Grounding Materials

The Grounding Chain

The performance of the grounding system is determined by the quality of the following five components all of which Are of equal importance.

  The Grounding Electrode Conductor. Typically made from copper or copper-bonded steel, the grounding electrode conductor must be large enough to withstand the maximum available fault current over the maximum clearing time

The Grounding Connections. Often overlooked, the grounding connections are used to tie the elements of the electrode system together. Exothermically welded connections provide a molecular bond that will never loosen or corrode. Mechanical connectors, such as crimp, bolted, and wedge type, rely on physical point to-point surface contact to maintain the integrity of the electrical connection. IEEE® Standard 837 provides detailed information on the application and testing of permanent grounding connections. ERICO can provide an independent, third-party test report evaluating the performance of these connectors in accordance with the testing procedures set forth in IEEE 837 Standard for Qualifying Permanent Substation Grounding Connections.

The Grounding Electrode. The grounding electrode provides the physical connection to the earth and is the instrument used to dissipate current into it. There are two main types of electrodes. “Natural” electrodes are intrinsic to the facility and include metal underground water pipe, the metal frame of the building (if effectively grounded), and reinforcing bar in concrete foundations.

“Made” electrodes are installed specifically to improve the performance of the ground system and include wire meshes, metallic plates, buried copper conductor and rods or pipes driven into the ground. The ground rod is

the most widely used electrode.

 Electrode to Soil Resistance. Amount of rod surface and rod replacement are the controlling factors. Doubling diameter reduces resistance by only 10% and is not cost effective. Doubling rod length, however, theoretically reduces resistance by 40%. The most common solution is proper placement of multiple rods that are driven to the required depths.

 

The Soil. The soil resistivity, measured in ohm-centimeters or ohm-meters, plays a significant role in determining the overall performance of the grounding system and

must be known before a proper grounding system can be engineered. Measuring soil resistivity allows the design engineer to locate an area with the most conductive soil  and to determine the depth of the conductive soil so that electrodes can be placed accordingly.

 

 

The grounding system will carry little or no current for long periods of time until a fault occurs or a lightning strike or other transient requires dissipation. At that point, the grounding system components will be expected to perform like new while conducting large amounts of current.

Most of the grounding system is concealed below grade, making inspection of the grounding components difficult or impossible. The underground environment is a harsh one. The initial selection of the components used in the grounding system is of critical importance to its long-term effectiveness.