Design Note

Project Job No. and ref Date and Revision: Rev A

Project SGA 1016495 15/12/2021

Purpose of Note Reference Author: Checked:

To provide design intend related 1016495-DN-E-0018 JJ/MN RP
to bonding

Equipotential Earth Bonding

1.1 Objective

This note is prepared to address the equipotential earth bonding to align with the local standard and the
project specification. This report does not discuss lightning protection bonding.

1.2 Reference Documents

i) SS 551 2009: Code of Practice for Earthing

ii) SS 638 2018: Code of Practice for Electrical Installations
iii) E801.SGAX-001: Electrical Services Specification

1.3 Introduction

The specification requires the Electrical Contractor (EC) to prepare the overall scheme for the equipotential
earth bonding (refer to section 4.1 of the Electrical Services Specification). Cundall has provided earthing
conceptual schematics as part of the design, and provision has been made for equipotential bonding.
Cundall is now requested to prepare a design note to explain the design intent for the EC to prepare the
detailed installation drawings.

Earthing and bonding for an electrical system are required to ensure electricity safety against the risk of
electric shock by "direct contact" and "indirect contact". The code of practice for electrical installations
specifically requires the metalwork of electrical equipment and other current-carrying conductors to be
connected with the earthing system to discharge electrical energy without danger.

Protection of earth equipotential bonding is a mandatory measure for human safety. The following methods
can be used to achieve human safety:

i) Providing a protective device to disconnect the supply when there is a fault automatically (Not part
of this Design note)
ii) Providing main protective bonding conductors and supplementary protective bonding conductors to
exposed conductive parts and extraneous conductive parts (part of this design note)

It is vital to minimise any potential difference that might exist between them during an earth fault. A bonding
conductor connecting with the extraneous conductive part to the main earthing terminal should be provided
to create an equipotential zone.

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 As observed below in Figure 1, equipotential bonding is essential to reduce the touch voltage.

 With equipotential bonding V1= I(fault) X Zcpc

 Without equipotential Bonding V2 = I(fault) x (Zcpc + Zpc), so V1<<<V2

Figure 1: TN-S System

The Circuit Protective Conductor (CPC) is selected throughout the design to comply with BS 7671 / SS638
to ensure the touch voltage and tripping time comply to the required limitation. The bonding of the
extraneous conductive part/exposed conductive part is essential to reduce the touch voltage during the
fault condition. The main protective bonding conductor shall be at least half the size of CPC as required by
SS 638.

Figure 2, extracted from SS 638, illustrates the earthing and equipotential bonding required for the various
conductive parts. M and C (Exposed-Conductive-Part and Extraneous-Conductive-Part respectively) are
connected to the main earthing terminal via conductor 1 and 2 (CPC and main equipotential protective
bonding conductor, respectively). In addition, M and C are connected via conductor 4 (supplementary
protective bonding conductor) to reduce the touch voltage as described above. It is recommended to
provide supplementary bonding where the extraneous conductors are near (less than 2.5m can be used as
a general guide) to the panels or conductive parts.

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 Figure 2: Equipotential Bonding as per SS 551

1.3.1 Relevant Definitions:

Exposed-Conductive-Part

The exposed conductive part refers to any metallic part of electrical equipment that can be touched and is
not a live part but may become live under fault conditions. These include the metallic enclosures of Class I
current-using equipment, metallic cable sheaths, cable trays, trunkings and metallic conduits. Class I
equipment refers to equipment in which protection against electric shock does not rely on basic insulation
only but includes means for connecting exposed-conductive parts to a protective conductor.

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 Extraneous-Conductive-Part

The extraneous conductive part is a conductive part, liable to introduce a potential, generally earth potential
and not forming part of the electrical installation. It includes non-electrical service pipes and ducting, such
as water pipes, HVAC ducting, exposed metallic structural parts in buildings, and the lightning protection
system. It is quite likely that a person could be in simultaneous contact with an exposed-conductive-part
(which may be made live by an earth fault) and a nearby extraneous-conductive-part.

