SS 551 : 2009

(ICS 13.260; 91.140.50)

SINGAPORE STANDARD

Code of practice for earthing

(Formerly CP 16)

Published by
SS 551 : 2009
(ICS 13.260; 91.140.50)

SINGAPORE STANDARD

Code of practice for earthing

ISBN 978-981-4278-27-0
SS 551 : 2009
This Singapore Standard was approved by the Electrical and Electronic Standards Committee on behalf
of the Standards Council of Singapore on 6 October 2009.
First published as CP 16, 1981
First revision, 1991
Second revision and renumbering as SS 551, 2009
The Electrical and Electronic Standards Committee appointed by the Standards Council consists of the
following members:
Name
Chairman : Mr Renny Yeo Ah Kiang
Deputy
Chairman : Er. Peter Leong Weng Kwai
Secretary : Mr Lee Toon Huat
Members : Mr David Chen
Prof Choi San Shing
Mr Chong Weng Hoe
Mr Mazad Khan Jeaudeen
Er. Adeline Koh Lian Suan
Mr Kwek Chin Hin
Er. Prof Liew Ah Choy
Er. Lim Ah Hee
Er. Lim Say Leong
Er. Kenneth Liu
Er. Ng Eng Kiong
Er. Ng Kim Leong
Mr Ng Kin Ming
Mr Michael Ong
Er. Ong Ser Huan
Mr K Seshadri
Mr Sim Wee Meng
Mr Tan Boon Chong
Er. Tan Hak Khoon
Er. Andrew Tan Lee Ann
Dr Wong Woon Kwong
Mr Jimi Wong Yick Chee
Prof Yeo Tat Soon
2
Capacity
Member, Standards Council
Member, Standards Council
SPRING Singapore
Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation
Nanyang Technological University
TUV SUD PSB Pte Ltd
Singapore International Chamber of Commerce
Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore
National Environment Agency
National University of Singapore
Housing & Development Board
Singapore Business Federation
Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore
Individual Capacity
Institution of Engineers Singapore
Singapore Electrical Contractors and Licensed
Electrical Workers Association
SPRING Singapore
Institution of Engineers Singapore
Individual Capacity
Land Transport Authority
Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation
Energy Market Authority
SP PowerGrid Ltd
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Singapore Electrical Trades Association
National University of Singapore
 SS 551 : 2009

The Technical Committee on Earthing, appointed by the Electrical and Electronic Standards Committee
and responsible for the preparation of this standard consists of representatives from the following
organisations:

Name Capacity

Chairman : Er. Ng Eng Kiong Member, Electrical and Electronic Standards

Committee
Deputy
Chairman : Er. Wang Hee Weng Singapore Electrical Contractors and Licensed
Electrical Workers Association
Secretary : Mr Allan Koh SPRING Singapore
Members : Assoc Prof Chang Che Sau National University of Singapore
Mr Eng Cher Suah Singapore Electrical Trades Association
Er. Malvin Ho Hock Choon Land Transport Authority
Mr Lee Chee Whye Singapore Polytechnic
Mr Thomas Lee Eng Kiang JTC Corporation
Mr Lim Choon Poh SP Services Ltd
Er. Lim Say Leong Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation
Er. Timmy Mok Kam Tim Institution of Engineers Singapore
Mr Stephen Mok Soon Huan Building and Construction Authority
Er. Ong Seng Wei SP PowerGrid Ltd
Mr Caleb Seow Hong Energy Market Authority
Er. Soh Swee Seng Housing & Development Board
Mr Teh Gek Huat Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Assoc Prof Wang Peng Nanyang Technological University
Co-opted
Member : Er. David Chan Tat Wai Individual Capacity

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SS 551 : 2009

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 SS 551 : 2009

Contents
Page

Foreword 9

CLAUSES

1 Scope and normative references 10

1.1 Scope 10
1.2 Normative references 10
2 Definitions 11
3 Design considerations – General 16
3.1 System earthing 16
3.2 Equipment earthing 16
3.3 Factors involved in effective earthing 16
3.4 Soil resistivity 17
4 Earth-electrodes 19
4.1 Effect of shape on electrode resistance 19
4.2 Resistance of common types of earth-electrodes 19
4.3 Selection of a material for an earth-electrode or a buried uninsulated
earthing conductor 28
4.4 Miscellaneous types of electrodes 30
4.5 Earthing cathodically protected structures 33
4.6 Selection of an earthing conductor and connection to an electrode 34
4.7 Current density at the surface of an earth electrode 39
4.8 Potential gradient around earth electrodes 39
5 Generator sets 44
5.1 General 44
5.2 Low voltage generators 44
6 Substations 53
6.1 General 53
6.2 General earthing arrangement of substations 55
6.3 Substation earth-electrodes 56
6.4 Earthing conductors for substations and industrial installations operating at
similar voltages 57
6.5 Earthing of sheath and/or armour of cables 62
6.6 Miscellaneous matters in substations 65

