STROMA GUIDE TO EARTHING

1.0 The purpose of Earthing of an Electrical Installation.

Apart from very specialist installations the protective earthing of an electrical installation is
the foundation protective measure for the safety of that installation. In addition to
providing an earth fault path to operate circuit protective devices for Automatic
Disconnection of the Supply (ADS), under fault conditions, it also acts as a passive measure
for safety.

2.0 Means of Earthing

The means of earthing for an installation may be supplied by the District Network Operator
(DNO) in the form of a discrete earth or via the supply neutral, and by the same method in
in the case of a local generator or private transformer. Where the DNO has not provided a
means of earthing, or has declined to provide a means of earthing, for their supply then an
earth electrode will need to be provided on the consumer’s premises.

Up until the 14th edition of the Wiring Regulations (1966) it was permissible to use a public
water supply pipe as an earth electrode. This is no longer permitted, see Regulation 542.2.6
of the Wiring Regulations BS7671 (Ref. 1), but it is permitted to use a private water pipe as
an earth electrode provided precautions are taken to prevent the removal of the pipe, see
Regulation 54.2.6 (Ref. 1).

The following items may be used as an earth electrode subject to their suitability
(Regulation 542.2.3).

1. Earth rods or pipes.

2. Earth tapes or wires.
3. Earth plates.
4. Underground structural metalwork embedded in foundations.
5. Welded metal reinforcement of concrete (except pre-stressed concrete) embedded
in the ground.
6. Lead sheaths and other metallic coverings of cables, where not precluded by
Regulation 542.2.5 which requires the consent of the cable owner.
7. Other suitable underground metalwork.

The following items are not permitted for use as an earth electrode, see Regulation 542.2.6

1. Metallic pipes containing gases or flammable liquids.

2. The metallic pipe of a water utility supply.

1
3.0 Earthing is not Bonding

The exposed conductive parts of an electrical installation require earthing. The extraneous
conductive parts of an electrical installation require bonding to the means of earthing. It is
incorrect to say, “The gas installation pipe requires earthing”.

4.0 Exposed Conductive Parts

An exposed conductive part is part of the electrical installation which is not normally live but
could become live under fault conditions. Examples of exposed conductive parts are.

1. Metallic panel boards, distribution boards, consumer units, bus bar chambers and
other switchgear.
2. Metallic trunking.
3. Metallic conduit.
4. The metallic armouring of steel wired armour (SWA) cables or aluminium wired
armour (AWA) cables.
5. The sheath of Mineral Insulated Metal Sheath (MIMS) cables.
6. The sheath of soft skinned metal sheathed cables (e.g. FP200).
7. Metallic light fittings and lamp holders.
8. Metallic back boxes.
9. Metallic accessories such as sockets and light switches.

Exposed conductive parts must be connected to the means of earthing for the installation.

Metal tray and basket does not need to be connected to the means of earthing as only
insulated and sheathed cables should be installed on it or in it. The client’s specification may
require the tray or basket to be bonded to earth even if it is not an extraneous conductive
part.

5.0 Types of Protective Conductor

The Wiring Regulations describes four types of protective conductor, these are.

1. The Earthing Conductor.

2. Protective Bonding Conductor.
3. Circuit Protective Conductor.
4. Supplementary Equipotential Bonding Conductor.

Figure 1 below indicates the position of the earthing conductor, the protective bonding
conductors and the circuit protective bonding conductors with respect to the Main Earth
Terminal (MET).

2
Figure 1. Protective Conductors.

The Wiring Regulations permit the following to be used as Protective Conductors.

1. Single cored cables.

2. A conductor in a cable.
3. An insulated or bare conductor in a common enclosure with insulated live
conductors.
4. A fixed bare or insulated conductor.
5. A metal covering, for example, the sheath, screen or armouring of a cable.
6. A metal conduit, metallic cable management system or other enclosure or
electrically continuous support system for conductors.
7. An extraneous conductive part other than a gas, oil, flexible or pliable conduit.

3
6.0 Types of Earthing System

The 3 most common types of earthing system found in the UK are TN-S, TN-C-S and TT. The
use of a TN-C earthing system where the earthing and neutral are combined in the
consumers installation is described in the Wiring Regulations but is not permitted in the UK
by the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 ( ESQCR 2002(Ref.2).

Whilst it may be possible to determine the exact type of earthing system by visual
inspection only the DNO can definitely confirm the system in use.

7.0 TN-S Earthing Systems

In a TN-S earthing system the means of earthing is supplied by the DNO either as the
metallic sheath of a cable or by a separate earthing conductor. Figure 2 below is an
illustration of a TN-S earthing system.

0 5 3 1 9 0

E L E C T R I C IT Y M E T E R

W A R N IN G

Figure 2. TN-S Earthing System.

