Huawei Wireless Sites Lightning Protection and Grounding System

Security Level:
Guide to Building Huawei Wireless Sites

Lightning Protection and Grounding System
www.huawei.com
Site Design and Implementation Management Dept.

July 2007
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
Huawei Confidential
Contents
1. Overview of the Grounding System
2. Earthing Body and Its Construction
3. External Equipment Grounding of Wireless Base Station
4. Methods of Reducing the Earth Resistance
5. Technical Requirements for and Earth Resistance Test of

the Grounding System
6. Main Factors Affecting the Earth Resistance
Huawei Confidential
Page 2
Purpose and Classification of Grounding

Purpose
Grounding is intended to improve the communications quality and to ensure safety of the
communication devices and the human being.
Classification of ground
Working grounding of a device

Working ground is an even and stable conductor for radio-frequency current. It stabilizes the
potential to earth of the circuit and provides a natural path to discharge the transient power noise.
Protection ground of a device

Protection ground prevents the destruction of insulation lest the device should carry electric charge
to endanger the personal safety. It also eliminates the static and high-frequency potential.
Lightning protection ground

Lightning protection ground provides a path of discharge to the earth and thus protects the devices
and human being from electric discharge of lightning.
Huawei Confidential
Page 3
Common Materials of the Grounding System

1. Earthing body
Horizontal earthing bar:

40x4 mm galvanized flat steel or 25x3 mm copper bar of any length required
Vertical earthing rod:

50x50x5 mm galvanized steel angle of a length ranging from 2000 mm to 2500 mm
or 50x3.5 mm galvanized steel pipe of a length ranging from 2000 mm to 2500 mm
Earthing plate used for towers:

1200x600x10 mm galvanized steel plate or 600x600x6 mm copper plate
2. Earthing leadin
40x4 mm galvanized flat steel (used in China) of any length required
or 95 mm2 copper conductor (used in western countries) of any length required
Huawei Confidential
Page 4
Common Materials of the Grounding System

3. Earthing bar
The earthing bar is generally a copper busbar with a sectional area not less than 120
mm2, which is commonly used and preferred. A piece of galvanized flat steel of the same
sectional area is an alternative.
4. Equipment earthing cable

The protection grounding cable is a stranded copper conductor ranging from 35 to 95
mm2 . But 50 mm2 is recommended.
Huawei Confidential
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Contents

Huawei Confidential
Page 6
Earthing Body and Its Construction a Single Vertical Earthing Rod

1. A single vertical earthing rod
Composition
The grounding system comprises only one vertical
earthing rod.
Construction
(1) Excavate a pit 90 cm deep, and drive a 50x50x5x2500
mm steel angle into the soil, with 20 cm of the upper end
above the soil. If the soil is solid, make a 80 hole
with a Luoyang shovel or geological drilling rig. Weld the
earthing leadin, a piece of 40x4 mm galvanized flat steel,
using a qualified steel electrode. The length of the fillet
of double-side welding is twice that of the long side of
the flat steel. Coat the welding joint with diluted asphalt
to prevent corrosion. Fill the whole 90 cm-deep pit with
soil, that is, the depth of burial is 70 cm.
(2) Test the earth resistance.
Huawei Confidential
90CM
20CM
230CM
Page 7
Earthing Body and Its Construction Multiple Vertical Earthing Rods

2. Multiple vertical earthing rods
Composition
The grounding system comprises multiple vertical earthing rods spaced out a given distance apart and a
horizontal earthing bar.
Construction
(1) The vertical earthing rods can be arranged in a straight line, fold line or pitch arc that is not closed.
(2) Excavate a 90 cm-deep channel along the line or arch you have designed. Drive the vertical earthing rods
into the soil one by one, with 20 cm of the upper end above the soil for welding. The spacing between any
two adjacent earthing rods is 1.5 to 2.5 times the length of an earthing rod. Weld the earthing rods at the
part 10 cm away from the upper end to the earthing bar. Coat the welding joints with asphalt to prevent
corrosion.
(3) Use three pieces of 40x4 mm galvanized flat steel to lead out the working ground, protection ground and
lightning protection ground respectively from both ends and the middle of the horizontal earthing bar.
Huawei Confidential
Page 8
Earthing Body and Its Construction Multiple Vertical Earthing Rods
Horizontal earthing bar
Vertical earthing rod
Grounding system of straight-line shape (top view)
90CM
20CM
230CM
1.5~2.5 L
L is the length of a vertical earthing rod.
Huawei Confidential
Page 9
Earthing Body and Its Construction Ring Grounding

