Electrical Grounding &

Lightning Protection System

♦Introduction
♦ Ground Audit
♦Design
♦Installation
♦ Product Details IEGS-GE
♦ Lightning Protection
♦ Test Procedures
♦Services Offered

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 ELECTRICAL GROUNDING
Few years ago it would have been rare for anyone to talk about the importance of low
resistance grounding and bonding except where mainframe computer systems,
telecommunications equipment or military installations were being discussed. Today,
we live in a world controlled by microprocessors so low resistance grounding is now
critical and is a popular topic of conversation

Low Impedance Electrical Grounding is essential for safety and protection of Sensitive
Electronic Equipment and also for the effective Lightning Protection System (LPS). It is
the basis for any facility's power quality assurance program.

According to the IEEE Green Book [3] (Recommended Practice for Grounding,
ANSI/IEEE Standard 142-1982), the grounding electrode resistance of large electrical
substations (utilities) should be 1 Ohm or less. For commercial and industrial
substations the recommended ground resistance is 5 Ohms or less. This low resistance
is required due to the high potential to earth of the electrical system. Many
equipment vendors and communication companies require ground systems of less
than 3 Ohms resistance. For Lightning Protection system, BS 6651 stipulates that the
resistance to earth of the LPS measured at any point should not exceed 10 ohms.

To prevent damage and insure proper operation of modern sensitive communications

and electrical equipment, dissipation of lightning energy and good return paths for
ground fault currents has become a necessity. These modern, sensitive equipments
include Computer Systems and other Electrical and Electronic equipments in Banks,
Offices Call Centers, Magnetic Imaging equipment, Telecom Installations & Microwave
Towers, CNC Machines and other Sophisticated Electronic equipment used in different
Industries Offices and Electric Power Substations.

Proper grounding has other benefits, such as Enhanced Personnel Safety, Reduction in
System Noise and Protection from Unwanted Voltages, Currents and Power Surges and
Protection from Lightning. Without a proper “Low-Impedance Ground”, standard
protection devices such as breakers - or transient voltage surge and lightning protection
systems - are rendered ineffective. Several Electronic Equipment Manufacturers,
especially Communications Equipment Manufacturers such as Ericsson, Lucent, and
Motorola & Nortel may void their equipment warranties at sites where the ground
system performance does not meet their explicit earth grounding requirements,
typically 5 ohms or less.

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GROUND AUDIT: TESTING OF EXISTING FACILITIES

When Grounding systems are installed they are required to meet certain resistance
criteria, such as 10, 5, 3 or 1 ohm. Unfortunately most grounding systems are not
properly maintained and tested after installation. Since they are buried they are also
difficult to inspect. The Grounding system in many of the Industrial & Commercial
facilities are decades old and most of them are corroded and have undetected electrical
discontinuities. These Problems often continue for many years, contributing to electrical
problems, equipment failures and decrease in personnel safety.
We do the Complete Audit / Evaluation of Grounding System & LPS by using Fall of
Potential Method Testing for the Resistance values of the Existing Grounding System
and suggesting the rectifications if necessary.

DESIGN, INSTALLTION & TEST-PROCEDURES

In order to understand Electrical Grounding Design, Installation and Test -Procedures, it

is necessary to review why grounding is important. The list below gives some of the
basic advantages of an effective ground system.

Limits voltage in an Electrical Distribution system to “Definite Fixed Values”

Limits Voltage to within “Insulation Ratings".

Provides a “More Stable System” with a minimum of “Electrical Noise” and

“Transient over Voltage”.

Provides a path to ground in fault conditions for quick isolation of equipment

with operation of “Ground Fault Protection”.

Provides grounding of all conductive enclosures that may be touched by

personnel, thereby “Eliminating Shock Hazards”.

Reduces “Static Electricity” that may be generated within facilities.

Provides “Protection from Large Electrical Disturbances” (Such as Lightning)

by creating a low resistive path to earth.

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Computers are very sensitive electronic devices, and commonly experience data
corruption in non-grounded or poorly grounded environments, as well as outright
physical damage. This can easily happen at voltages less than can be felt by the human
hand. Computer chips operate at 5 volts and less. Computer chips can be damaged by
10 volts, and data corruption can happen in many other cases. More and More
machineries are coming with electronics and microprocessors.