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SS 551 : 2009

Page

7 Consumers’ electrical installations 65

7.1 General 65
7.2 Earthing of installations 66
7.3 Exchange of information 67
7.4 Main equipotential bonding 67
7.5 Installations and locations of increased shock risk 67
7.6 Protective conductors 68
7.7 Industrial and commercial installations 69
7.8 Impedance earthing of the supply to large mobile or transportable plant 72
7.9 Construction sites 72
7.10 Marinas 72
8 Temporary scaffolding and similar metallic structures 73
8.1 Metallic structures assembled by means of bolted joints or screw clamps 73
8.2 Lightning protection 73
8.3 Other temporary structures 74
9 Telecommunication circuits and equipment 74
10 Lightning protection and earthing 74
11 Street lighting and other electrically supplied street furniture 74
11.1 General 74
11.2 TN-S systems 75
11.3 Protection arrangements 75
12 Hazardous areas (potentially explosive atmospheres) 75
13 Earthing of other equipment and installations 76
13.1 General 76
13.2 Fences 76
13.3 Pipes 76
13.4 Uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) 76
13.5 Secondary circuits of instrument transformers 76
14 Earthing of conductors for safe working 76
14.1 General 76
14.2 Safety earthing 77
14.3 Precautions relating to apparatus and cables 78
14.4 Safety earthing of low voltage conductors 78
15 Inspection and test ____________________________________________ 78
15.1 Periodic inspection 78
16 Documentation 82

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 SS 551 : 2009

Page

ANNEXES

A (informative) Typical calculations for various types of earth electrodes 84

B (informative) Measures on earthing systems to reduce the effects of high frequency
interference 87

TABLES

1 Examples of soil resistivity (Ω-m) 17

2 Factors for parallel electrodes arranged in line 22
3 Factors for electrodes arranged in a hollow square 23
4 Minimum sizes of components for earth-electrodes 24
5 Coefficients for strip or round conductor 26
6 Type and minimum dimensions of earth-electrode materials ensuring mechanical
strength and corrosion resistance 29
7 Suitability of materials for bonding together 30
8 Geometric mean distance z for closely spaced reinforcing rods 33
9 Earth fault current densities for 1 s duration for earthing conductors with initial
conductor temperature of 30 oC 36
10 Earth fault currents (in kA) for copper strip earthing conductors 37
11 Earth fault currents (in kA) for aluminium strip earthing conductors 38
12 Values of K and β 38
13 Values of current densities for earthing conductors 58

FIGURES

1 Effect of buried length of rod or pipe electrode on calculated resistance for

soil resistivity of 100 Ω-m (assumed uniform) 21
2 Effect of inter-electrode spacing on combined resistance 21
3 Calculated curves of resistance of 12.5 mm diameter driven rod electrodes 25
4 Resistance of horizontal strip electrodes 27
5 Effect of spacing on combined resistance of two horizontal strip electrodes _____________ 27
6 Ground surface potentials around a single rod and three rods in line 40
7 Potential gradient in the vicinity of a horizontal strip electrode 41
8 Potential distribution between rod electrodes 42
9 Single low voltage standby generator (without paralleling facility) 47
10 Low voltage standby generators with neutrals connected 48
11 Low voltage standby generators with neutral earthing transformers 49
12 Low voltage standby generators with star-point switching 50

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SS 551 : 2009

Page

13 Simplified illustration of single-core cable sheath bonding systems 64

14 Earthing arrangement and protective conductors for consumers’ installations 66
15 Measurement of earth electrode resistance 80
16 Earth resistance curves 81
17 Measurement of earth resistivity 82

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 SS 551 : 2009

Foreword

This Singapore Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee on Earthing under the purview of
the Electrical and Electronic Standards Committee. This standard is the result of the revision of
Singapore Standard CP 16 : 1991 and has been renumbered as SS 551.

