PRODUCED BY THE OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE OF ENERGY NETWORKS ASSOCIATION

Technical Specification 43-94

Issue 5 2012

Earth rods and their connectors

www.energynetworks.org
 PUBLISHING AND COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

© 2012 Energy Networks Association

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Energy Networks Association.
Specific enquiries concerning this document should be addressed to:

Operations Directorate
Energy Networks Association
6th Floor, Dean Bradley House
52 Horseferry Rd
London
SW1P 2AF

This document has been prepared for use by members of the Energy Networks
Association to take account of the conditions which apply to them. Advice should be taken
from an appropriately qualified engineer on the suitability of this document for any other
purpose.

Amendments since publication

Issue Date Amendment

Issue February, Minor revision of Issue 4.
5 2012
This issue includes the following principal technical changes.
Clause 1 Scope: Amended to include earth rods and connectors for
lightning protection systems.
Clause 4.2 Dimensional tolerance: New clause permitting dimensional
tolerance.
Table 5.1 Preferred earth rod dimensions: Amended shank diameter for
nominal 9 mm diameter earth rod from “8.9 mm” to “9.5 mm”.
Clause 5.2 Driving heads: Amended clause to allow driving heads to be
applied via couplers providing force is not through the coupler threads.
Details of all other technical, general and editorial amendments are
included in the associated Document Amendment Summary for this Issue
(available on request from the Operations Directorate of ENA).
 ENA Technical Specification 43-94
Issue 5 2012
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Contents
Foreword ................................................................................................................................ 4
1 Scope .............................................................................................................................. 5
2 Normative references ....................................................................................................... 5
3 Terms and definitions ....................................................................................................... 5
4 General Requirements ..................................................................................................... 6
4.1 Fabrication and Marking.......................................................................................... 6
4.2 Dimensional Tolerance ........................................................................................... 6
5 Components .................................................................................................................... 6
5.1 Earth Rods .............................................................................................................. 6
5.2 Driving Heads ......................................................................................................... 7
5.3 Driving Tips ............................................................................................................. 7
5.4 Couplers ................................................................................................................. 7
5.4.1 General ....................................................................................................... 7
5.4.2 Requirements for Steel Couplers or Dowels for Galvanised Rod................. 7
5.4.3 Requirements for Dowels for Copper Bonded Rod ...................................... 8
5.4.4 Alternative Couplers .................................................................................... 8
5.5 Connectors ............................................................................................................. 8
6 Testing ............................................................................................................................. 8
6.1General ................................................................................................................... 8
6.2Type Tests .............................................................................................................. 8
6.2.1 Sample Size ................................................................................................ 8
6.2.2 Visual Examination ...................................................................................... 9
6.2.2.1 Requirements for Copper Bonded Rods ....................................... 9
6.2.2.2 Requirements for Galvanised Rods............................................... 9
6.2.2.3 Requirements for Galvanised Couplers and Driving Tips............... 9
6.2.2.4 Requirements for Sherardized Couplers ....................................... 9
6.2.3 Rod Bend Test ............................................................................................ 9
6.2.4 Adhesion Test (Copper Bonded Earth Rod) ................................................. 9
6.3 Sample Tests ........................................................................................................ 10
6.3.1 Sample Size .............................................................................................. 10
6.3.2 Sample Tests ............................................................................................ 10
Annex A (normative) Self Certification Conformance Declaration ........................................ 11
Annex B (normative) Type Test Conformance Declaration .................................................. 14
Bibliography ......................................................................................................................... 16

Tables
Table 1 – Preferred earth rod dimensions ............................................................................... 7
Table A.1 – Self Certification Conformance Declaration ....................................................... 12
Table B.1 – Type Test Conformance Declaration ................................................................. 15
ENA Technical Specification 43-94
Issue 5 2012
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Foreword

This Technical Specification (TS) is published by the Energy Networks Association (ENA)
and comes into effect from the date of publication. It has been prepared under the authority
of the ENA Engineering Policy and Standards Manager and has been approved for
publication by the ENA Electricity Networks and Futures Group (ENFG). The approved
abbreviated title of this engineering document is “TS 43-94”.

This specification has been revised to recognise revisions to standards referenced within the
body of the text and provides the technical performance requirements for earth rods and their
connectors.

Annex A and Annex B of this Technical Specification include “Self Certification Conformance
Declaration” and “Type Test Conformance Declaration” sheets to enable manufacturers to
declare conformance or otherwise, clause by clause, with relevant parts of this document.
 ENA Technical Specification 43-94
Issue 5 2012
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1 Scope

This Technical Specification defines the requirements for driven steel earth rods with
galvanised or copper bonded finish for earthing and lightning protection associated with
systems up to and including 33 kV.

