MINISTRY OF HOUSING

Western Sector Projects

Sitework & Infrastructure
OMRANIA and ASSOCIATES

Project Specification

SECTION 26 05 26
EARTHING SYSTEM
PART 1:
1.01
A

GENERAL

SECTION INCLUDES
Earthing system including, but not limited to the following:
1. Earth rods.
2. Earth conductors.
3. Earth connection bar.
4. Earthing of various systems.

1.02

RELATED SECTIONS

Section 01 31 00

Project Management and Coordination.

Section 0133 00

Submittal Procedures.

Section 01 61 00

Common Product Requirements.

Section 01 78 36

Warranties.

Section 26 05 00

Common Work Results for Electrical.

Section 26 05 53

Electrical Identification.

Section 26 05 19

LV Cables and Wires.

Section 33 71 19

Underground Electrical Services.

Section 26 11 13

Unit Substation.

Section 26 08 00

Testing and Commissioning of Electrical Systems.

1.03

REFERENCES

SASO

Saudi Arabian Standards Organization.

IEC 60364

Electrical Installations of Buildings.

BS 7430

Code of Practice for Protective Earthing of Electrical Installations.

BS 7671

Requirements for Electrical Installations (IEE Wiring Regulations).

SEC DPS

SEC Distribution Planning Standards.

SEC SDMS

SEC Distribution Materials Specifications.

EARTHING SYSTEM

SECTION 26 05 26 - 1

MINISTRY OF HOUSING
Western Sector Projects
Sitework & Infrastructure
OMRANIA and ASSOCIATES

G
1.04

SEC SDCS

Project Specification

SEC Distribution Construction Standards.

SUBMITTALS

Comply with section 0133 00.

Submit manufacturers data, illustrated leaflets, dimensions, fixing details and description of
the proposed products.

1.05

QUALITY ASSURANCE

Manufacturers: Firms regularly engaged in the manufacture of earthing equipment, whose

products have been in satisfactory use in similar service for not less than 5 years. Preference
shall be given to local manufacturers and suppliers/agents.

Installer: Firms regularly engaged and qualified with at least 5 years of successful installation
and experience on projects with installations similar to that required for this project.

All equipment furnished under this Specification shall conform to the requirements of IEC,
SASO and BS.

1.06

DELIVERY, STORAGE AND HANDLING

Comply with 01 61 00.

All products shall be carefully packed to avoid damage during transportation.

1.07
A
1.08

WARRANTY
Comply with section 01 78 36.
SEC/MUNICIPALITY COMPLIANCE

Contractor shall comply with all applicable SEC distribution material specification,
construction and planning standards for power distribution networks and municipality
specification for road lighting. Some of the specifications and standards are attached with the
contract documents for guidance, however contractor shall obtain copy of all applicable
specification and standards from the concerned authorities as required on site or instructed by
the Engineer.

Any conflict found between this project specification and SEC or municipality
specification/standards shall be immediately brought to the notice of Engineer for final
decision.

PART 2:
2.01

PRODUCTS

ACCEPTABLE MANUFACTURERS
Not Used.

2.02
A

GENERAL
All materials required for earthing system shall be furnished new and undamaged in
accordance with the requirements stated in this section.

EARTHING SYSTEM

SECTION 26 05 26 - 2

MINISTRY OF HOUSING
Western Sector Projects
Sitework & Infrastructure
OMRANIA and ASSOCIATES

Project Specification

Conduct soil electrical resistivity tests at four locations (minimum) to be advised by the
Engineer. The earthing calculations based on the test results shall be submitted for Engineers
approval, to demonstrate that the proposed design of the earthing system complies with the
Specification and standards.

A connection shall be provided from the main earth loop for medium voltage equipment in
the electricity supply authority incoming equipment room, Earth pits shall be installed in
accordance with the requirements of the electricity supply authority having jurisdiction, which
shall be isolated from the main earth loop.

