8/25/2021 TLC Electrical Supplies

16th Edition (reference only) – NOW superseded by the 17th Edition IEE Regulations.

chapter 1

The IEE Regulations

Earthing
  5.1 - The earthing principle 5.6 - Protective multiple earthing (PME)  
chapter 2
  5.2 - Earthing Systems 5.7 - Earthed concentric wiring
Installation   5.3 - Earth fault loop impedance 5.8 - Other protection methods
Requirements
5.4 - Protective conductors 5.9 - Residual current devices (RCDs)
and Characteristics
5.5 - Earth electrodes
5.10 - Combined functional and protective

---------earthing
chapter 3

Installation Control

5.4.1 - Earthing conductors

5.4.2 - Protective conductor types

5.4.4 - Protective conductor cross-section assessment

and Trunking

5.4.5 - Protective conductor cross-section calculation

5.4.4 - Protective conductor cross-section assessment

chapter 6

Circuits
A fault current will flow when an earth fault occurs. If this current is large enough to operate the protective device quickly, there is little danger of the protective
conductor and the exposed conductive parts it connects to earth being at a high potential to earth for long enough for a dangerous shock to occur. The factors
chapter 7
determining the fault current are the supply voltage and the earth-fault loop impedance (see{5.3}).
Special Installations
The earth fault results in the protective conductors being connected in series across the supply voltage {Fig 5.16}. The voltage above earth of the earthed
metalwork (the voltage of the junction between the protective and phase conductors) at this time may become dangerously high, even in an installation
complying with the Regulations. The people using the installation will be protected by the ability of the fuse or circuit breaker in a properly designed installation
chapter 8
to cut off the supply before dangerous shock damage results.
Testing
 
and

Inspection

chapter 9

Data cabling

and Networks

Contents
Fig 5.16  - The effect of protective conductor resistance on shock voltage
a) effective resistance of a ring circuit protective conductor

b) potential differences across healthy protective conductor in the event of an earth fault

Table 5.7 - Main earthing and main equipotential bonding conductor

----------------- sizes for TN-S and TN-C-S supplies

Phase conductor (or neutral for Earthing conductor (not buried or protected Main equipotential bonding conductor for Main equipotential bonding
PME supplies ) against mechanical damage) PME supplies conductor

csa mm² csa mm² csa mm² csa mm²

4 4 6 10

6 6 6 10

10 10 6 10

16 16 10 10

25 16 10 10

35 16 10 10

50 25 16 16

70 35 16 25

Remember that lower fault levels result in a longer time before operation of the protective device. Since the cross-sectional area of the protective conductor will
usually be less than that of live conductors, its temperature, and hence its resistance, will become higher during the fault, so that the shock voltage will be a
higher proportion of the supply potential (see {Fig 5.16}).
{Fig 5.16} shows the circuit arrangements, with some typical phase- and protective-conductor resistances. In this case, a shock voltage of 140 V will be applied to
a person in contact with earthed metal and with the general mass of earth. Thus, the supply must he removed very quickly. The actual voltage of the shock
depends directly on the relationship between the phase conductor resistance and the protective conductor resistance. If the two are equal, exactly half the
supply voltage will appear as the shock voltage.
For socket outlet circuits, where the shock danger is highest, the maximum protective conductor resistance values of {Table 5.3} will ensure that the shock
voltage never exceeds the safe value of 50 V. If the circuit concerned is in the form of a ring, one quarter of the resistance of the complete protective conductor
round the ring must not be greater than the {Table 5.3} figure. The reason for this is shown in {Fig 5.16(a)}. This assumes that the fault will occur exactly at the mid
point of the ring. If it happens at any other point, effective protective conductor resistance is lower, and safer, than one quarter of the total ring resistance.
{Table 5.7} allows selection (rather than calculation) of sizes for earthing and bonding conductors. The rules applying to selection are:
For phase conductors up to 16 mm², the protective conductor has the same size as the phase conductor.
For phase conductors from 16 mm² to 35 mm², the protective conductor must be 16 mm²

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8/25/2021 TLC Electrical Supplies

For phase conductors over 35 mm², the protective conductor must have at least half the c.s.a. of the phase conductor. The minimum cross-sectional area of a
separate CPC is 2.5 mm² if mechanically protected and 4mm² if not.
Note that Regional Electricity Companies may require a minimum size of earthing conductor of 16 mm² at the origin of the installation. Always consult them
before designing an installation.
 
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Extracted from The Electricians Guide Fifth Edition

by John Whitfield
Published by EPA Press Click Here to order your Copy.
Click here for list of abbreviations

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