2 Normative references

The following referenced documents, in whole or part, are indispensable for the application of
this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

Standards publications

BS 4921, Specification for sherardized coatings on iron or steel

BS EN 1982, Copper and copper alloys. Ingots and castings

BS EN 10025-1, Hot rolled products of structural steels. General technical delivery conditions

BS EN 10025-2, Hot rolled products of structural steels. Technical delivery conditions for
non-alloy structural steels

BS EN 12163, Copper and copper alloys. Rod for general purposes

BS EN 12165, Copper and copper alloys. Wrought and unwrought forging stock

BS EN 12449, Copper and copper alloys. Seamless round tubes for general purposes

BS EN 13411-5, Terminations for steel wire ropes. Safety. U-bolt wire rope grips

BS EN ISO 1461, Hot dipped galvanised coatings on fabricated iron and steel articles.
Specifications and test methods

PD 970, Specification for wrought steels for mechanical and allied engineering purposes.
Requirements for carbon, carbon manganese and alloy hot worked or cold finished steels

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.

3.1
Connector
device to connect electrical conductor(s) to an earth rod

3.2
Coupler
device to enable rods to be joined together to provide an extensible earth rod
ENA Technical Specification 43-94
Issue 5 2012
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3.3
Driving Head
device used to protect the end of the earth rod whilst it is been driven

3.4
Driving Tip
device used to assist penetration of the earth rod into hard ground

3.5
Earth Rod
metallic rod driven into the ground to provide an electrical connection to earth

3.6
Sample Tests
test intended to verify the quality of materials or workmanship

3.7
Type Tests
tests intended to establish the design characteristics of a component. They are normally
only made once and only repeated when the design or the material of a component is
changed. The results of type tests are recorded as evidence of compliance with design
requirements

4 General Requirements

4.1 Fabrication and Marking

Each component shall be free of sharp edges, burrs, and swarf. Each component shall,
where practicable, be permanently marked by imprinting or casting the manufacturer’s name
or symbol and any necessary identifying type reference. The imprinting shall not puncture
any protective coating on the component or disturb the bond between the protective coating
and the component. Where this is not feasible (e.g. galvanised components) then the
component shall have attached a durable label carrying the same information.

4.2 Dimensional Tolerance

Components shall be manufactured within the dimensional tolerance range specified by the
manufacturer for each component. The dimensional tolerance range specified by the
manufacturer shall ensure components couple together smoothly and meet the functional
requirements of this specification.

5 Components

5.1 Earth Rods

Steel earth rods shall be manufactured in accordance with the requirements of BS EN 10025
minimum grade S275 JR, unless otherwise agreed between the Buyer and Supplier. They
shall be protected by hot dip galvanising to the requirements of BS EN ISO 1461.

In the case of copper bonded earth rods, the copper coating shall cover all external threads,
however the end of the earth rod need not be copper covered. Table 1 presents the
preferred dimensions of the earth rods.
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Table 1 – Preferred earth rod dimensions

Nominal Diameter Shank Diameter Nominal Length

1)
(mm) (mm) (m)

9 9.5 1.2
12.5 12.7 1.2 or 1.5
16 14.2 1.2 or 1.5

NOTE: The nominal lengths of the earth rods specified in Table 1 are representative of those traditionally
used. Earth rods of a shorter nominal length may be specified by the Buyer in order to improve the
ergonomics of the installation process.

1)
copper bonded only

5.2 Driving Heads

Driving heads shall be manufactured in accordance with the requirements of PD 970 or

equivalent. The driving head shall be designed to make direct contact with the end of the
rod. Driving heads applied by means of a coupler shall not transfer the driving force through
the coupler threads. The driving head shall be capable of being used several times without
deformation that will affect its performance.

5.3 Driving Tips

Driving tips shall be manufactured in accordance with the requirements of PD 970 or

equivalent.

5.4 Couplers

5.4.1 General

The couplers used to assemble the earth rods shall have the same mechanical strength as
the earth rods themselves, shall resist mechanical stresses during driving, and shall have
adequate dimensions to ensure a joint with an electrical conductance equivalent to that of
the earth rod itself.

The couplers shall be compatible with the earth rod material such that there can be no
deleterious effect on the earth rod or coupler resulting from their association.

Internal couplers shall be in the form of threaded dowels which screw into the internal thread
at the end of the earth rod.

External couplers shall have their bore threaded allowing them to be screwed over the
external threads on the end of the earth rod. The design shall be such that the earth rods
once coupled will butt together and that the thread shall be completely enclosed.

