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to the 16th Edition IEE Regulations

Earthing
chapter 1
The IEE
Regulations 5.1 - The earthing principle 5.6 - Protective multiple earthing (PME)

5.2 - Earthing Systems 5.7 - Earthed concentric wiring

5.3 - Earth fault loop impedance 5.8 - Other protection methods

chapter 2
Installation 5.4 - Protective conductors 5.9 - Residual current devices (RCDs)
Requirements
and 5.5 - Earth electrodes 5.10 - Combined functional and protective
Characteristics ---------earthing

chapter 3 5.4.1 - Earthing conductors

Installation
Control 5.4.2 - Protective conductor types
and Protection
5.4.3 - Bonding conductors

5.4.4 - Protective conductor cross-section assessment

chapter 4
5.4.5 - Protective conductor cross-section calculation
Cables,
Conduits 5.4.6 - Unearthed metalwork
and Trunking

chapter 5
Earthing

chapter 6
Circuits

chapter 7
Special
Installations

chapter 8
Testing
and
Inspection

chapter 9
Data cabling

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and Networks

5.4.5 - Protective conductor cross-section calculation

Contents
The c.s.a. of the circuit protective conductor (c.p.c.) is of great importance since

the level of possible shock in the event of a fault depends on it (as seen in {5.4.4}).

Safety could always be assured if we assessed the size using {Table 5.7} as a basis.

However, this would result in a more expensive installation than necessary because we would
often use protective conductors which are larger than those found to be acceptable by calculation.
For example. twin with cpc insulated and sheathed cables larger than 1 mm² would be ruled out
because in all other sizes the CPC is smaller than required by {Table 5.7}.

In very many cases, calculation of the CPC size will show that a smaller size than that detailed in
{5.4.4} is perfectly adequate. The formula to be used is:

S= Ö(Ia²t)
k
S is the minimum protective conductor cross-
where 2
sectional area (mm )
Ia is the fault current (A)
t is the opening time of the protective device (s)
k is a factor depending on the conductor material
and insulation, and the initial and maximum insulation
temperatures.

This is the same formula as in {3.7.3}, the adiabatic equation, but with a change in the subject. To
use it, we need to have three pieces of information, Ia, t and k.

1) To find Ia
Since Ia = Uo we need values for Ia = uo and Zs
Zs

is simply the supply voltage, which in most

Uo
cases will be 240V.
is the earth-fault loop impedance
Zs assuming that the fault has zero
impedance.

Since we must assume that we are at the design stage, we cannot measure the loop impedance
and must calculate it by adding the loop impedance external to the installation (Ze) to the
resistance of the conductors to the furthest point in the circuit concerned. This technique was used
in {5.3.6}.

Thus, Zs = Ze + R1 + R2 where R1 and R2 are the resistances of the phase and protective
conductors respectively from {Table 5.5}.

2) To find t
We can find t from the time/current characteristics of {Figs 3.13 to 3.19} using the value of Ia
already calculated above. For example, if the protective device is a 20 A miniature circuit breaker
type I and the fault current is 1000 A, we shall need to consult {Fig 3.16}, when we can read off
that operation will be in 0.01 s (10 ms). (It is of interest here to notice that if the fault current had
been 80 A the opening time could have been anything from 0.04 s to 20 s,so the circuit would not
have complied with the required opening times).

3) To find k
k is a constant, which we cannot calculate but must obtain from a suitable table of values. Some
values of k for typical protective conductors are given in {Table 5.8}.

It is worth pointing out here that correctly installed steel conduit and trunking will always meet the

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requirements of the Regulations in terms of protective conductor impedance.

Although appearing a little complicated, calculation of acceptable protective conductor size is

worth the trouble because it often allows smaller sizes than those shown in {Table 5.7}.

Table 5.8 - Values of k for protective conductors

Initial
Final temp Conductor
Nature of protective conductor temp. K
(°C) material
(°C)
p.v.c. insulated, not in cable
30 160 Copper 143
or bunched
- 30 160 Aluminium 95
- 30 160 Steel 52
-
p.v.c. insulated, in cable
70 160 Copper 115
or bunched
- 70 160 Aluminium 76
-
Steel conduit or trunking 50 160 Steel 47
-
Bare conductor 30 200 Copper 159
- 30 200 Aluminium 105
- 30 200 Steel 58

Example 5.2
A load takes 30 A from a 240 V single phase supply and is protected by a 32 A HBC fuse to BS
88. The wiring consists of 4 mm² single core p.v.c. insulated cables run in trunking, the length of
run being 18 m. The earth-fault loop impedance external to the installation is assessed as 0.7
Ohms. Calculate the cross-sectional area of a suitable p.v.c. sheathed protective conductor.

This is one of those cases where we need to make an assumption of the answer to the problem
before we can solve it. Assume that a 2.5 mm² protective conductor will be acceptable and
calculate the combined resistance of the phase and protective conductors from the origin of the
installation to the end of the circuit. From {Table 5.5}, 2.5 mm² cable has a resistance of 7.4
mohms/m and 4 mm² a resistance of 4.6 mOhms/m. Both values must be multiplied by 1.2 to allow
for increased resistance as temperature rises due to fault current.

Thus, R1 + R2 = (7.4 + 4.6) x 1.2 x 18 Ohms = 12.0 x 1.2 x 18 = 0.26 Ohms

1000 1000

This conductor resistance must be added to external loop impedance to give the total earth-fault
loop impedance.

