I am going to do a small slab pour in my backyard, but about 18" from the wall, in the space for the pour is a ground wire. The concrete contractor sugeests that burying the rod in the slab is okay. Does that make sense? Thanks for the help!
Paul
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A grounding electrode cannot be just an 8 foot ground rod buried in the concrete.

What is allowed, as per the National Electric Code 2008 edition is:

250.52 Grounding Electrodes.
(A) Electrodes Permitted for Grounding.

(3) Concrete-Encased Electrode.
An electrode encased by at least 50 mm (2 in.) of concrete, located horizontally near the bottom or vertically, and within that portion of a concrete foundation or footing that is in direct contact with the earth, consisting of at least 6.0 m (20 ft) of one or more bare or zinc galvanized or other electrically conductive coated steel reinforcing bars or rods of not less than 13 mm (1⁄2 in.) in diameter, or consisting of at least 6.0 m (20 ft) of bare copper conductor not smaller than 4 AWG.

Reinforcing bars shall be permitted to be bonded together by the
usual steel tie wires or other effective means.

You may check with your inspector to see if he would allow an 8 ft rod buried in concrete, but that is not listed above.

I am going to do a small slab pour in my backyard, but about 18" from the wall, in the space for the pour is a ground wire. The concrete contractor sugeests that burying the rod in the slab is okay. If you are saying that the existing wire to the ground rod is in the way then yes, it is fine to cover it with concrete.

We have been allowed (by inspectors and our power companies) to attach the ground wire directly to the rebar in a foundation by means of a ground clamp. This may not pertain to your situation though.

We have been allowed (by inspectors and our power companies) to attach the ground wire directly to the rebar in a foundation by means of a ground clamp. This may not pertain to your situation though.In most all places this is required these days.
Thing is, that was not even remotely the OP's question.

reg71, please confirm that you are talking about an existing ground wire and rod.