αβε

Ratio of Max Step & Date: 11/3/2005

Page 1 of 14
Touch Potentials
Considering the IEEE Std 80 guidelines, the maximum values touch voltage, Em and step voltage, Es may be estimated
as follow:

Where: ρ is the soil resistivity, Ω·m

IG is the maximum grid current that flows between
ground grid and surrounding earth (including dc offset), A
Ki is the correction factor for grid geometry,
Km is the spacing factor for max. touch potential.
Lm is the effective length for the max. touch potential.
LM := 1.25L Lc (see Attachment A)
Ks is the spacing factor for max. step potential.
Ls is the effective length for max. step voltage.
Ls := 0.90LLc (see attachment B)

Ks
Simplifying: Em := k ⋅ cm⋅ Km and Es := k ⋅ cs
0.90

Where: ρKi⋅ IG 1 1
k := cm := cs :=
Lc 1.25 0.90

Et k ⋅ cm⋅ Km fm
• Voltage ratio = =
Es k ⋅ cs⋅ Ks fs

⎡ ⎛ D2 ⎞ ( D + h ) 2 h ⎤ ⎥⎤
⋅ ln⎡⎢
cm 1 8
fm( D , d , h , n ) := ⋅ ⎢ ln⎜ + − + ⎥
2π ⎣ ⎝ 16h ⋅ d ⎠ 8D⋅ d 4d 1 + h ⎣ π ⋅ ( 2n − 1 ) ⎦ ⎦

fs( D , h , n ) :=
cs
⋅ ⎡⎢
1
+
1
+
1
(1 − 0.5n−2)⎥⎤
π ⎣ 2h D+ h D ⎦

For :

fm( D , d , h , n ) 1. Ratio < 1 ; Et < Es

Ratio( D , d , h , n ) := 2. Ratio := 1 ; Et := Es
fs( D , h , n )
3. Ratio > 1 ; Et > Es

For analysis purpose, let us consider a typical substation site with the following characteristics: 100 ft

Range of distance of
Lx := 100ft max length of grid in x direction Dmin := 5ft parallel conductors in
the ground grid.
Ly := 100ft max length of grid in y direction Dmax := 30ft 100 ft

Typical copper bare

Lr := 10ft length of ground rod d 4/0AWG = 0.013 m Conductors diameter
(4/0 AWG & 2/0 AWG)
Nr := 20 Number of ground rods d 2/0AWG = 0.011 m

Page 1 of 14
αβε
Ratio of Max Step & Date: 11/3/2005
Page 2 of 14
Touch Potentials

for Cu conductor d := d 2/0AWG buried at depth h := 0.5m and n := 9 , 11 & 15

6
70

63
Ratio of Etouch max to& Estep max

56

49

42

35

28

21

14

0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Spacing grid parallel conductors, D (ft)

for Cu Conductor d := d 4/0AWG buried at depth h := 0.25m and n := 9 , 11 & 15

Ratio of Max Touch to Step Potentials

60
Ratio of Etouch max to& Estep max

40

20

0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Spacing grid parallel conductors, D (ft)
n=9
n = 11
n = 15

Page 2 of 14
αβε
Ratio of Max Step & Date: 11/3/2005
Page 3 of 14
Touch Potentials

for Cu conductor d := d 2/0AWG buried at depth h := 0.25m and n := 9 , 11 & 15

Ratio of Max Touch to Step Potentials

100

90

80
Ratio of Etouch max to& Estep max

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Spacing grid parallel conductors, D (ft)

for Cu Conductor d := d 4/0AWG buried at depth h := 0.25m and n := 9 , 11 & 15

Ratio of Max Touch to Step Potentials

50

45

40
Ratio of Etouch max to& Estep max

35

30

25

20

15

10

5 1

0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Spacing grid parallel conductors, D (ft)
n=9
n = 11
n = 15