Separate earth pits shall be installed in communications rooms, in accordance with

requirements of the telecommunications utility supply authority having jurisdiction, which
shall be isolated from the main earth loop.

2.03

EARTH RODS

Earth rods of the 'copper-weld' (copper-clad rods constructed with a minimum 0.25 mm thick
copper exterior sleeve inseparably and permanently molten-welded to a central high tensile
steel core for rigidity) type shall be used.

Earth electrodes for each system shall have an interconnected resistance to earth of not more
than 5 Ohms. Where this value is exceeded, the system shall be augmented by additional
electrodes connected in parallel spaced at approximately four meters apart until this value is
reached.

The diameter and length of earth rods shall be as per details shown on drawings or as
approved by the Engineer.

2.04

EARTH CONDUCTORS

Size of earth conductors shall be as shown on the drawings and in accordance with applicable
standards.

Earth conductors shall be as follows:

1. Outdoor Underground: Soft drawn bare high conductivity annealed plain stranded copper
conductor.
2. Inside Building: Same as for outdoor conductor but with green/yellow colored Poly
Vinyle Chloride (PVC) insulation.

PVC insulated copper conductor cable shall be used for final connections from earth loop to
structures, equipment, etc and for earthing/bonding of equipment and metalwork inside the
building.

All copper to copper connections, splices, taps, etc. in conductors and at accessories for
termination shall be made by the exothermic weld process. Joints for underground installation
shall be epoxy resin encapsulated before burial.

Earth conductor in the conduit shall be continuous through the conduit run with bushing earth
connection and terminated on the panel board earthing.

2.05
A

EARTH CONNECTION BAR

For connection of MV and LV equipment, each sub-station shall have high conductivity

EARTHING SYSTEM

SECTION 26 05 26 - 3

MINISTRY OF HOUSING
Western Sector Projects
Sitework & Infrastructure
OMRANIA and ASSOCIATES

Project Specification

copper, earth connection bar with minimum dimensions of 50 x 6 mm and mounted on

porcelain insulators. The bar shall be of suitable length with pre-drilled holes at a minimum
distance of 50 mm between hole centres.
B

Earth connection bars for transformer neutral and LV switchboard frame shall be separate
from earth bar for MV and transformer frame.

MV generator frame and neutral shall be connected to the same earth connection bar.

Each earth connection bar shall have a permanent label to identify the connections, together
with the wording "Main Earth Bar".

PART 3:
3.01

EXECUTION

INSPECTION

Comply with section 01 31 00.

Examine the area and conditions under which the earthing systems are to be installed and
correct any unsatisfactory conditions detrimental to the timely and proper completion of the
work. Do not proceed with the work until unsatisfactory conditions have been corrected in a
manner acceptable to the Engineer.

3.02

GENERAL INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS

The installation shall be carried out in accordance with IEC. The position of all conductors,
joints and terminals shall be approved by the Engineer prior to commencing the work.

All electrical equipment shall be connected to the earth with copper earth conductor. The term
"electrical equipment" shall include all metal enclosures containing electrical connections or
bare conductors. Individual devices such as solenoids, pressure switches, and limit switches
shall be exempt from this requirement unless the device requires earthing for proper
operation. Large equipment such as power distribution boards or motor control centers shall
be furnished with an earthing bus, which shall be connected at two points to the earth. All
earth connection surfaces shall be cleaned immediately prior to connection. Provide all
earthing material required but not furnished with the equipment.

All exposed non-current carrying metallic parts of all installations shall be effectively earthed.
Steel conduit systems, metallic equipment enclosures, metallic lighting fixtures, cable trays,
all non-current carrying metal parts of electrical systems and any other equipment or system
components shall be earthed and the connection shall be extended to the nearest panel board
earth or earthing bar in the sub-station.

The conductive sheaths and armor of cables shall be connected to earth.

All connections and joints for the earthing system including bonding connections shall be
made using the "Exothermic" process to produce a fused joint.