Zs = Ze + Rl + R2 = 0.7+ 0.26 Ohms = 0.96 Ohms

We can now calculate the fault current:

la = Uo = 240 = 250A
Zs 0.96

Next we need to find the operating time for a 32 A BS 88 fuse carrying 250 A. Examination of {Fig
3.15} shows that operation will take place after 0.2 s.

Finally, we need a value for k. From {Table 5.8} we can read this off as 115, because the
protective conductor will be bunched with others in the trunking.

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We now have values for Ia, t and k so we can calculate conductor size.

S= Ö(Ia²t) = Ö(250² x 0.02) mm² = 0.97 mm²

k 115

This result suggests that a 1.0 mm² protective conductor will suffice. However, it may he
dangerous to make this assumption because the whole calculation has been based on the
resistance of a 2.5 mm² conductor. Let us start again assuming a 1.5 mm² protective conductor
and work the whole thing through again.

The new size protective conductor has a resistance of 18.1 mOhms/m, see {Table 5.5}, and with
the 4 mm² phase conductor gives a total conductor resistance, allowing for increased temperature,
of 0.491 Ohms. When added to external loop impedance this gives a total earth-fault loop
impedance of 1.191 Ohms and a fault current at 240 V of 202 A. From {Fig 3.15} operating time
will be 0.6 s. The value of k will be unchanged at 115.

S= Ö(Ia²t) = Ö(202² x 0.6) mm² = 1.36 mm²

k 115

Thus, a 1.5 mm² protective conductor can be used in this case. Note that if the size had been
assessed rather than calculated, the required size would be 4 mm², two sizes larger. A point to
notice here is that the disconnection time with a 1.5mm² protective conductor is 0.6 s, which is too
long for socket outlet circuits (0.4 s max.).

Example 5.3
A 240 V, 30 A ring circuit for socket outlets is 45 m long and is to be wired in 2.5 mm² flat twin
p.v.c. insulated and sheathed cable incorporating a 1.5 mm² cpc. The circuit is to be protected by
a semi-enclosed (rewirable) fuse to BS 3036, and the earth-fault loop impedance external to the
installation has been ascertained to be 0.3 Ohms. Verify that the 1.5 mm² cpc enclosed in the
sheath is adequate.

First use {Table 5.5} to find the resistance of the phase and cpc conductors. These are 7.4
mOhms/m and 12.1 mOhms/m respectively, so for a 45 m length and allowing for the resistance
increase with temperature factor of 1.2.

R1 + R2 = (7.4 + 12.1) x 1.2 x 45 Ohms = 19.5 x 1.2 x 45 Ohms = 1.05 Ohms

1000 1000

Zs = Ze + R1+ R2 = 0.3 + 1.05 Ohms = 0.3 + 0.263 Ohms = 0.563 Ohms

4 4

The division by 4 is to allow for the ring nature of the circuit.

Ia = Uo = 240 A = 426A
Zs 0.563

We must then use the time/current characteristic of {Fig 3.13} to ascertain an operating time of
0.10 s.

From {Table 5.8} the value of k is 115.

Then S = Ö(Ia²t) = Ö(426² x 0.10) mm² = 1.17 mm²

k 115

Since this value is smaller than the intended value of 1.5 mm², this latter value will be satisfactory.

Example 5.4
A 240 V single-phase circuit is to be wired in p.v.c. insulated single core cables enclosed in plastic
conduit. The circuit length is 45 m and the live conductors are 16 mm² in cross-sectional area. The
circuit will supply fixed equipment, and is to be protected by a 63 A HBC fuse to BS 88. The
earth-fault loop impedance external to the installation has been ascertained to be 0.58 Ohms.
Calculate a suitable size for the circuit protective conductor.

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With the information given this time the approach is somewhat different. We know that the
maximum disconnection time for fixed equipment is 5 s, so from the time/current characteristic for
the 63 A fuse {Fig 3.15} we can see that the fault current for disconnection will have a minimum
value of 280 A.

Thus, Zs = Uo = 240 Ohms = 0.857 Ohms

Ia 280

If we deduct the external loop impedance, we come to the resistance of phase and protective
conductors.

R1 +R2 = Zs-Ze = 0.857-0.58Ohms = 0.277 Ohms

Converting this resistance to the combined value of R1 and R2 per metre,

(R1 + R2) per metre = 0.277 x 1000 mOhms/m = 5.13 mOhms/m

45 x 1.2

Consulting {Table 5.5} we find that the resistance of 16 mm² copper conductor is 1.15 mOhms/m,
whilst 10 mm² and 6 mm² are 1.83 and 3.08 mOhms/m respectively. Since 1.15 and 3.08 add to
4.23, which is less than 5.13, it would seem that a 6 mm² protective conductor will be large
enough. However, to be sure we must check with the adiabatic equation.

R1 + R2 = (1.15+3.08) x 1.2 x 45 Ohms = 0.228 Ohms

1000

Zs = Ze+(R1 +R2) = 0.58+0.228 Ohms = 0.808 Ohms

Ia = Uo = 240 A = 297 A
Zs 0.808

From {Fig 3.15} the disconnection time for a 63 A fuse carrying 297 A is found to he 3.8s.
From {Table 5.8} the value of k is 115.

Then S = Ö(Ia²t) = Ö(297² x 3.8) mm² = 5.03 mm²

k 115

Since 5.03 is less than 6 then a 6 mm² protective conductor will be large enough to satisfy the
requirements

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Extracted from The Electricians Guide Fifth Edition

by John Whitfield
Published by EPA Press Click Here to order your Copy

Click here for list of abbreviations

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