Page 3 of 14
αβε
Ratio of Max Step & Date: 11/3/2005
Page 4 of 14
Touch Potentials

for Cu conductor d := d 4/0AWG buried at depth h := 0.5m and n := 9 , 11 & 15

Ratio of Max Touch to Step Potentials

5
Ratio of Etouch max to& Estep max

10 8 6 4 2 0 2 4 6 8 10

Spacing grid parallel conductors, D (ft)

FIG 3 A: For D<2 ft, Etouch < Estep

Ratio of Max Touch to Step Potentials

5
Ratio of Etouch max to& Estep max

4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5 1
1
0.5

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

Spacing grid parallel conductors, D (ft)

FIG 3 B

Ratio of Max Touch to Step Potentials

Ratio of Etouch max to& Estep max

2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Spacing grid parallel conductors, D (ft)
n=9
n = 11
n = 15

FIG 3 C

Page 4 of 14
αβε
Ratio of Max Step & Date: 11/3/2005
Page 5 of 14
Touch Potentials

CONCLUSIONS:

1. For standards regular substation site with insulated surfacing materials and parallel grid conductors distance
larger than 2 ft approximately, the max actual touch voltage is always higher than the max. actual step
potential.
Emax > Emax
touch step
2. For the condition with parallel grid conductors too close (D< 2 ft approx) ground saturation is evident.

3. Although unusual, may be cases with substation surface with high conductivity (low resistivity) such as wet
concrete slab, metallic platform etc, the allowable touch and step potentials approaching to the same value .
116
Etouch = Estep = (Approx.)
50kg 50kg
t
NOTE: If shoes resistance is considered in the model, the allowable step potential is somehow higher than the touch potential.
4. Negative grid distances may not have real physical applications or interpretation.

For cases with very close grid and top layer with high conductivity, the step potential may be slighter higher than
the touch potential.

Page 5 of 14
αβε
Ratio of Max Step & Date: 11/3/2005
Page 6 of 14
Touch Potentials

ATTACHMENT A: • Spacing Factor for Max. Touch Voltage:

- h is the depth of ground grid conductors (m). ............ h= 0.30 m (~12 in) & h=0.46m (~1.5ft)
-d is the Diameter of grid conductor, m. .................................... 4/0 AWG & 2/0 AWG
-D is the Spacing between parallel conductors, ( m). ............ 1.5 m (~5 ft) <D< 9m(~30ft)

- Kii is the Mesh Corner Inner Conductors Corrective factor:

For grids with ground rods along the perimeter, or for grids with
ground rods in the grid corners, as well as both along the perimeter
and throughout the grid area. . ==>Use this for analysis
1
Kii =
For grids with no ground rods or grids with only a few ground
rods, none located in the corners or on the perimeter.

- Kh is the Grid Depth Corrective factor

Kh = (1+h)1/2

- n is the Geometric factor composed of factors For analysis lets use n = 9,11 &15

2 ⋅ ( 10⋅ 100 + 10⋅ 100 )

n c := n c = 10
where: 2 ⋅ 100 + 2 ⋅ 100

• Effective Length for Mesh Voltage (m)

Lr ~10ft

~ Lc+1.64LR
Where
Considering a reasonable substation site of Lx=100ft & Ly= 100 ft

LM := 1.25L
Lc Approx . see attachment B

Page 6 of 14
αβε
Ratio of Max Step & Date: 11/3/2005
Page 7 of 14
Touch Potentials

ATTACHMENT B:

• Spacing Factor for Max. Step voltage

• Effective Length for Touch Voltage (m)

3 ⎡ ⎛ LR ⎞ ⎤
Ls := Lc⎢ 1 + 1.13⋅ ⎜ ⎥
4 ⎣ ⎝ Lc ⎠ ⎦
Considering 20 rods of 10 ft each in a 100ft x 100 ft substation area:
LR
1. for 10ft x10ft grid.................... =0.1
Lc
LR
2. for 20ft x20ft grid.................... =0.17
Lc

LR
For analysis purposes, let's use =0.15.; Ls := 0.90L
Lc
Lc
LM := 1.25L
Lc

Page 7 of 14