3. Ring earthing body
Composition

(steel angle)
The grounding system comprises a piece of

40x4 mm galvanized flat steel (or a tinned
bare copper wire) buried around the
equipment room and a group of vertical
earthing rods connected to the flat steel.
Equipment room
(flat steel)
Ring earthing body around

the equipment room
Construction
Excavate a 90 cm-deep channel 1.5 m away from the wall footing of the building. Drive the
vertical earthing rods into the soil at the bottom of the channel at intervals of 5 m. For how to do
this, see the construction method presented to you earlier.
Weld three pieces of 40x4 mm galvanized flat steel to the horizontal earthing bar in the ring
ground grid, at three points that are 5 m or more apart, as lead-in of the working ground,
protection ground and lightning protection ground.
Huawei Confidential
Page 10
Earthing Body and Its Construction Ring Grounding

The foundation reinforcement bars (including the post reinforcement bars) of a switching equipment room, especially, a
large equipment room, must be connected to the ring ground grid. Among the building posts and foundation, at least two
main reinforcement bars must be welded to lead out connection lines to the ring ground grid. Such connection lines must
be available in four directions of the foundation and made of 40x4 mm galvanized flat steel. In this way, the earth
resistance of the ground grid can be easily made below one ohm.
Ring earthing body
A connection line
between the ground
grid and the foundation
reinforcement bars
Foundation
reinforcement
bars of the
equipment room
Connection of the ring earthing body to the foundation

reinforcement bars of the equipment room
Huawei Confidential
Page 11
Earthing Body and Its Construction Mesh Grounding

4. Mesh earthing body
Ring earthing body
A connection line
between tower
foundations
Foundation reinforcement
bars of the tower
A connection line
between the foundation
reinforcement bars of
the tower and the ring
ground grid
Relation between the foundation ground grid of the

tower and the ring ground grid
The mesh earthing body works effectively. Among the reinforcement bars that meet at right angles in a building such
as the switching equipment room or tower foundation, the points of crossing are an integral part of the earthing body
after they are welded or fixed by a strong clip. Before pouring the concrete, weld connection lines toward the special
ground grid. The connection lines led out from the foundation ground grid of the tower must be welded to at least two
main reinforcement bars in the foundation ground grid.
Huawei Confidential
Page 12
Earthing Body and Its Construction Radial Horizontal Earthing Bars

5. Radial horizontal earthing bars
Application
Radial horizontal earthing bars apply to the sites which are so geologically complex that the vertical
earthing rods cannot be buried and the length of a single horizontal earthing bar is restricted. On such
sites, bury horizontal earthing bars in a radial manner from the center to reduce the earth resistance.
Key points in construction

Excavate channels 5070 cm deep in a radial way around the building.
Use 40x4 mm galvanized flat steel as a horizontal earthing bar. Connect a 1200x600x10 mm
galvanized steel plate to the end of the radial ground cable as an earthing plate to discharge the current.
The horizontal earthing bar must be made connective to the galvanized steel plate by welding. The
length of the fillet must be 160 mm or more. Coat the welding joints with asphalt to prevent corrosion.
The horizontal earthing bars must not be longer than 30 m. To get the required earth resistance, you can
use more than one radial horizontal earthing bar.
Huawei Confidential
Page 13
Earthing Body and Its Construction Radial Horizontal Earthing Bars
Ring earthing body

