Fidael Power Solutions

EARTHING AUDITS

Proper electrical earthing is absolutely fundamental for any electrical installation. Its primary purposes are:

Personnel Safety: protect people from electric shock by providing a safe path for fault currents to flow to the earth.
Equipment Protection: provide a low-resistance path for fault currents, allowing protective devices (fuses, circuit breakers) to operate on time
Lightning Protection Integration: An effective earthing system is the final destination for dissipating the massive energy from a lightning strike captured by a Lightning Protection System (LPS).
Compliance: Meeting mandatory safety standards and regulations (like IS 3043, IEEE standards, CBIP guidelines, and electrical codes).

Determination of the Earthing location
Complete site assessment and co-ordination with the site team.
Performance of Soil Resistivity Test with Wenner 4 point Soil resistivity test method
Calculation of the resistivity at multiple distance and in multiple directions.
Preparation of the report considering IEEE 80, IEEE 81 and Manual on earthing of AC power system of CBIP Manual.
Submission of the report along with certificate of calibration of the testing Equipment.
Arrival of average resistivity values for ease in calculation process for Earthing Design
Finding resistance of each earth pit and providing the report of same to client.

Co-ordination with customer for location for making grid and earthing
Getting master layout in AutoCAD for design of earthing in each structure
Determination of number of risers for each structure
Based on the Soil resistivity data, performing calculations of earthing complying with IS-3043.
Providing the detailed report of the arrived calculation
Determination of Number of Earth pits, length and size of Grids/Rings and its interconnection methods.
Designing the earthing system and making the Earthing schedule
Touch and Step potential measurement and Evaluation
Verification of Selection and installation of earthing Arrangements
Safety assessments
Recommendations and mitigation measures

Accurate Baseline Data:- calculating resistivity at multiple points, and deriving an average value provides the critical data needed for accurate design calculations. This avoids under-designing (unsafe) or over-designing (costly) the system.
Optimized Location Selection:- Understanding soil characteristics helps identify the most suitable locations on site for installing earthing electrodes, maximizing their efficiency.
Compliance & Best Practice:- Preparing reports based on recognized standards (IEEE 80, IEEE 81, CBIP Manual) ensures the methodology and data interpretation follow industry best practices, providing credibility and reliability.
Verification & Trust:- Submitting calibration certificates for the testing equipment assures the customer that the measurements are accurate and reliable.
Assessment of Existing Infrastructure:- Measuring the resistance of existing earth pits gives the client a clear picture of their current system's performance and whether upgrades are needed.

Enhanced Safety Assurance:- Calculating and evaluating touch and step potentials is crucial for personnel safety. The design aims to keep these values within safe limits as defined by standards during worst-case fault conditions.
Tailored & Optimized Design:- Using site layouts (AutoCAD), determining riser requirements, and calculating the specific number/size/length of earth pits, grids, and interconnections results in a system customized for the client's specific structures and site conditions.
Clear Implementation Roadmap:- Providing detailed calculation reports and an earthing schedule gives the client (and installers) clear instructions and specifications for implementing the design correctly.
Collaborative Approach:- Coordination with the customer ensures the design considers practical placement constraints and operational needs.