4
8.0 TN-C-S Earthing System

In a TN-C-S earthing system the DNO provided the means of earthing from the supply
neutral. If the supply cable from the transformer supplies multiple premises the cable will
be earthed at multiple points via supplementary earth electrodes along the cable run. This is
known as a TN-C-S Protective Multiple Earthing (PME) system. Figure 3 below is an
illustration of a TN-C-S (PME) system where the earthing conductor is connected to the
supply neutral inside the supply head.

0 5 3 1 9 0

E L E C T R IC I T Y M E T E R

W A R N IN G

Figure 3. TN-C-S Earthing System.

5
9.0 TT Earthing System

In a TT earthing system the DNO has not provided a means of earthing and an earth
electrode needs to be installed to provide an earth return path. Figure 4 below illustrates a
TT earthing system.

Figure 4. TT Earthing System

6
10.0 The Earth Fault Path

For Automatic Disconnection of the Supply in the required disconnection time the
impedance of the earth fault path must be low enough to provide sufficient fault current to
operate the protective device in the disconnection time. The higher the earth fault current
the faster the disconnection time. In addition the lower the impedance of the earth fault
path, the lower the touch voltage of the exposed conductive parts, before automatic
disconnection of the supply. The impedance of the earth fault path will be composed of the
impedance of the transformer winding, the impedance of the line conductor, the impedance
of the CPC, the impedance of the earthing conductor and the impedance of the return path
to the transformer. The earth fault paths for TN-S, TN-C-S and TT are shown below. In the
case of a TT system it is more probable that the earth fault impedance will be high due to
the return path being the general mass of earth and therefor dependant on soil resistance.
For TT systems the overcurrent protection cannot be relied on for ADS so an RCD or
electronic ground fault protection will be required to achieve ADS in the disconnection time.

Figure 5. TN-S Earth Fault Path

In a TN-S system the earth fault current is returned to the star point of the transformer via
the separate supplier’s earth. The neutral and earth are connected together at the
transformer and to an earth electrode. In this system the transformer earth electrode is not
in the earth fault path.

7
Figure 6. TN-C-S Earthing System

In a TN-C-S earthing system the earth fault current is returned to the star point of the
transformer via the supplier’s neutral conductor. The neutral is connected to the star point
of the transformer and this in turn is connected to the transformer electrode. In this system
the transformer electrode is not in the earth fault path.

The disadvantage of a TN-C-S earthing system is that if the supply neutral becomes open
circuit for any reason, such as damage to an overhead supply neutral, failure of a cable joint
or theft of neutral link at the sub-station, all the exposed conductive parts and the
extraneous conductive parts connected to the main earth terminal (MET) will become live at
a voltage depending on the magnitude of the load connected and the impedance of any
bonding conductors and associated pipework.

It is not permitted to connect the following installations to a PME earthing system or it is not
recommended.

1. On construction and demolition sites unless all extraneous conductive parts are
connected to the main earth terminal. However most DNOs will not provide an earth
from a PME supply.
2. It is not recommended that an installation in agricultural premises containing
animals is connected to a PME supply. Animals are more susceptible to lower touch
voltages than humans. With PME supplies the potential of exposed and extraneous
conductive parts may be at a slightly higher voltage than the general mass of earth. If
this is the case cows may be reluctant to enter milking parlours and/or their milk

8
 yields may be reduced. In addition animals may be reluctant to drink from metallic
vessels supplied by metal pipework connected to the supply earth.
3. The Wiring Regulations do not permit the use of PME earthing systems in caravan
and camping sites.
4. The Wiring Regulations do not permit the use of PME earthing systems in marinas
and other similar locations.
5. Exhibition and show stands outside of the supplied building unless special measures
are taken. See Regulation 711.411.4.
6. On installations for the charging of electric vehicles unless special measures are
taken. See Regulation 722.411.4.1.
7. Installations for temporary structures, amusement devices, fair grounds, amusement
parks and circuses.
8. It is not recommended that a PME supply is used to supply outdoor swimming pools
and hot tubs as there may be a potential difference between the supply earth
potential and the general mass of earth. Also in the event of the loss of the supply
neutral this potential difference may be lethal. It is recommended that indoor pools
have a metal grid imbedded below the pool that is bonded to the main earth
terminal.

9
Figure 7. TT Earthing System.

In this system the supplier has not provided a means of earthing and the earth return path is
via a consumer’s earth electrode, the general mass of earthy and the transformer earth
electrode. The earth fault current will be limited by the resistance of the soil and the size
and depth of the earth electrodes. The earth fault current will be limited by the impedance
of the earth fault path and will probably not be sufficient to operate the circuit protection
devices in the installation. In addition the higher impedances of the earth fault path will
mean higher touch voltages and it is for this reason the permitted disconnection times (0.2s
and 1s) required in the Wiring Regulations (see Regulation 411.3.2.2 and table 41.1) are
lower than for TN systems.