A connection line
between the tower
foundations
Foundation reinforcement
bars of the tower
A connection line
between the foundation
reinforcement bars of
the tower and the ring
ground grid
Radial horizontal
earthing bar
Earthing plate
Radial ground cables of a tower (marked by dashed lines)

Radial horizontal earthing bars often apply to towers. They are routed from four feet of the tower outward
along the diagonal lines in a radial way, and effectively connected with the tower feet.
Huawei Confidential
Page 14
Earthing Body and Its Construction Mesh Earthing Body +

Vertical Earthing Rods
6.
Grounding system that comprises a mesh earthing body and vertical earthing rods
Advantages
The grounding system is effective in ensuring a stable earth resistance.
The vertical earthing rods are reliable sources of earthing. The ground grid is a safety measure to balance the fault
potential on the surface of the ground, and can protect the workers and those who pass by against lightning.
Composition
The grounding system comprises the vertical earthing rods arranged in a square matrix and the horizontal earthing
bars that connect the top of the vertical earthing rods.
Construction
Excavate a 90 cm-deep channel in the shape of 3x3 m square boxes. Drive the vertical earthing rods into the soil
at the bottom of the channel at the points of crossing, with 20 cm of the upper end above the soil for welding.
Use 40x4 mm galvanized flat steel to weld the vertical earthing rods 10 cm away from the upper end to form a
ground grid, of which the four sides are closed but not equilong. Coat the welding joints with asphalt to prevent
corrosion.
(1)
(2)
(1)
(2)
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Page 15
Earthing Body and Its Construction Mesh Earthing Body +

Vertical Earthing Rods
(3) Weld three pieces of 40x4 mm galvanized flat steel to the horizontal earthing bars of the ground grid, at three points
not less than 5 m apart, as lead-in of the working ground, protection ground and lightning protection ground
respectively. Coat the welding joints with asphalt to prevent corrosion.
(4) Backfill the channel with soil and tamp the soil. Restore the ground environment to its original appearance. Ensure
the top of the vertical earthing rods is buried 70 cm below the ground.
ground grid that comprises a mesh earthing

body and vertical earthing rods
Huawei Confidential
Page 16
Earthing Body and Its Construction Multi-Grid Joint Grounding

7. Multi-grid joint grounding
Conditions of multi-grid joint grounding

In some sites, there is a ground grid of the equipment room, a ground grid of the tower and a ground
grid of the transformer, which are no more than 30 m apart. In this case, the three ground grids must
be connected to form a large closed ground grid.
Ground grid of the tower
Ground grid of the

equipment room
Huawei Confidential
Ground grid of the

transformer
Page 17
8. Building Roof Grounding

Building roof grounding requires you to make full use of the established
grounding system of the building. If the grounding system of the building
meets the resistance requirement, connect galvanized flat steel to the
grounding system of the building and test the resistance. If the grounding
system of the building does not meet the resistance requirement, expand the
grounding system of the building or build a separate ground grid based on
the working drawings designed by the site design department.
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Page 18
Grounding
Huawei Confidential
Page 19
Grounding
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Page 20
Joint Grounding System of a Base Station
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Page 21
Joint Grounding System of a Base Station
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Page 22
Contents

Huawei Confidential
Page 23
External Equipment Grounding of Wireless Base Station
Grounding of the tower and aviation obstruction light

Connect the tower and aviation obstruction light to the grounding system through the tower feet.
For the aviation lights fed by AC, use a cable with a metal jacket as the power cable. Ground the metal
jacket nearby at the tower top and the outside of the inlet to the equipment room. Equip each phase line
of the tower light control cable and power cable with a lightning arrester at the inlet to the equipment
room, and ground the zero lines directly.
Grounding of the lightning arrester at the tower top
Construction method for using a piece of 40x4 mm galvanized flat steel as the grounding
downlead:
(1) Weld a piece of 40x4 mm galvanized flat steel to the lower part of the lightning arrester. Make two holes
larger than 10 mm on the flat steel and galvanize the holes.
(2) Use a piece of 40x4 mm galvanized flat steel of the proper length, and make two holes larger than
10mm at each end of the flat steel. Connect the upper part of the flat steel to the tail of the lightning
arrester with bolts and the lower part to the lead-out wire of the ground grid.
Huawei Confidential
Page 24