5.4.2 Requirements for Steel Couplers or Dowels for Galvanised Rod

Steel couplers shall be manufactured in accordance with the requirements of BS EN 10025

minimum grade S275 JR, unless otherwise agreed between the Buyer and Supplier. They
shall be protected by hot dip galvanising to the requirements of BS EN ISO 1461, or
sherardized to the requirements of BS 4921.
ENA Technical Specification 43-94
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5.4.3 Requirements for Dowels for Copper Bonded Rod

The couplers shall be manufactured in accordance with the requirements of BS EN 1982

grades C490K, C491K, CC331G, CC333G, BS EN 12163 grade CW451K, and BS EN
12449 as appropriate.

5.4.4 Alternative Couplers

Other types of couplers and materials are permitted if they satisfy the functional and
performance requirements in 5.4.1, 5.4.2 and 5.4.3 of this specification.

5.5 Connectors

U-bolt wire rope grip (i.e. Bulldog Grip) connectors shall be manufactured in accordance
with the requirements of BS EN 13411-5 and shall be protected by hot dip galvanising in
accordance with the requirements of BS EN ISO 1461.

Clamp type connectors shall be manufactured in accordance with the requirements of BS

EN 1982 grades C490K, C491K, CC331G, CC333G, BS EN 12449 grades CW024A,
CW116C, CW451K and BS EN 12165 grades CW004A, CW005A, CW024A as appropriate.

The connectors shall be compatible with the earth rod material such that there can be no
deleterious effect on the earth rod or connector resulting from their association. Non-ferrous
alloys, if used, should contain no more than 15% zinc.

The connectors shall have adequate dimensions to ensure an electrical conductance and
mechanical and thermal strength equivalent to the earth rod.

Connectors shall be manufactured to cater for the range of standard annealed or hard drawn
copper conductors from 6 mm2 to 120 mm2 in size.

The connectors shall be mechanically robust and shall not become loose, and shall be
impossible to remove without tools.

6 Testing

6.1 General

Type and sample tests shall be undertaken as appropriate in accordance with this
specification. The samples shall be assembled strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s
recommendations.

6.2 Type Tests

6.2.1 Sample Size

Three samples consisting of one driving head, two earth rods, one driving tip (if this is
usually part of the electrode) and the appropriate number of couplers shall be subjected to
the type tests as follows.
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6.2.2 Visual Examination

All three samples shall be visually examined to verify that the finish is smooth and free from
burrs and swarf. The dimensions shall be checked and shall be within the tolerance range
specified by the manufacturer. All components shall couple together smoothly.

6.2.2.1 Requirements for Copper Bonded Rods

The rods of one sample shall be cut into eight equal pieces and the thickness of the copper
covering measured. The minimum thickness of the copper covering shall be 0.15 mm for the
9 mm diameter earth rod, and 0.25 mm for earth rods of 12 mm diameter or greater.

6.2.2.2 Requirements for Galvanised Rods

The rods of one sample shall be cut into eight equal pieces and the thickness of the zinc
coating measured. The thickness of the coating shall meet the requirements of BS EN ISO
1461.

6.2.2.3 Requirements for Galvanised Couplers and Driving Tips

The thickness of the zinc coating on the coupler and driving tip of one sample shall be
measured and shall meet the requirements of BS EN ISO 1461.

6.2.2.4 Requirements for Sherardized Couplers

The thickness of the zinc coating on the coupler of one sample shall be measured, and shall
meet the requirements of BS 4921 Class 2.

6.2.3 Rod Bend Test

The earth rods from another sample shall be bent in two places through 90° at a radius of
100 mm.

Acceptance criteria:

There shall be no fracture of the core. In the case of copper bonded rods the
copper covering shall not ruck on the inside radius and there shall be no evidence of the
copper separating from the steel. Neither shall the copper cladding split on the outer radius
of the bend. For galvanised steel rods the zinc covering shall not be damaged or
separated from the core.

6.2.4 Adhesion Test (Copper Bonded Earth Rod)

A 25 mm thick mild steel anvil will be fabricated by the drilling of a hole with a diameter
approximately equal to that of the underlying steel core of the rod. The earth rods from the
third sample shall be chamfered at 45° at one end to facilitate entry into the drilled hole. The
earth rods shall then be driven through the orifice to a minimum distance of one third of the
length of the rod.

Acceptance criteria:

The copper coating shall show a reluctance to de-bond at the copper-steel interface.
Additionally there shall be no evidence of peeling at the interface.
ENA Technical Specification 43-94
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6.3 Sample Tests

6.3.1 Sample Size

Sample tests are not applicable when the order is for less than one hundred identical earth
rods. When the order is for one hundred or more identical earth rods, the number of samples
for these tests shall be p or the nearest whole number greater than p, as given by the
following formulae, in which n is the number of earth rods in the batch offered for inspection:

p=4 when 100 ≤ n ≤ 500

p = 4 + 1.5n when 500 ≤ n ≤ 20 000

1000

p = 4 + 0.75n when n ≥ 20 000

1000

The samples shall be selected at random from earth rods. The Buyer has the right to make
the selection.

