A5(a) Distribution Company Earthed System (TN-S) A5(b) Locally Earthed System (TT)

Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution

A5(a) Company Network Company Network A5(b)
Transformer Conductors Transformer Conductors

L1 L1

L2 L2
L3
L3
N
N
E
E

Earth fault current

through Distribution Earth sheath or armour of Transformer
Company cable Distribution Company Cable Neutral Point Earth
is connected to
A Earth sheath or armour of
Customers Installation
Transformer Distribution Company Cable
Neutral Point Earth not connected to
Customer’s
A Customers Installation
Main
Distribution Earth fault current
Board through ground / soil Customer’s
Main
Earth fault
Distribution
Main Earth in Appliance
Earth fault current Board
Terminal

Earth fault
A A in Appliance
Earth fault current
Main Earth
Terminal

Customer’s
Earth Electrode

Insulated cable
gland

[ see Regulation 6.2 ]

[ see Regulation 6.2 ]

132 The Electricity Wiring Regulations (Third Edition) The Electricity Wiring Regulations (Third Edition) 133
 A5(c) Distribution Company Earthed System
with Locally Earthed System (TN-S and TT) A5(d) Earth Electrode pit and standard labels

Distribution Distribution Main Earth Conductor in

A5(c) Company Network
metallic conduit 300 x 300mm A5(d)
Transformer Conductors Inspection cover

L1
L2
L3
N
E
Earth fault current

Transformer
Neutral Point Earth

Earth sheath or armour of

Distribution Company Cable
is connected to
A Customers Installation
Earth fault current
shared between
Customer’s
Customer Earth
Main
SAFETY EARTH CONNECTION
Electrode and
Distribution
Distribution DO NOT REMOVE
Board
Company Earth

Earth fault
in Appliance Standard safety label for
A Earth fault current
Main Earth Main Earth Connections
Terminal

Customer’s
Earth Electrode

SAFETY EARTH BONDING

DO NOT REMOVE

Standard safety label for main and

supplementary bonding connections

[ see Regulation 6.2 ] [ see clauses 5.5.11, 6.4.3 and 6.5.6 ]

134 The Electricity Wiring Regulations (Third Edition) The Electricity Wiring Regulations (Third Edition) 135
 A5(e) Main Earth Terminal (MET) at Main A5(f) Main Earth Conductors (MEC) and
Distribution Board (MDB) Circuit Earth Conductors (CEC)

A5(e) CEC to switches and

A5(f)
$FFHVVRULHV
Circuit
Earth Conductors
for sub-main CEC To SMDB 1
Circuits

To SMDB 2
Final
Distribution
&(&WR¿[HG$SSOLDQFH
Board
Distribution A Main Circuit
Company Breaker
Earth
Earth Bar
MET
Neutral Bar
CEC
CEC in metal or
plastic conduit
B
CEC

MEC to Owner
Earth Electrode Earth connection Main
to metal door Distribution
Earth conductor Board
A
labels at MET CEC CEC in appliance
Main Earth
ÀH[LEOHFRUG
Terminal Functional Earth
(see clause 6.9.2)

DB2 MAIN EARTH

MEC
CONDUCTOR

DB1 MAIN EARTH

CONDUCTOR
Main Earth
Test Link Conductor to
Earth Electrode
CUSTOMER
EARTH ELECTRODE

DISTRIBUTION
COMPANY EARTH B
Distribution
Distribution
Company Earth Company Earth

[ see Regulations 6.2 and 6.3 ]

Note 1: illustration shows a Distribution Company Earthed System with a Locally
Earthed System (TN-S and TT).
Note 2: for sizing of Earth Conductors refer to Appendix A5(j) (S for cables up to 16
mm2, 16 mm2 for cables up to 35 mm2 and S above this).
2
Note 3: this arrangement shows single core cables for SMDBs, other arrangement
may be used (e.g. cables with SWA with seperate Earth Conductor).
Note 1: common terminology (outside these Regulations) includes CPC (Circuit
Protective Conductor) and ECC (Earth Continuity Conductor ) in place of
CEC illustrated above. [ see Regulation 6.2 ]
Note 2: for sizing of Earth Conductors refer to Appendix A5(j) (S for cables up to 16
mm2, 16 mm2 for cables up to 35 mm2 and S above this).
2

136 The Electricity Wiring Regulations (Third Edition) The Electricity Wiring Regulations (Third Edition) 137