In a TT system as the earth fault loop impedances will be too high to operate the over
current protection it is necessary to protect the installation with RCD or ground fault
protection. Where an RCD is providing earth fault protection the appropriate disconnection
time for the circuit must be met and the resistance of the earth electrode added to the
resistance of the earthing conductor (RA) multiplied by tripping current for the RCD (IΔn)
must be less than 50V.

RA x IΔn ≤ 50v

10
Table 41.5 of the Wiring Regulations provides maximum earth loop impedance values for
BS EN 61008 RCDs and BS EN 61009 RCBOs. This table is re-produced below.

RCD OPERATING CURRENT (IΔN) mA Maximum Earth Loop Impedance Zs (ohms)

30 1667*
100 500*
300 167
500 100

*However in a foot note to Table 41.5 it says an earth resistance value exceeding 200Ω may
not be stable. BS7430 (Ref.3) recommends a value not exceeding 100Ω.

When measuring the value of earth loop impedance of TT systems this should be carried out
under normally dry conditions.

11.0 DNO Declared Impedances

If requested the DNO is required by the ESQC Regulations to declare the supply impedance
of the means of earthing to the consumer’s premises. In reality this may be difficult to
obtain from a particular DNO and any figure is likely a standard maximum rather than an
accurate figure for the actual supply. A typical table of supply impedances is shown below in
figure 8.

SUPPLY PME SNE (TNS)

100A 0.35 0.8
100 to 200A 0.35 0.35
200A to 300A 0.2 0.2
>300A 0.15 0.15
Figure 8. Typical DNO Supply Impedances.

11
12.0 Determining the Cross Sectional Area (CSA) for an Earthing Conductor.

The Wiring Regulations permit two methods (See regulation 543.1.1) for determining the
CSA for an earthing conductor. The first method is by calculation using the adiabatic
equation in accordance with Regulation 543.1.3 and the second method is by selection in
accordance with Regulation 543.1.4. and Table 54.7.

The CSA of an earthing conductor by selection is likely to be larger than the CSA determined
by calculation. It is a common error found on Periodic Inspection Reports to see the CSA of
an earthing conductor to be insufficient because is it is less than the size set out in Table
54.7. However the CSA must be determined by calculation to verify it is adequately sized
before declaring it to be a defect.

To calculate the CSA of an earthing conductor the formula is:-

S = √I2t/ k where.

S = The CSA of the conductor. I = the measured or calculated fault current.

t = The disconnection time for the particular protective device protecting the cable taken
from the time current curves in Appendix 3 of the Wiring Regulations.

K = Is the factor for the conductor taken from Table 54.2 of the Wiring Regulations
Subject to.

1. A minimum of 2.5mm2 if mechanically protected. See Regulation 543.1.1.

2. A minimum of 4mm2 without mechanical protection. See Regulation 543.1.1
3. A minimum CSA as set out in Table 54.8 if the earthing is PME. See Regulation
542.3.1
4. A minimum of 10mm2 if a bare conductor. See Regulation 543.2.4
5. The requirements of Table 54.1 if the conductor is buried.

12
13.0 Example Calculation

For example to calculate the CSA of an copper separate earthing conductor protected by a
200A BS88 Type 2 fuse on a TNS earthing system with a Ze= 0.1Ω.

The calculated fault current = U0/Ze = 230/0.1 = 2300A.

The disconnection time for a 200A BS88 fuse at 2300A from Figure 3A3(a) Appendix 3

= 0.35s. See Figure 9 below.

The K factor for a copper separate conductor from Table 54.2 = 143

S= (√ (23002 x 0.35))/143 = 9.51mm2. So a 10mm2 conductor would be suitable.

Figure 9. Time current curve for 200A BS88-2 Fuse.

If in a particular circumstance the fault current would cause an operating time below 0.1s,
for a particular device, the time current curves in the Wiring Regulations are not applicable.
For less than 0.1s operating times information should be sought from the manufacturer of
the device to ascertain the energy let through (I2t) data. This data should be used to ensure
that the energy let through (I2t) does not exceed the thermal constraint for the conductor
(k2S2) i.e. I2t ≤ k2S2.

13
12.0 CSA by Selection

As an alternative to calculation the CSA of an earthing conductor can be selected from Table
54.7. The selection is based on the CSA of the Line Conductor. A useful table for selection is
produced below.

CSA OF LINE 10 16 25 35 50 70 95 120 150 185

CONDUCTOR
CSA OF 10 16 16 16 25 35 50 70 95 95
PROTECTIVE
CONDUCTOR

Note. If the CSA from example 1 above was selected, assuming the supply conductor were
95mm2, the CSA of the earthing conductor would be 50mm2 somewhat larger than the
10mm2 calculated.

13.0 Reference Documents.

1. British Standard 7671. Requirements for Electrical Installations. BS7671:2008

Amendment 3:2015.
2. Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002.
3. British Standard 7430:2011. Code of Practice for protective earthing of electrical
installations.

14