termination point. Keeping the bonding conductor from decreasing in size guarantees a continuous, low‑impedance connection all the way to the GES. If the path were to narrow near the termination, that smaller segment would raise the overall impedance and could become a bottleneck during fault conditions, leading to insufficient fault current, potential voltage differences between bonded parts, overheating, and degraded performance. By requiring that bonding conductors shall not decrease in size, the standard ensures a reliable, uniform bonding path that preserves safety and effectiveness. The phrasing makes this a mandatory rule, not a guideline, which is why it’s the best choice.