Ground system testing is a core component of ensuring property safety. Maintaining solid electrical function…
Real Dangers of Neglected Ground Assemblies: Why Testing and Refurbishing Are Critical
A commercial or residential building’s electrical system is something that the occupants don’t usually think about. They’re even less likely to prioritize maintaining ground assemblies that protect property and people.
That is, unless a fault leads to property damage or injury. However, testing electrical grounding is an essential safety maintenance that all homeowners and commercial building managers need to ensure for the protection of people and property and for code compliance.
Here is some basic information about electrical grounding system maintenance to introduce property owners and managers to this critical area of building safety management.
What is an Electrical Ground Assembly?
A ground assembly is a setup of electrical components, usually featuring a grounding rod driven into the soil with connected wiring and grounding clamps. This assembly is designed to provide a pathway for a stray or excessive electrical current, such as from a lightning strike or power surge, to be directed into the ground and dissipate safety in the earth.
Electrical ground assembly is installed to prevent injurious or fatal electrical shocks to people, or damaging or destructive power jolts to equipment, appliances, and other property by connecting a building’s electrical system to the earth. Likewise, personal protective grounding equipment is often used to save individuals from being shocked while working in high-risk areas.
The electrical ground assembly components include a grounding rod, a metal rod driven deep into the earth to serve as a protective connection to the ground. They also include a grounding wire, an electrical conductor that connects the building’s electrical system to the grounding rod with clamps or other connectors, typically at specified points on the rod, to optimize functionality.
A ground assembly is meant to channel errant excess electrical currents away from parts of the electrical system and other conductive parts of the structure safely into the ground to prevent electrical shock to people or property.
This low-resistance pathway is kept in place to divert unwanted electrical currents or voltage surges into the ground and away from conductive building parts to protect equipment, electronics, etc., and people from the risk of extreme electrical shock.
The Critical Role of Electrical Grounding
Grounding refers to connecting to the earth. An electrical grounding system is essential for protecting buildings, structures, indoor or outdoor fixtures, or people from the often terrible consequences of electrical shock.
Grounding can require the installation of a system featuring one or more grounded electrodes, which means they’re inserted (partially or fully buried, embedded) in the earth.
Burying the conductive instrument into the ground enables it to carry an electrical current into the soil, thereby breaking the current, disabling it from continuing through conductive material, and redirecting it to flow into the ground through the electrode.
How Grounding and Bonding Work Together to Ensure Safety
Lightning strikes, power surges, damaged wires, equipment failures, misuse of machinery, and other causes can lead to a fault in the electrical flow that can cause excess or undirected (stray) electricity to flow suddenly in unintended directions and/or amounts. According to the National Electrical Code (Sec. 90.2(A)), practical safeguarding of people and property from electrical hazards calls for grounding and bonding (see article 250) to protect electrical wiring systems.
The NEC explains that proper electrical installations include rounding and bonding safety circuits. Grounding and bonding means that conductive equipment components not carrying electrical current are bonded together and then connected to the earth by being inserted into the soil (or bedrock).
The outcome of grounding is increased safety from the electrical shock that often results in fire, explosion, property damage, and/or the injury or death of people.
Risks of Neglecting an Electrical Grounding System
Neglecting to install or routinely inspect and maintain an electrical grounding system on a property increases the risk of an electrical fire, severe electrical shock, property damage, injury, or death due to the failure to create a safe channel for stray or excess electricity to dissipate in case of a fault.
Some of the major risks of failing to install grounding systems are:
Electric Shock
Without effective grounding, a stray current of electricity can flow into a person who is touching an appliance or machine that is not grounded, resulting in a potentially injurious or even fatal electric shock.
Electrical Fire
Due to a fault, wiring and other electrical system components can become overheated, and defective grounding or the absence of grounding can ignite flammable materials in the vicinity. Explosions can also occur when errant electrical energy meets fuel sources in ungrounded buildings during lightning storms.
Equipment Damage
Electrical faults and power surges frequently damage electronics and appliances when there is not sufficient grounding to route excess electrical current away from them or other equipment types during power surges or other incidents of excessive electrical charge.
Electrical Grounding System Maintenance
Electrical grounding system maintenance typically involves routine inspections of ground assembly components, including the conductors, electrodes, and connectors, to check for any signs of damage, corrosion, or loose connections. Further, regular testing of grounding systems’ earth resistance should also be done.
An electrical grounding system maintenance regimen should include:
1. Inspection
Create an electrical safety management routine that includes regular inspections of the grounding system based on the extent and complexity of the electrical system and adheres to local, state, and federal electrical safety codes. Inspect:
| Grounding Electrodes | Check for rust, damaged or degraded plates, rods, wires, mesh, or other grounding components. |
| Cables | Examine for damage or deterioration. |
| Bonding Connections | Examine for damage, deterioration, or a weak or loose connection. |
| Grounding Conductors | Examine for loose connections, deterioration, or corrosion at clamps and terminals. Tighten connections between conductors and electrodes. |
2. Testing
A specially designed ground resistance meter should determine whether each ground assembly meets the prescribed utility safety standards for electrical fault protection.
Perform these important tests:
| Grounding Electrodes | Check to confirm the installation of grounding electrodes at the prescribed depth and the correct connection to the grounding conductor. |
| Earth Resistance Measurement | To measure the resistance of an electrical grounding system, use a ground resistance tester to confirm that its read-out is within the standard parameters. |
| Continuity Testing | Conduct continuity testing to pinpoint possible loose connections or breaks in the system and verify the continuity of grounding conductors. |
| Soil Resistivity | Assess soil resistivity in the immediate and surrounding area of the grounding components and adjust the grounding system or partially reconfigure the assembly if needed. |
3. Maintenance
Effective electrical system maintenance is essential to the safe functioning of any modern commercial or residential property. So, set up and adhere to a firm electrical safety maintenance schedule:
| Maintenance Schedule | Create an electrical safety maintenance routine that includes regular proactive informal checks of the grounding system, reporting of conditions, tightening connections, replacement of worn components, and safety code compliance measures. |
4. Documentation
Proper records must be produced and maintained for all work performed on electrical grounding system components at residential and commercial properties:
| Retain Records |
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IMPORTANT: Only those with proper certification should be permitted to perform grounding system installation, maintenance, inspection, repair, or component replacement.
Take Your Next Steps Today
As the United States’ only IBEW union tooling and material distributor, Divergent Alliance brings a deeper understanding of construction and utility professionals’ unique needs to provide solutions to help ensure your success.
As a veteran-owned business, we get military precision, responsiveness, transparency, and reliability in our production processes. “We Do Things Differently.” For more information about electrical grounding systems, contact us today!
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