2012 43 Summer Wiring Matters Protective Equipotential Bonding PDF
2012 43 Summer Wiring Matters Protective Equipotential Bonding PDF
Protective
Equipotential
Circuit protective
conductors
Other
extraneous-
Bonding
conductive-part Main protective
bonding conductors
Gas
installation
pipe
Regulation 411.1 states that
automatic disconnection of Water
installation
supply is a protective measure pipe
By Geoff Cronshaw
There are four protective supply is a protective voltage (Ut) between these TT systems. Consider Figure 1
measures generally measurein which basic andextraneous-conductive- below (extract from IET GN 5).
permittedby BS 7671:2008 protection is provided by parts during a fault. The
(2011), given in Regulation basicinsulation of live parts purpose of protective The touch voltage in the event
410.3.3: (i) Automatic orby barriers or enclosures equipotential bonding is to of a fault with main protective
disconnection of supply and fault protection is further reduce the touch bonding installed is given by:
(Section 411) (ii) Double or providedby protective voltage between exposed-
reinforced insulation (Section earthing, protective conductive-parts and Ut = If (R2)
412) (iii) Electrical separation equipotential bonding and extraneous-conductive-parts in
for the supply to one item of automatic disconnection in the event of: The touch voltage (within the
current using equipment case of a fault. installation) in the event of a
(Section 413) (iv) Extra-low i. a fault on the installation fault with no main protective
voltage (SELV and PELV) Main protective equipotential bonding is given by:
(Section 414). bonding ii. an open circuit PEN
The purpose of earthing the conductor in a PME supply. Ut = If (R2 + RA)
A note at the end of this exposed-conductive-parts of
Regulation acknowledges that, an installation is to ensure that, Regulation 411.3.1.2 requires If is given by:
in electrical installations, the in the event of a fault (line main equipotential bonding to U0
most commonly used conductor to an exposed- be carried out, however its If =
protective measure is conductive-part), sufficient importance is often R2 + R1 + RA + RB
automatic disconnection of fault current flows to operate underestimated.
supply. the disconnection device
(fuse,circuit-breaker, RCD). The effect of applying main Assume U0 = 230 V, RB = 20
Regulation 411.1 states that Earthing exposed-conductive- protective equipotential , RA = 100 , R1 = 0.5 , R2
automatic disconnection of parts also reduces the touch bonding is most noticeable in = 0.5 E
Exposed-conductive-part
L If
Z0 R1
fault
Ut
N
Z0 Rn
cpc
R2
If
If PE B
If C
A
Extraneous-conductive-part