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Earthing Guide

Introduction

Copper is the recommended material to use in earthing applications, whether below or above ground.


Materials used in earthing systems must be able to:

  • withstand mechanical damage
  • resist corrosion
  • provide a low impedance path to earth
  • carry the maximum fault condition for the application/installation
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Voltage Gradient

When lightning, or a fault current, is injected into the ground the voltage dissipates through the soil, radiating away from the point of entry. The further the distance from the point of entry, the lower the voltage that will present (much like the size of ripples in a pond, as they radiate away from the point where a stone was thrown into the water).

This is significant because a current passing through the heart causes fibrillation and can lead to death.
Mitigation of potential differences can be through the use of “equipotential grids” that equalise potential across an area, plus it is good practice to ensure that the conductors and rods are buried at least 1m deep and covered by a thick layer of insulating material eg rock.

An earth termination network can be installed in different ways . . .

1. Simple Earth Electrode

This can be a driven Earth Rod, an Earth Plate, a Mat or a length of buried conductor – or a combination of both.

2. Crows Foot Electrode

Can incorporate Earth Rods – the rods would be spaced at least twice their driven length apart.

3. Counterpoise Conductor

Can incorporate Earth Rods – the rods would be spaced at least twice their driven length apart.

4. Grid Conductor

Can incorporate Earth Rods – the rods would be spaced at least twice their driven length apart. For example, in a sub-station or cell site.

5. Earth Plates/Mats

For example, for protection of an operator at switch positions.

The choice of Earth Termination layout design depends on multiple factors, but essentially . .

  • The purpose
  • The ground conditions

From BS:EN 62305 . . .

For Lightning Protection, BS:EN 62305:3 advocates two types of Earthing System:

  • TYPE A  – simple earth electrode
  • TYPE B  – crows foot or counterpoise. These are ideally suited to areas of high soil resistivity and structures containing electronic equipment and hazardous materials.
  • Foundation electrodes may be employed – these are similar to TYPE B  and are installed within the building’s foundation itself.

Factors influencing the ability to achieve a satisfactory earth resistivity value

The soil composition also affects the resistivity of the soil itself. The presence of salts can significantly reduce resistivity which also, with some other elements, can become extremely corrosive to the material used in an earthing system.

Corrosion resistance is of paramount importance.Soil resistivity readings should be taken prior to designing an Earth Termination Network. The reason for this is that the nature of the soil has a major influence over the final resistivity of the Earth Termination network.This can be illustrated in the following tables . . .

Moisture Content (% by weight)
Resistivity (Ωm)
Top soil
Sandy loam
0
10 x 106
10 x 106
2.5
2,500
1,500
5
1,650
430
10
530
185
15
310
105
20
120
63
30
64
42

Effects of moisture content on resistivity

Temperature
Resistivity (Ωm)
°C
°F
20
168
72
10
50
99
0
32 (water)
138
0
32 (ice)
300
-5
23
790
-15
14
3,300

Effects of temperature on resistivity

Confused? Kingsmill industries is here to help you

Sometimes it is not possible to achieve the desired finished earth electrode resistance, due to the ground conditions being unfavourable – hard rocky ground, mountain tops, dry soil, etc.

 

 

For areas where the soil resistivity is very high, Kingsmill offer several “conductive aggregate” solutions to help improve resistivity.

 

We recommend the use of copper earth electrode systems due to their inherent low resistivity and corrosion resistance.

 

Our range encompasses:

  • Solid copper earth electrodes and conductor
  • Solid stainless steel electrodes
  • Copperbond (copper covered steel) electrodes and conductor
  • Copper conductors
  • Earth bars and bonds
  • Exothermic welding

Kingsmill do not recommend the use of galvanised, zinc plated or bare mild steel in buried (in direct contact with soil) earth termination networks for two reasons.

 

  1. The high resistivity of steel compared to copper
  2. Poor corrosion resistance when compared with solid copper or copperbonded steel

Similarly, the earth connection components must also be able to resist corrosion and carry the nominated fault rating of the conductor.

KingsWeld Exothermic Welding

It is important that all Earth Terminations can conduct the current that is required by the Earthing design.

Not only must this apply to the conductor itself, but also to the connectors used within the Earth Termination network. Exothermic joints carry 100% of the conductor fault rating, whereas bolted braided and crimped connections do not. With this in mind, Kingsmill supply a full range of exothermic welding equipment.


Exothermic welds permit the finished joint to carry the full fault rating of the conductors joined, they never loosen and being composed mainly of copper, provide first class corrosion resistance.


The Kingsmill exothermic joint provides:

  • Full fault current carrying capacity
  • Excellent corrosion resistance
  • Ease of installation

However please note, there are instances where a bolted connection is required. For example, where the earth conductor needs to be disconnected from the earth electrode for testing, or where the installation of an exothermic weld is not possible.

 

A chain is only as good as its weakest link . . . poor component selection can seriously impair a system!