If the samples meet the requirements the batch is deemed to comply with the requirements
of the standard. In the event of the sample not meeting the test requirement, twice the
number of new samples shall be tested. If all the new samples meet the requirements, the
batch is deemed to comply with the requirements of the standard.

6.3.2 Sample Tests

The tests shall comply with the requirements of 6.2.2, associated subclauses, and with
6.2.3.
 ENA Technical Specification 43-94
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Annex A
(normative)

Self Certification Conformance Declaration

ENA TS 43-94 EARTH RODS AND THEIR CONNECTORS

CLAUSE BY CLAUSE CONFORMANCE WITH ENA TS 43-94

Earth rods and their connectors covered by ENA TS 43-94 shall comply with the latest issues of the relevant International and British Standards. ENA TS 43-
94 is intended to amplify and/or clarify the requirements of those Standards.

This check sheet identifies the clauses in ENA TS 43-94 and the clauses of the aforementioned Standards relevant to earth rods and their connectors.

The manufacturer shall declare conformance or otherwise, clause by clause, using the following levels of conformance declaration codes.

Conformance declaration codes* Instructions for completion

NA Clause is not applicable or appropriate to the product

When Cs1 code is entered no remark is
Cs1 the product is fully conforms with the requirements of this clause necessary
Cs2 the product partially conforms with the requirements of this clause
When any other code is entered the reason
Cs3 the product does not conform with the requirements of this clause for non-conformance shall be entered
Cs4 the product does not currently conform with the requirements of this clause, but the
manufacturer proposes to modify and test the product in order to comply.

Manufacturer:
Product Reference:
Name: Signature: Date:

Check sheet follows…

ENA Technical Specification 43-94
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Table A.1 – Self Certification Conformance Declaration

Clause Clause Title Conformance Remarks

code*

1 Scope

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 General Requirements

4.1 Fabrication and Marking

4.2 Dimensional Tolerance

5 Components

5.1 Earth Rods

5.2 Driving Heads

5.3 Driving Tips

5.4 Couplers

5.4.1 General

5.4.2 Requirements for Steel Couplers or Dowels for Galvanised Rod

5.4.3 Requirements for Dowels for Copper Bonded Rod

5.4.4 Alternative Couplers

5.5 Connectors
 ENA Technical Specification 43-94
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Clause Clause Title Conformance Remarks

code*

6 Testing

6.1 General

6.2 Type Tests

6.2.1 Sample Size

6.2.2 Visual Examination

6.2.2.1 Requirements for Copper Bonded Rods

6.2.2.2 Requirements for Galvanised Rods

6.2.2.3 Requirements for Galvanised Couplers and Driving Tips

6.2.2.4 Requirements for Sherardized Couplers

6.2.3 Rod Bend Test

6.2.4 Adhesion Test (Copper Bonded Earth Rod)

6.3 Sample Tests

6.3.1 Sample Size

6.3.2 Sample Tests

ENA Technical Specification 43-94
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Annex B
(normative)

Type Test Conformance Declaration

ENA TS 43-94 EARTH RODS AND THEIR CONNECTORS

The manufacturer shall declare conformance or otherwise, for each test, using the following levels of conformance declaration codes.

Conformance declaration codes* Witness Codes**

Ct1 Independent witnessed tests I Independent

Ct2 Not fully independent witnessed tests M Manufacturer
Ct3 Self verified tests E ENA
Ct4 Alternative tests/evidence offered
Ct5 Manufacturer has underwritten that the product meets the functional and performance
requirements without further testing.
Ct6 Not tested

Manufacturer:
Product Reference:
Name: Signature: Date:

Check sheet follows…

 ENA Technical Specification 43-94
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Table B.1 – Type Test Conformance Declaration

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Specification/ Rated Test Tested Conformance Date Test station Witness

Test Requirement Req’d? report/cert I, M or Remarks
standard value value code * of test
(Y or N) no E**
1 Visual examination ENA TS 43-94
Sub-clause 6.2.2

2 Rod bend test ENA TS 43-94

Sub-clause 6.2.3

3 Adhesion test ENA TS 43-94

Sub-clause 6.2.4
ENA Technical Specification 43-94
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Bibliography

Standards publications

For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

BS 3288-1, Specification for insulator and conductor fittings for overhead power lines.
Performance and general requirements