1.4 Summary of the Earthing System

The earth fault in the client substation is limited by utilising Neutral Earthing Resistors (NER). At the
66kV/22kV transformer’s current primary side (i.e. 66kV), the earth fault returns to the SPG source station
via SPG’s dedicated Earth Continuity Conductor (ECC) laid with incoming power cables. At the 22kV side
of the network, the earth fault current returns to the centre point of the 66kV/22kV via NGR (i.e. NGR is
provided at the 66kV/22kV transformer). The entire earthing system has been designed to provide a TN-S
system to comply with local code (SS 638: adopted from BS 7671).

The primary single earthing grid for the site is provided by a buried earthing grid of 70mm² bare copper
tape forming mesh of 10m x 10m in the substation area and 15m x 15m for the rest of the site. Buried
conductors are laid and interconnected by exothermic welding at a buried depth of 0.3m from ground level.
The earthing system for the Data Centre building derives via the same ground grid.

Each MV/LV switchroom has a dedicated main earth bar connected to each tower’s main earth bar located
on the ground floor.

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1.5 Bonding

This section covers typical bonding requirements for the various equipment and accessories. Please
note that the bonding details apply to similar applications. These typical detail markups shall not be
used for other installation purposes. The bonding locations shown on the sketches are indicative only.
The electrical contractor to propose detailed installation drawings based on this design intent
document.

1.5.1 Cable Containment

Cable size: Equal to small

size of CPC(but ≥4mm2)

Figure 3:Typical Connection of Cable Tray/Ladder to Distribution Panel

Cable size: Equal to small

size of CPC (but ≥4mm2)

Figure 4 Typical Connection of Wire Trunking to Distribution Panel/Equipment

 Figure 5 Typical Trunking Jointing Section
(Note: the continuity bonding can be done using cable or copper link)

Figure 6 Typical Cable Tray Jointing Section

(Note: the continuity bonding can be done using cable or copper link)

1.5.2 Fence, Gate and doors

See Figure 8 for flexible copper braid for bonding gates, doors, fences etc. The fence shall be
provided with a localised earthing system by providing a solid connection to the base of the
fence(Refer to figure 7 below for the detail ). The bases shall be bonded to the main ground grid at
every 50m. For gates, it shall be bonded to a fence or gate pillar. The below table provides the
indicative size of the bonding conductor, and the EC shall propose it for our review. We recommend
providing the bonding between the door frame and the doors for electrically operated doors. Also, the
door frame shall be bonded to the CPC of the circuit.
 Figure 7 Fence Earthing

Figure 8 Flexible Copper Braid for Bonding Gates, Doors, Fences etc
1.5.3 Bonding to incoming Services

See Figures 9 and 10 for grounding detail for incoming water mains. This detail can be applied to all
incoming services (Potable/NEWater etc).

Figure 9: Bonding for water Main

25mmx3mm Cu
tape

Figure 10 Grounding Detail for Ground Incoming Water Mains

1.5.4 Bonding for Motor Skid and Similar applications

See Figure 11 for bonding detail for a motor. This detail can be applied to similar applications. All the
pipes works shall be bonded with cable containment or pump skids using the same conductor size as
explained below.

Figure 11 Bonding Detail for Motor Skid

1.5.5 Bonding to Metal pipes.

Figure 12 Bonding detail for steel pipes in wet areas

1.5.6 Bonding for Fuel system

Figure 13 Bonding Detail for Underground Tanks

(This detail can be applied to similar applications for other underground tanks)

Figure 14 Bonding of fuel pipes inside the generator enclosure

1.5.7 Bonding for DFMA

See Figure 15 for bonding detail for DFMA and Electrical Containment entering MEP rooms. This
detail can be used for electrical and mechanical plant rooms.

Figure 15 Bonding to DFMA