The microprocessor chips themselves have become smaller and more densely packed.
This decreases heat dissipation, and makes them less robust. Operating voltages have
and continue to decrease to allow for this miniaturization. A digital "1" may be in the
vicinity of 3.5 - 5.0 volts or less, and a "0" in the range of 0 - 1.5 volts. So smaller over
voltages from transient conditions may result in operating errors and this can happen
with improper grounding.

Many people complain that the power from the power company is bad. Few of us must
have gotten a power surge from the power company because their computer quit
working. However, the real problem is usually not a surge from the Power Company, but
instead just a bad grounding. People spend money on surge protectors and line
conditioners but usually do not get any improvement. On the other hand, those who
simply ground their power outlets properly usually see their problems go away entirely,
without needing a surge protector or line conditioner. A surge protector and line
conditioner give additional protection, but we cannot get a "ground" by adding a line
conditioner, surge protector or other equipment. You get a ground only by grounding.

With computers, by far the most common devices to fail and need replacement are the
modem, printer and printer port, sound card, video card and LAN card (network not
grounded). Intermittent data corruptions are caused because the data travels at 4.7
volts or less inside the computer, yet the power outside is 220 volts. Without proper
grounding/earthing, the exposed metal on the back of the computer is typically 40-100
volts and fluctuating. Data corruption comes from leakage current.

If a telecom company's grounding systems falter, then equipment fails, calls drop and
people are inconvenienced. Companies will have a difficult time staying alive in an
increasingly competitive industry if their service levels decrease. With equipment
sensitivity also steadily increasing, installing a ground right the first time is even more
critical.

Only through proper electrical site protection can telecom companies ensure effective
grounding and the best protection for their cellular sites and switches. This may take
relearning the basics and grasping the engineering design and testing process, but
designing a proper ground will result in maintenance-free years of high-quality
performance and eliminate the need for rework or enhancement

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SOIL RESISTIVITY TEST

The first step in designing a proper “Electrical Ground” starts with soil resistivity
measurements. It is a crucial first step on which the remaining steps in the process are
based. Although not difficult, measuring soil resistivity can be time-consuming and
requires training, practice and the right equipment, including a four-pole ground
resistance test meter, reels of conductor and four probes. Soil resistivity measurements
must be taken in at least three different directions at four or five probe spacing, even on
the smallest land areas. This involves driving probes into the earth several times in each
direction. The more probes and data, the more accurately the designer can model the
site to provide the most effective design.

Variations of soil resistivity can range from 500 ohm-cm in clay to higher resistivity in
limestone - 5000 to 1,000,000 ohm-cm or more. Even in adjacent lots they dictate the
ground system performance within each site.

Electrical Grounding Design Process

Our extensive experience in the Designing of Electrical Grounding enables us to define

exactly what grounding installations will work best for your site. This eliminates “Trial &
Error”, and reduces the overall cost of the grounding system by designing only what is
needed to meet your specifications. Armed with reliable “Soil Resistivity” data and a site
map, our designer can complete the ground system design very accurately. A
sophisticated computer program uses this information to model the soil and grounding
system and recommend the quantity, type, length and shape of the ground rods,
including rod spacing and placement.
At this point, the drawings and other details are given to our installation department.

Installation of IEGS

The system we offer is called INDUS-Electrical Grounding System (IEGS).

The INDUS- Electrical Grounding System (IEGS) is backed by a team of Professional
Electrical Engineers who are experienced in the design, testing and application of all
types of grounding rods and systems.

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ADVANTAGES OF INDUS-ELECTRICAL GROUNDING SYSTEM

Accurate Mapping of Soil Resistivity of Sites

Soil Resistivity Measurement is an essential part in designing the Low impedance

grounding and we do these measurements by using top of the line equipment and
through universally accepted Wenner method developed by Dr. Frank Wenner of the
US Bureau of Standards.

Designing through Software

“Proper Designing of Grounding System” is done, through the Internationally acceptable

grounding Software to get the accurate design for the required value of Ground
Resistance, prior to the installation of Grounding Pits / Rods , thus eliminating the “hit
and trial method” to achieve the required ground resistance values.

Permanent Soil Treatment Solution

IEGS Ground Rod comprises of a 1” to 2 “or larger hollow copper rod. These electrodes
are filled with an electrolytic salt mixture and derive moisture from the soil and
atmosphere and utilize the moisture to slowly dissolve the electrolytes in the rod
creating a conductive rooting effect, providing an ever increasing lower resistance
ground in any type of soil.

