DEFINITIONS

(E)

Earth (ground)
The conductive mass of the earth whose electric potential at any point is
conventionally taken as equal to zero.

Earth electrode
One or more conductive parts embedded in the earth for the purpose of making
effective electrical contact with the general mass of earth. It can be conductive part,
which may be embedded in a specific conductive medium, e.g. concrete or coke, in
electric contact with earth.

Earth electrode resistance

The resistance of an earth electrode to earth.

Earth equipotential zone

A zone within which exposed conductive parts and extraneous conductive parts are
maintained at substantially the same potential by bonding such that, under fault
conditions, the difference in potential between simultaneously accessible exposed and
extraneous conductive parts will not cause electric shock.

Earth fault
A conductive part or a group of conductive parts in an intimate contact with and
providing an electrical connection with earth.

Earth fault loop impedance

The impedance of the earth fault current loop starting and ending at the point of earth
fault. This impedance is denoted by the symbol Z s .

Earthing
Connection of the exposed conductive parts of an installation to the main earthing
terminal of the installation.

Earthing arrangement
all the electric connections and devices involved in the earthing of a system, an
installation and equipment. This could be a locally limited arrangement of
interconnected earth electrodes on the high-voltage side.

Earthing conductor
A protective conductor connecting the main earthing terminal or bar to the earth
electrode.

Earthing Systems
An electrical system consisting of a single source of electrical energy and an
installation. For certain purposes, of the Regulations, types of systems are identified as
follows, depending upon the relationship of the source, and of exposed conductive
parts of the installation, to Earth:
TN system: a system having one or more points of the source of energy directly
earthed, the exposed conductive parts of the installation being connected to that
point by protective conductors.
TN-C system: a system in which the neutral and protective functions are
combined in a single conductor throughout the system.

SBC 401 2007 21/8

 DEFINITIONS

TN-S system: a system having separate neutral and protective conductors

throughout the system.
TN-C-S system: a system in which neutral and protective functions are combined
in a single conductor in part of the system.
TT system: A system having one point of the source of energy directly earthed,
the exposed conductive parts of the installation being connected to earth electrodes
electrically independent of the earth electrodes of the source.
IT system: A system having no direct connection between live parts and Earth, the
exposed conductive parts of the electrical installation are being earthed.

Earth leakage current

A current, which flows to earth or to extraneous conductive parts in a circuit, which is
electrically sound. This current may have a capacitive component including that
resulting from the deliberate use of capacitor.

Earth-leakage protective device

Device which will remove the output power from one or more transformer(s), inverter(s) or
converter(s) in the event of a short-circuit between any relevant part of the output circuit and
earth.

Efficiency of a LPS
The ratio of the average annual number of direct lightning flashes which cannot cause
damage to the building to the direct lightning flash number to the building.

Electric circuit
An assembly of electrical equipment of the installation supplied from the same origin
and protected against overcurrent by the same protective devices.

Electric shock
Pathophysiological effect resulting from an electric current passing through a human
or animal body.

Electrical equipment
Any item used for such purposes as generation, conversion, transmission, distribution
or utilization of electrical energy, such as machines, transformers, apparatus,
measuring instruments, protective devices, equipment for wiring systems, appliances.

Electrical installation
An assembly of associated electrical equipment that fulfills a specific purpose or
purposes and having coordinated characteristics.

Electrical safety source

Source intended to maintain the supply to electrical equipment essential for the safety
services.

Electrically independent earth electrodes

Earth electrodes are located at such a distance from one another that the maximum
current likely to traverse one of them does not significantly affect the potential of the
others.

Electrically protective barrier

Part providing protection against direct contact from any usual direction of access.

SBC 401 2007 21/9