Installation Earthing System for switch gear method statement

Date : 11 - 8 – 2021
Rev- 01
1.0 PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to conducted switch gear board earthing system with

the acceptable values

2.0 SCOPE

This procedure shall be applicable for conducting switch gear board earthing system

with acceptable values. (M.V earthing system limit less than one ohm& L.V earthing

system limit less than Five ohms)

3.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

Ground test method statement Version 1-11-8-2021

BS 7430 -1998

Excel calculation sheet

4.0 TOOLS & TESTING EQUIPMENTS

- PPE’s & Safety belts.

- Calibrated Measuring Instruments

 Earth Clamp Tester Model UT275

 Earth and Resistivity Testers C.A 6462

5.0 RESPONSIBILITY

 HSE Advisor shall be Responsible for safety related matters and all the safety

aspects of the site with respective NCEDC specifications.

  Testing and Commissioning Engineer shall be responsible for all kind of testing and

commissioning activities as per the method of statement with respective NCEDC

specifications.

 Project engineer shall be responsible for collecting measurement data, Survey

available area for implementation earthing system, study obstacles & prepare risk

assessment plan and select optimum earthing system design

6.0 CONTROL MEASURES:

I. QUALITY CONTROL

 Ensure valid calibration certificates are available with the equipment, which

are being used.

 Ensure approved method of statement

 Raise inspection request and coordinate client consultant for required

inspection.

 Raise risk assessment and coordinate client consultant for optimum solution

7.0 Method Statement

 Conduct Ground test& Ground resistivity around switch gear board

 Collecting measurement data

 Survey available area for implementation earthing system (conduct

approximate Sketch)

 Mention obstacles such like (not available area, high soil resistive value,

unknown cable route, difficulty of test link installation ,…)

 Conduct risk assessment plan

  Based on collection data/survey/ risk assessment plan/client recommendation

update calculation sheet to select optimum earthing system design

8.0 Sample of earthing system design

1. Earthing Conductor Data:
Material Bare Bare Copper
Cross Section Area (Ac) 50mm2
Diameter (uc) 7 mm
Burial Depth (hc) 600 mm
Approximate Overall Length for one side (Lc) 20 m
2. Earthing Rod Data :
Material Copper Clad Steel Copper Clad Steel
Length (Lr) 3000 mm
Diameter (dr) 19 mm
Total all number Of Rods (n) 2*2
Spacing Between Rods (S) for one side 3m
3. Soil Data : 50 Ohm-m (assume Shall be measured )
B- Formulas: Based on British Standard (BS-7430)

Rr = [ρ/ {2πLr}] * [{(loge (8Lr/dr) – 1}] (Eq-1)

Rn = Rr * [{1−λa}/ n] (Eq-2)

a = [ρ/ {2πRr S}]

Rc = [ρ/ {PπLc}] * [{(loge (2Lc

2/uc*hc) + Q}] (Eq-3)

1 / Rs = 1 / Rr + 1 / Rc (Eq-4)

C- Abbreviations:
Rs = Total system resistance in ohm

Rr = Earthing rod resistance in ohm

Rn = Group of Rods Earthing resistance in ohms

Rc = Earthing Conductor resistance in ohms

ρ = Soil resistivity in ohm.m

Lr = Length of rod in meter

Lc = Total Length of conductor in meter

dr = diameter of earthing rod in meter

hc = depth of strip in meter

uc = Width of Strip in meter

n = number of rods

s = spacing between rods in meter

P,Q = Tabulated Factors (4 , 0.9)

D- Earthing system Calculations:

1- Calculation of rods resistance: -

Applying the above tabulated data, the resistance per one Rod Rr can be given by the

following equation:

Rr = [ρ/ {2πLr}] * [{(loge (8Lr/dr) – 1}]

Substituting the data given by the above table:

Rr = [50/ {2π(3)}] * [{(loge (8*3/0.019) – 1}]

Rr = 16.29 Ohm

For an array of 2 rods in one side average-spaced with 3 meters, the earth resistance of the

combined rods Rn can be calculated as follows:

Rn = Rr ( 1+λ a ) / n

Rr = 9.74 Ohm

Where :
Rn = Total earthing resistance for (n) rods combined in one side.

λ = Factor depends on the arrangement of combined rods

n = Number of connected rods

a = Equivalent hemispherical electrode for the system

a = ρ / {2π Rr S}

** For 2rods at one side:

a = 50 / {2π 16.29*3} = 0.162

Rn2 = 16.29 ( 1+2.15*0.069) / 2 = 3.71ohm

2- Calculation of earthing conductor resistance separated: -

Applying the above tabulated data, the resistance of earthing strip Rc can be given by the

following equation:

Rc = [ρ/ {PπLc}] * [{(loge (2Lc^2/uc*hc) + Q}]

Substituting the data given by the above table:

Rc = [50/ {4π*50}] * [{(loge (2*50^2/0.007*0.6) +0.9}]

Rc = 2.57 Ohm

3- Calculation earthing Resistance of conductor in combined with 2 rods: -

1/Rc2= 1/Rc + 1/Rn2

Rc4 =2 Ohm

4- Calculation of earthing system over all resistance: -

1/RS = 1/Rc2+ 1/Rc2

Rs = 1 Ohm

Calculation sheet
Soil Resistivity Rod Conductor
50 Length (Lr)meter 3 Cross Section Area(mm2) 50
Diameter (dr)meter 0.019 Diameter (uc) 0.00798
Total all number Of Rods 2 Burial Depth (hc) 0.6
Spacing Between Rods (S) meter 3 Approximate Overall Length 20
lamda 1 P 4
Q 0.9

R(for one rod) R (for conductor)

16.29 2.57
a
0.162830114
R(total resiatance for all rods)
9.47

Total resistance 2.02

For one line =2. 02Ω

For total resistance value =2.02/2ᴝ 1Ω

Notes:
1- Measurement value of the earthing system overall resistance should be done
according to the specifications.