STANDARD OPERATING

PRACTICE

Earth Pit System

Version 1.0

30th April 2016

 SOP for Earth Pit System
V1.0 30th April 2016

Table of Contents

1. OBJECTIVE................................................................................................................................3
2. SCOPE.........................................................................................................................................3
3. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT..............................................................................................3
4. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES..........................................................................................3
5. STANDARD PRACTICES.........................................................................................................3
6. Functioning................................................................................................................................4
7. Testing/Measurement..............................................................................................................4
8. Tools Required..........................................................................................................................4
9. Safety...........................................................................................................................................5
10. Reference..................................................................................................................................5

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 SOP for Earth Pit System
V1.0 30th April 2016

1. OBJECTIVE
To understand the concept of Earth pit system and it’s functioning. Earth pit system is used
for Safety of Human Life/Building/Equipment.

2. SCOPE
This document provides guidance on the standard requirements in Earth pit system:
authorizations, safety protocol and permit requirements.

3. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

4.1 Basic PPE

4.2 Fall Protection Harness
4.3 Ladders
4.4 Lifting Equipment

4. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

5.1 Facility Manager

5.2 MEP Engineer

5.3 MEP Supervisor

5.4 Technicians

5. STANDARD PRACTICES

5.1. Excavation on earth for a normal earth Pit size is 1.5M X 1.5M X 3.0 M.
5.2. Use 500 mm X 500 mm X 10 mm GI Plate or Bigger Size for more Contact of Earth and
reduce Earth Resistance.
5.3. Make a mixture of Wood Coal Powder Salt & Sand all in equal part
5.4. Wood Coal Powder use as good conductor of electricity, anti-corrosive, rust proves for GI
Plate for long life.
5.5. The purpose of coal and salt is to keep wet the soil permanently.
5.6. The salt percolates and coal absorbs water keeping the soil wet.
5.7. Care should always be taken by watering the earth pits in summer so that the pit soil will be
wet.
5.8. Coal is made of carbon which is good conductor minimizing the earth resistant.
5.9. Salt use as electrolyte to form conductivity between GI Plate Coal and Earth with humidity.
5.10. Sand has used to form porosity to cycle water & humidity around the mixture.
5.11.Put GI Plate (EARTH PLATE) of size 500 mm X 500 mm X 10 mm in the mid of mixture.
5.12. Use Double GI Strip size 30 mm X 10 mm to connect GI Plate to System Earthling.
5.13. It will be better to use GI Pipe of size 2.5″ diameter with a Flange on the top of GI Pipe to
cover GI Strip from EARTH PLATE to Top Flange.
5.14. Cover Top of GI pipe with a T joint to avoid jamming of pipe with dust & mud and also use
water time to time through this pipe to bottom of earth plate.
5.15. Maintain less than one Ohm Resistance from EARTH PIT conductor to a distance of 15
Meters around the EARTH PIT with another conductor dip on the Earth at least 500 mm deep.

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 SOP for Earth Pit System
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5.16. Check Voltage between Earth Pit conductors to Neutral of Mains Supply 220V AC 50 Hz it
should be less than 2.0 Volts.

6. Functioning
Factors Affecting Earthing:

1. Soil resistivity
2. Soil condition
3. Moisture
4. Dissolved salts
5. Climate condition
6. Location of earth pit.

Permissible Values of Earth Resistance

a) Major power station = 0.5 Ohm
b) Major Sub-stations = 1.0 Ohm
c) Minor Sub-station = 2 Ohm
d) Neutral Bushing = 2 Ohm
e) Service connection = 4 Ohm
f) Medium Voltage Network = 2 Ohm
g) L.T.Lightening Arrestor = 4 Ohm
g) L.T.Pole = 5 Ohm
e) H.T.Pole = 10 Ohm
f) Tower = 20-30 Ohm

7. Testing/Measurement
Frequency of testing earth pits to be once in a year.

Megger
 For measuring soil resistivity Earth Tester is used. It is also called the “MEGGER”.
 It has a voltage source, a meter to measure Resistance in ohms, switches to change
instrument range, Wires to connect terminal to Earth Electrode and Spikes.
 It is measured by using Four Terminal Earth Tester Instrument. The terminals are connected
by wires as in illustration.
 P=Potential Spike and C=Current Spike. The distance between the spikes may be 1M, 2M,
5M, 10M, 35M, and 50M.
 All spikes are equidistant and in straight line to maintain electrical continuity.  Take
measurement in different directions.
 Soil resistivity =2πLR.
 R= Value of Earth resistance in ohm.
 Distance between the spikes in cm.
 π  =  3.14
 P = Earth resistivity ohm-cm.
 Earth resistance value is directly proportional to Soil resistivity value

8. Tools Required
Brand name::Megger

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 SOP for Earth Pit System
V1.0 30th April 2016

Product no: DET14C and DET24C

9. Safety
Ensure that the safety standards are followed, and calibrated tools are used when testing.

10. Reference
10.1.http://www.weschler.com/_upload/sitepdfs/techref/gettingdowntoearth.pdf
10.2. “Earth Conduction Effects in Transmission System,” E.D. Sunde, D. Van Nostrand Co.
10.3. “Earth Resistances,” G.F. Tagg, George Newnes Limited, London (1964).
10.4. “Principles and Practices in Grounding,” Pub. No. D9, Edison Electric Institute.
10.5. “Guide for Safety in AC Substation Grounding,” AIEE (IEEE) No. 80.
10.6. “Recommended Guide for Measuring Ground Resistance and Potential Gradients in the
Earth.” AIEE (IEEE) No. 81. 6. “Master Test Code for Resistance Measurement, AIEE (IEEE) No.
550

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