Ground Conductivity Enhancing Material

The High Resistivity Native Soil from the hole bored for the installation of IEGS ground
rods is replaced with the Low Resistivity Soil, called GCEM (Ground Conductivity
Enhancing Material) which provides a good Conducting path by creating a direct low
resistance electrical connection between the electrode and the earth.

Reducing the Risk of Equipment Damage

The high resistivity native soil around the grounding electrodes can cause a high
concentration in the electric field around an electrode, which in turn, may cause arcing
in the soil to occur and can lead to the Equipment Damage. The use of GCEM (Ground
Conductivity Enhancing Material) in our IEGS reduces impedance by increasing the
effective contact area of the electrode to the soil thus reducing the risk of Equipment
Damage.

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Making Valid Measurements of Electrical Grounding

The neutral to ground voltage depends on wire size and length of the ground and
neutral, quality of connections, resistance of ground pits/rods etc. Excessive voltage
drop in the phases, high harmonics and poor Grounding shows high neutral to ground
voltages. The variability in the many factors which affect the neutral to ground voltage
partially explains that the neutral to ground voltage is not the VALID method of gauging
the quality of Electrical-Grounding. The most accurate method of measuring the
Electrical Grounding is the measurement of its “Resistance” through “Fall of Potential
Method”. We use top of the Line equipment DET 5/4 R for the measurement of Ground
Resistance which gives the most accurate results for the values of Ground Resistance.

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 IEGS-GE
IEGS Ground Electrodes provide a low-impedance ground in locations of high soil
resistivity. Together with GCEM as backfill, the system dissipates lightning energy and
other dangerous electrical fault currents, even in sandy or rocky soil conditions.

Features
1 to 2 inch OD copper pipe contains natural electrolytic salts that permeate into the
surrounding soil, lowering resistivity. Available up to 20 feet in continuous length and
longer rods can be field assembled using 6.66 feet sections

Applications
The IEGS Ground Electrode system is ideal for locations of high soil resistivity as well as
the locations where Low Impedance Grounding is required

More Information
Ground Electrodes IEGS are self contained electrolytic grounding electrodes that extract
moisture out of the air and from the earth on a continuous basis. This moisture mixes
with and dissolves the metallic salts in the electrode that produces a continuous release
of electrolyte into the soil. This dramatically reduces the resistivity of the soil around the
electrode, thereby increasing the conductivity of the grounding system. The ground
resistance continues to diminish as the electrolyte spreads further into the soil and is
especially effective where the soil conditions are sandy, rocky, or have other undesirable
factors. In these cases, the lack of moisture or the lack of natural metallic salts fails to
produce a natural, conductive, electrolytic solution on a continuing basis. Our Grounding
system provides these missing low resistance ingredients. The IEGS incorporates several
features that overcome these adverse soil conditions. The IEGS's ability to extract
moisture from both the air and the soil simultaneously is one of these features. When
the topsoil is dry, the IEGS extract moisture from the air and from the earth at a depth
less susceptible to moisture variations. During a rainy season, the system extracts
moisture from both the air and topsoil. This ensures the maximum and continuous
development of the needed electrolyte. The INDUS- Electrical Grounding System (IEGS)
is backed by a team of Professional Electrical Engineers who are experienced in the
design, testing and application of all types of grounding rods and systems.

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LIGHTNING PROTECTION

Cloud-to-Ground Lightning discharges can be hazardous to structures, people and

installations or equipment in, on or connected to the structure. Lightning can cause
damage to all or part of a structure or to the contents of a structure, especially to
electrical and electronic system. Consequential effects of lightning damage may extend
to the surroundings of a structure.
To reduce lightning damage and its consequential effects, lightning protection measures
are required. The basic idea is to provide lightning current a separate preferential solid
path to ground.
Today, a lot of international and national rules exist to employ all well-tried measures to
protect life, structures and equipment. Account must be taken of the most important
international standards, such as IEC 61024-1 and 61312-1 (protection of building
structures against lightning and protection of information systems against LEMP –
including radio transmitters), BS 6651 and others. They all define the proper planning,
installation and inspection of effective lightning protection systems (LPS).

LIGHTNING PROTECTION DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

All International standards stated above clearly advises strict adherence to the provision of a
conventional Lightning Protection System (LPS) - to the total exclusion of any other device or
system for which claims of enhanced protection are made.