This Code was revised to give an updated guidance on the principles and practices of earthing. The main
changes are:

 Earthing for substations, generator sets and consumers’ electrical installations which include both
industrial and commercial installations;

 Integration of earthing and lightning protection system;

 Dedicated section on street lighting and electrically-supplied street furniture, which incorporates a
myriad of electrically operated equipment and products;

 Emphasis on earthing of conductors for safe working;

 Elaboration on periodic inspection and testing to maintain the integrity and reliability of earthing
systems.

The earthing and bonding requirements of electrical installations in buildings are covered in depth in
Singapore Standard Code of Practice for Electrical Installations, SS CP 5 : 1998.

This Code is an adoption of BS 7430 : 1998 (except for Clause 2 which is aligned to SS CP 5 : 1998) and
relevant clauses of Draft BS 7430 : 2007 and is implemented with the permission of the British Standards
Publishing Ltd.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this Singapore Standard may be the
subject of patent rights. Enterprise Singapore shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all of
such patent rights.

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SS 551 : 2009

Code of practice for earthing

1 Scope and normative references

1.1 Scope

1.1.1 General

This Code gives guidance on the methods which may be adopted to earth an electrical system for the
purpose of limiting the potential (with respect to the general mass of the earth) of current-carrying
conductors forming part of the system, and non-current-carrying metalwork associated with equipment,
apparatus, and appliances connected to the system.

The former object is normally essential to the proper operation of the system, and this aspect is generally
known as "system earthing". The latter concerns the safety of human life, of animals and of property,
and this aspect is sometimes known as "equipment earthing".

The term "earthing" is used in this regard whether or not reliance is placed on the earth itself as a low
impedance return path for earth fault current.

1.1.2 Exclusion from scope

This Code applies to land-based installations; it does not apply to trains, ships, aircraft or offshore
installations, nor does it deal with the earthing of medical equipment or special problems encountered
with solid-state electronic components and equipment due to their sensitivity to static electricity.

This standard does not address electromagnetic compatibility requirements for earthing, nor does it give
recommendation for functional earthing.

1.1.3 Materials, appliances and components

Materials, appliances and components should comply with the relevant Singapore Standards,
International Electrotechnical Commission Publications, British Standards or other equivalent national
standards.

1.2 Normative references

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this Code. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the document
(including any amendments) applies.

BS 143 and 1256 Threaded pipe fittings in malleable cast iron and cast copper alloy

BS 1377 Methods of test for soils for civil engineering purposes

BS 4363 Specification for distribution assemblies for reduced low voltage electricity
supplies for construction and building sites

BS 6423 Code of practice for maintenance of electrical switchgear and controlgear for
voltages up to and including 1 kV

BS 6626 Code of practice for maintenance of electrical switchgear and controlgear for
voltages above 1 kV and up to and including 36 kV

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 SS 551 : 2009

BS 6701 Telecommunications equipment and telecommunications cabling. Specification

for installation, operation and maintenance

BS 6867 Code of practice for maintenance of electrical switchgear for voltages above 36 kV

BS EN 10025-1 Hot rolled products of structural steels. General technical delivery conditions

BS EN 1011-4 Welding. Recommendations for welding of metallic materials. Arc welding of

aluminium and aluminium alloys

BS EN 13636 Cathodic protection of buried metallic tanks and related piping

BS EN 15112 External cathodic protection of well casing

IEC 60079-0 Explosive atmospheres - Part 0: Equipment - General requirements

IEC 60309-1 Plugs, socket-outlets and couplers for industrial purposes – Part 1: General
requirements

IEC 60364-1 Low-voltage electrical installations – Part 1: Fundamental principles, assessment

of general characteristics, definitions

IEC 61140 Protection against electric shock – Common aspects for installation and equipment

IEC 61557-1 Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1000 V a.c. and 1 500
V d.c. – Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures
– Part 1: General requirements

IEC 61558-1 Safety of power transformers, power supplies, reactors and similar products –
Part 1: General requirements and tests

SS 97-1 Residual current operated circuit-breaker without integral overcurrent protection

for household and similar uses (RCCBs) – General rules

SS 322 Earthing and bonding clamps

SS 538 Code of practice for maintenance of electrical equipment of electrical installations

SS CP 5 Code of practice for electrical installations

SS CP 33 Code of practice for lightning protection

SS CP 88 Code of practice for temporary electrical installations – Construction and building sites

TIA-J-STD-607-A Commercial building grounding (earthing) and bonding requirements for

telecommunications

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