(3) Fix the downlead to the tower body without insulation processing.
(4) Weld the galvanized flat steel instead of riveting it. The length of the lap welding at the joint should
be over twice the width of the flat steel, or over ten times the diameter if round steel is used.
(5) Do not route the downlead of the lightning arrester along the ladder. Instead, route it along the tower
body at the side far from the equipment room.
Construction method for using a copper conduction with a sectional area more than 95
mm2 as the grounding downlead of the lightning arrester:
(1) Weld a piece of 40x4 mm galvanized flat steel to the lower part of the lightning arrester. Make two
holes larger than 10 mm on the flat steel and galvanize the holes.
(2) Use a copper conductor of the proper length, and weld a copper lug at each end of the copper
conductor. Lap the upper part of the copper conductor to the tail of the lightning arrester with bolts
and the lower part to the lead-out wire of the ground grid. Process the lapped joint to prevent
corrosion.
(3) Fix the downlead to the tower body without insulation processing.
Huawei Confidential
Page 25
Lightning protection grounding of a microwave device and its support, a GSM

antenna and its support
The integrated microwave device and its support, GSN antenna and its support are generally no
more than 2 m away from the grounding downlead of the lightning arrester. To escape the harm
caused by side striking in the case of lightning, they must be connected to the grounding downlead of
the lightning arrester so that they are located in the equipotential environment.
Grounding of a GSM feeder

At the part where the upper part of the feeder is bent to run downward and outside the feeder
window, ground the coaxial external conductor of the feeder through a special grounding device. If
the tower is over 60 m high, add a grounding point in the middle. The grounding cables should be
short and straight, and routed from the top down.
Grounding of the base station equipment room

The equipment room, for example, a container and shelter, covered by prefabricated steel-structured
metal should preferably be grounded at four corners when the side lengths are less than 18 m. One
more grounding point is needed for every additional 18 m or an additional length less than 18 m.
Huawei Confidential
Page 26
Contents

Huawei Confidential
Page 27
Methods of Reducing the Earth Resistance

Classification:
Chemical treatment method

Resistivity reduction agent method
Huawei Confidential
Page 28
Chemical Treatment Method
Definition
A common chemical serving this purpose is salt (NaCl).
Classification of construction methods
Stacking
Pouring
Chemicals are added to the soil to reduce the earth resistance.
Effect
Sandy soil: The earth resistance drops to 1/61/3 of the original value.
Sandy clay: The earth resistance drops to 2/51/3 of the original value.
Valid term two years. Salt must be supplemented every two years in the
quantity that is half of the quantity initially added to the soil.
Disadvantage
Chemicals always corrode the earthing body.
Huawei Confidential
Page 29
Chemical Treatment Method Stacking
Key points of construction of stacking
Divide the earth around the upper part of each earthing body at the height of about one third of
the length of the earthing body, that is, 600800 mm, into six to eight layers. Lay 2030 mm salt
at each layer and then add 100 mm conductive humus soil. Tamp the soil and pour one to two
liters of water for each kilogram of salt to the soil. Deal with the other seven layers of earth in the
same way. Each pipe needs 30 to 40 kilograms of salt.
Connect the top ends of adjacent earthing bodies into one unit through 40x4 mm galvanized flat
steel. Then lead this unit to the grounding busbar in the equipment room or connect it to the
lightning protection downlead of the tower through the same flat steel.
For easy test, connect it to the reserved 40x4 mm galvanized connecting terminal with three
bolts.
Huawei Confidential
Page 30
Chemical Treatment Method Pouring
Key points of construction of pouring
The pouring method applies to the circumstances where the earth resistivity is so high that many
holes must be made.
Make 56 holes of a diameter of 10 mm every 200 mm in different directions on the steel pipes
driven into the earth, and then pour saturated salt water in the holes.
Use 2040 kilograms of salt for each steel pipe and mix each kilogram of salt with one to two
kilograms of water.
Weld the steel pipes with galvanized flat steel to lead out a grounding electrode, using the same
material as in the stacking method introduced earlier.
Huawei Confidential
Page 31
Resistivity Reduction Agent
Types of resistivity reduction agents
Urea-formaldehyde resin
Acrylamide
Polyacry lamide
General principle followed in using the resistivity reduction agent