The principle components of a conventional structural lightning protection system, in

accordance with these standards are:

Air Termination Network

Down Conductors

Earth Termination Network

Bonding (to prevent side flashing)

AIR TERMINATION NETWORK

On high risk structures such as explosive factories, no part of the roof should be more than
2.5m from an air termination conductor. This is generally achieved by applying a 5m x 10m
mesh to the roof.

However, for most structures, a mesh of 10m x 20m is considered sufficient, giving a
maximum distance from any part of the roof to the nearest conductor of 5m.

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AIR TERMINATIONS FOR TALL CONDUCTING
STRUCTURES

The zone of protection does not seem to be

applied because of the need to interconnect the
down conductors of the tall block to the air
termination of the lower block.

In such cases it is necessary to connect the lower

air termination up to the lower down conductors
to facilitate this inter connection, even though
this extension is within the zone of protection of
the tower.

Zones of protection

The 'Zone of Protection' offered by an air termination network is considered to be 45º for
heights up to 20m. Above this height, the zone of protection is determined by the 'Rolling
Sphere Method'. This involves rolling an imaginary sphere of 60m radius over a structure. The
areas touched by the sphere are deemed to require protection. On tall structures, this can
obviously include the sides of the building.

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EARLY STREAMER EMISSION TYPE AIR TERMINALS

The purpose of this type of air terminal is to emit a rising electrical discharge to inflect the
effect of the downward tracer. As it is transmitted towards the cloud, this rising discharge
creates a field which is sufficient to modify the path of the downward tracer: the lightning
current is thus dispersed into the earth. This process can occur naturally, but the action of
the IONIFLASH from FRANCE PARATONNERRES offered by IEGS triggers it more rapidly and
therefore ensures more effective protection.

DOWN CONDUCTORS: Down conductor siting and distancing is often dictated by

architectural circumstances. There should be one conventional down conductor for every
20m or part thereof of the building perimeter at roof or ground level (whichever is greater).
These should be evenly spaced and distances apart of more than 20m avoided if possible. If
the building is above 20m in height or of an abnormal risk this distance should be reduced to
10m.
They should be routed as directly as possible from the air termination network to the earth
termination network to avoid risks of side flashing. Re-entrant loops are also to be avoided.
BS 6651 recommends that the length of conductor forming the loop should not exceed eight
times the width of its open side.

Conventional Down Conductors: Conventional down conductors are un-insulated

conductors, typically copper strip, or cable. To reduce the voltage rise, and the risk of side
flashing multiple down conductors are required. The use of multiple down conductors and
associated grounding systems, can add substantially to the cost. The ascetics of multiple
down conductors have historically been an issue with architects and building contractors. The
conductor size shall be at least 28 strands of 14-gauge wire rope lay, with a net weight of
375 pounds per 1,000 feet (70mm2), minimum.

IEGS Down Conductors: INDUS has developed its dedicated insulated down conductor for
use with its IEGS Lightning Protection range. The cable is designed to provide a safe, insulated
path, to ground for the captured lightning discharge. Less numbers of down conductors are
required which allows for a simple high efficiency grounding network to be constructed. IEGS
Down Conductors can be routed away from sensitive electronic equipment & requires a
minimum of maintenance. The cable is capable of withstanding the full energy of the
lightning discharge and conveying this to the grounding system with minimal danger of side
flashing to adjacent earth points. The ability of this unique down conductor to screen
adjacent equipment from the large electro magnetic impulse associated with the discharge
current, is also a measure of it’s effectiveness in reducing damage by induction. This has
particular applicability to Telecommunications towers where the down conductor is by
necessity run parallel to the RF antenna cables down the length of the tower.

BS 6651 allows the use of 'natural conductors' such as rebars and structural steelwork,
provided that they are electrically continuous and adequately earthed. Otherwise use of
separate down conductors is a MUST

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 Inner area requires no conductors as it is within the zone of
protection determined by the rolling sphere

EARTH TERMINATION NETWORK

Each down conductor must have a separate earth termination. Moreover provision should
be made in each down conductor, for disconnection from the earth for testing purposes. This
is achieved with a test clamp of IEGS.

The peak current carried by the primary discharge during a lightning strike is almost 33 kA,
but can reach over 100 kA in some cases. Subsequent discharges (secondary strikes) typically
carry one third of that current. The rise time of the primary strike is about 4 micro seconds
while secondary discharges peak faster (less than 0.7 micro seconds) due to the fact that air
ionization keeps the conductive channel open. This is why it is important to keep the self-
resistance of the grounding system low; a high resistance system looks like an open circuit to
these impulsive currents and is thus ignored. To transfer a collected lightning strike safely
into the ground, an ultra-low impedance grounding system is necessary.

BS 6651 STIPULATES THAT THE RESISTANCE TO EARTH OF

THE LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM
MEASURED AT ANY POINT SHOULD NOT EXCEED 10 OHMS.

An appropriate number, sizing and spacing of IEGS-Ground Electrodes helps achieve a target
ground impedance of less than 10 ohms. To get such low impedance values, Soil Resistivity
Test of the site prior to designing of LPS is necessary. In IEGS, soil resistivity test by Wenner
method is carried out prior to designing of the LPS.

Deep driven
IEGS Ground Electrode

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Parallel Earth Rods & Use of INDUS Electrical Grounding System-IEGS

Where ground conditions make deep driving of earth rods impossible, a matrix arrangement
of rods coupled to one another by conductors can be used. If possible, the earth rods must
be spaced at a distance at least equal to their driven depth.

If earth rods cannot be driven in a parallel line a INDUS –Electrical Grounding System (IEGS)
configuration can be used, ensuring that the spacing/depth ratio is still maintained. High
resistivity soil conditions can be overcome by backfilling earth rods with a suitable medium
such as INDUS Ground Conductivity Enhancing Material (GCEM) conductive concrete which
effectively increases the diameter of the earth rod and hence its surface area, thus lowering
resistance to earth.

Spacing of parallel
earth rod electrode

Example of side flashing

If the lightning protection system on a structure is hit by

lightning, then the current flowing through the system and
the resistance/impedance offered by the conductor path will
determine the magnitude of the potential difference seen by
the lightning conductors with respect to true earth.

The lightning conductors can, instantaneously, have a

potential magnitude of megavolts (1,000,000V) with respect
to true earth.
Typically, at instant of discharge:
Potential difference at A = 1,500,000V
Potential difference at B = 0V

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BONDING (To Prevent Side Flashing)

It is important to keep the terminal contact resistance of a grounding wire to be lower than
0.1 ohms, to prevent melting during a lightning discharge, and the mass of copper in the
terminal contacts should be large to keep their temperature down. A 150g copper terminal
with 0.1 ohms contact resistance may melt during lightning discharge and provide no
protection at all. IEGS grounding copper terminals provide the right solution to this problem.
Bonding to prevent side flashing
1 Air termination
2 Down conductor
3 Bond to aerial
4 Bond to vent
5 Bond to re-bar
6 Bond to metal staircase
7 Bond to metal window frame
8 Bond to vent pipe
9 Bond to steel door/frame
10 Test clamp
11 Indicating plate
12 Main earthing terminal of
electrical installation
13 Earth termination point

TEST PROCEDURES

After the grounding system is in place, the verification process begins. Verification testing
will ensure that the predicted ground system performance has been achieved. This validates
the design, installation and equipment manufacturer's warranty.

Although seemingly simple, conducting the test is often problematic, and the results are
frequently rendered invalid.

The most reliable post-installation testing procedure involves the Fall-of-Potential (Three-
Point) method. With the help of our Top of the Line digital ground resistance meter, we
measure resistance of the installed grounding system and then issue a CERTIFIFCATE for the
VALIDITY of measured resistance of the “Installed Electrical Grounding System” and LPS

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SERVICES OFFERED

GROUND AUDIT Testing of Resistance values of the Existing Grounding

System & LPS and suggesting the rectifications if necessary.

SURVEY & SOIL RESISTIVITY TESTS Initial Survey of the New Sites for the
Electrical Ground Installation and carrying out the Soil Resistivity Tests.

DESIGNING OF LPS & ELECTRICAL GROUNDING SYSTEM using sophisticated

computer program to model the soil and grounding system and
recommending the quantity, type, length and shape of the ground rods,
including rod spacing and placement along with the LPS system components.

SUPPLY & INSTALLATION OF IEGS (INDUS-Electrical Grounding System) for

Human Safety, Equipment Protection and LPS.

TESTING AND VERIFICATION of the predicted Electrical Ground System

Performance and finally the issuance of Certificate.

SOIL RESISTIVITY TEST

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LOW IMPEDANCE GROUNDING, SOMETIMES REQUIRE DEEP BORING

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