Each earthing body, whether in the form of a rod, plate or thread and whether laid horizontally or
vertically, must be placed in the middle of the resistivity reduction agent and in good contact with the
electrode and soil to reduce the resistivity sharply.
Formula and construction method of the resistivity reduction agent

See pages 12 through 14 in the Guide to Building Huawei Wireless Sites Lightning Protection and
Grounding System.
Huawei Confidential
Page 32
Contents
5. Technical Requirements for and Earth Resistance Test of the

Grounding System
7. Design Specification of the Lightning Protection and

Grounding System
Huawei Confidential
Page 33
Technical Requirements for and Earth Resistance Test of the

Grounding System
Technical requirements
The earth resistance of the general communications building must be preferably no more than
one ohm.
Among the wireless sites, the earth resistance of the BTS site should be no more than five ohms,
and that of the BSC and MSC sites no more than one ohm.
Voltage resistance and equipotential measures are adopted lest the lightning should produce a
high step voltage to injure the human being.
Test methods of earth resistance
Trielectrode method
Triangle method
Huawei Confidential
Page 34
Testing the Earth Resistance Trielectrode Method

G
P
d Gp
D
dGc
Electrode arrangement of the
trielectrode method
G:
tested grounding device
D:
maximum diagonal length of the ground grid
P:
voltage electrode used for the test
C: current electrode used for the test

dGc: distance between the current electrode and the edge
of the ground grid
dGP : distance between the voltage electrode and the edge
of the ground grid
Huawei Confidential
Page 35
Testing the Earth Resistance Trielectrode Method

i
A
E
V
P
G
Rationale of the trielectrode method
dGP is about 50% 60% of dGc.

dGc is four to five times the D.
In an area with even soil resistivity, if you have trouble in assigning 4D5D to dGc, assign 2D to dGc and D to dGP.
In an area with uneven soil resistivity or in an urban area, assign 3D to d GC and 1.7D to dGP.
In measurement, move three times along the connection line between G and C, moving 5% of d GC each time. It is okay if
the three values tested are close to each other.
Since dGC and dGP are counted from the edge of the ground grid, d GP is not 0.618 dGC, but 0.5 0.55dGC, which takes the
distance from the ground grid edge to the ground grid center into account. In this way, the distance from the ground grid
center to the voltage electrode is about 0.618 of the distance from the ground grid center to the current electrode.
Huawei Confidential
Page 36
Testing the Earth Resistance Triangle Method

G
d Gp
d Gc
?30
G: tested grounding device

D: maximum diagonal length of the ground grid
Rationale of the triangle method
P: voltage electrode used for the test

C: current electrode used for the test
dGc: distance between the current electrode and the edge of the
ground grid
dGP: distance between the voltage electrode and the edge of the
ground grid
dGP=dGC>2D, included angle = 29 30
Huawei Confidential
Page 37
Contents

Huawei Confidential
Page 38
Main Factors Affecting the Earth Resistance
Electrical conductivity of the earth
Moisture content of the earth
Salt content of the earth
Depth of the grounding resistor
Huawei Confidential
Page 39
Main Factors Affecting the Earth Resistance Electrical

Conductivity of the Earth
Classification of the earth
Soil
Sandy
Rock
Coagulative
Mine
For the electrical conductivity of different types of earth, refer to page 17 in the Guide to
Building Huawei Wireless Sites Lightning Protection and Grounding System.
Huawei Confidential
Page 40
Main Factors Affecting the Earth Resistance Water Content of the Earth
The electrical resistivity of the earth changes sharply with the water content. For
example, for sandy clay, the electrical resistivity is 10 x 106 m when the water
content is zero, and 42 m when the water content is 30%.
Factors affecting the water content of the earth
Seasonal rainfall
Geological depth
Huawei Confidential
Page 41
Main Factors Affecting the Earth Resistance Salt Content of the Earth
Soluble salt particles contained in the soil water can reduce the electrical
resistivity of the earth
Salt, copper sulfate and magnesium sulfate can be used as resistivity reduction
agents.
Some resistivity reduction agents, for example, salt, corrode the earthing bodies.
In construction, use the salt of small corrosive action and long-acting resistivity
reduction agents.
Huawei Confidential
Page 42
Main Factors Affecting the Earth Resistance Depth of the

Grounding Resistor
The electrical resistivity of the soil 12 m away from the ground surface is high and changes sharply with
the change of seasonal rainfall.
The deeper the soil, the less the water content changes with the season and the more stable the
electrical resistivity.
Relation between the earth resistance and the depth of burial of the earthing body (assume the soil is
even)

4l
Ln 1
2L
s
R: earth resistance ()
: electrical resistivity (cm)
L: length of the vertical earthing rod (L+70 cm refers to the depth of burial) (cm)
S: equivalent semidiameter of the earthing body (cm)
Huawei Confidential
Page 43
Attachments
Checklist for
Huawei Wireless
Grounding Net Installation
Node-B Construction Spec
Huawei Confidential
Page 44
The end
Winning Together!
Huawei Confidential
Page 45

Huawei Wireless Sites Lightning Protection and Grounding System

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Security Level:

Guide to Building Huawei Wireless Sites

Site Design and Implementation Management Dept.

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

1. Overview of the Grounding System

2. Earthing Body and Its Construction

3. External Equipment Grounding of Wireless Base Station

4. Methods of Reducing the Earth Resistance

5. Technical Requirements for and Earth Resistance Test of

6. Main Factors Affecting the Earth Resistance

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Purpose and Classification of Grounding

Working grounding of a device

Protection ground of a device

Lightning protection ground

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Common Materials of the Grounding System

Horizontal earthing bar:

Vertical earthing rod:

Earthing plate used for towers:

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Common Materials of the Grounding System

4. Equipment earthing cable

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

1. Overview of the Grounding System

2. Earthing Body and Its Construction

3. External Equipment Grounding of Wireless Base Station

4. Methods of Reducing the Earth Resistance

5. Technical Requirements for and Earth Resistance Test of

6. Main Factors Affecting the Earth Resistance

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Earthing Body and Its Construction a Single Vertical Earthing Rod

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Earthing Body and Its Construction Multiple Vertical Earthing Rods

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Earthing Body and Its Construction Multiple Vertical Earthing Rods

Horizontal earthing bar

Vertical earthing rod

Grounding system of straight-line shape (top view)

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Earthing Body and Its Construction Ring Grounding

Vertical earthing rod

The grounding system comprises a piece of

Ring earthing body around

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Earthing Body and Its Construction Ring Grounding

Connection of the ring earthing body to the foundation

Earthing Body and Its Construction Mesh Grounding

Relation between the foundation ground grid of the

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Earthing Body and Its Construction Radial Horizontal Earthing Bars

Key points in construction

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Earthing Body and Its Construction Radial Horizontal Earthing Bars

Ring earthing body

Radial ground cables of a tower (marked by dashed lines)

Earthing Body and Its Construction Mesh Earthing Body +

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Earthing Body and Its Construction Mesh Earthing Body +

Horizontal earthing bar

ground grid that comprises a mesh earthing

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Earthing Body and Its Construction Multi-Grid Joint Grounding

Conditions of multi-grid joint grounding