3.03
A

EARTH ROD INSTALLATION

All earth rods shall be installed at suitable locations and to a depth to achieve the required
resistance. Where the earth rod length exceeds 2.5 m, standard sections shall be connected
with aluminum bronze coupling to extend the rod.

EARTHING SYSTEM

SECTION 26 05 26 - 4

MINISTRY OF HOUSING
Western Sector Projects
Sitework & Infrastructure
OMRANIA and ASSOCIATES

Project Specification

Earth rods shall be driven with a cap driving stud.

All connections between rods and earthing conductors shall be made by removable bolted
connections.

All earth rods shall have inspection pits as shown on the Drawings. Inspection pits shall be
constructed from pre-cast concrete. All connections to the earth rod shall be exposed when the
cover is raised. Attach a DANGER - ELECTRICITY sign to the wall of the inspection pit.
Use English and Arabic white letters on red background. Inspection pit cover shall be
constructed from cast iron.

3.04

EARTH CONDUCTOR INSTALLATION

Provide standard sizes of bare or PVC insulated stranded copper conductor for earth
continuity as required and approved by the Engineer, whether shown on the drawings or not.

Suitable earthing facilities acceptable to the Engineer shall be furnished on electrical

equipment to consist of compression type terminal connectors bolted to the equipment frame
or enclosure and providing a minimum of joint resistance.

The conduit system shall not be considered as continuous for earthing purposes. A separate
earth conductor shall be installed in the same conduit with the phase and neutral conductors.
The separate earth conductors shall be sized according to calculated short circuit current and
applicable standards. No earthing conductors shall be smaller than 2.5 mm2 unless this is part
of a multi-core cable. Where flexible connections are made to equipment, earthing jumpers
shall be provided. All connections of heavy gauge steel conduit system shall be checked for
good electrical continuity.

Exposed conductors shall be installed inconspicuously in vertical or horizontal positions on

supporting structures. When located on irregular supporting surfaces or equipment, the
conductors shall run parallel to or normal to the dominant surface.

Conductors routed over concrete, steel or equipment surfaces shall be kept in close contact
with those surfaces by using fasteners located at intervals not exceeding 1 meter.

Exposed earthing conductors shall be securely fastened to the mounting surface using copper
or brass straps.

Clamps, connectors, bolts, washers, nuts and other hardware for bolted connection to earthing
system shall be of copper.

Exothermic welds shall comprise molds, cartridges, materials, and accessories as

recommended by the manufacturer.

Earthing conductors entering the building shall be installed in a 25 mm diameter PVC

conduit. Waterproofing shall be provided at all entries of earth conductors, details of which
shall be approved by the structural engineer.

Earth conductors shall be buried at a minimum depth of 750 mm below finished grade.

Underground conductors shall be buried in clean sifted earth.

Except for sub-stations and electrical rooms, the exposed earth conductor shall run in
protective pipes for runs below 900 mm from floor level. Pipes shall also be provided at
locations where conductor is likely to be subject to physical damage.

EARTHING SYSTEM

SECTION 26 05 26 - 5

MINISTRY OF HOUSING
Western Sector Projects
Sitework & Infrastructure
OMRANIA and ASSOCIATES

Project Specification

Extensions from the earth loop as shown on the Drawings shall be provided for connection to
electrical equipment. Connect the earthing conductor to equipment, earth bus, pad or lug. In
addition to the earth grid extension conductors, an earth cable to each end of the earth bus in
each assembly of power distribution board or panel boards shall be provided.

Where an earth conductor is included with the phase conductors of power circuits, the earth
conductor shall be connected to the equipment earthing facilities and to the source earth bus.
Where an earth conductor is not included with the phase conductors, the equipment shall be
earthed by connecting a separate earth cable to the equipment earthing facilities and to the
tray earthing cable or source earth bus.

3.05
A

3.06

EARTH LOOP IMPEDANCE

The completed earthing system shall have sufficiently low impedance to limit the voltage to
earth and to facilitate the operation of the current protective devices in the circuit. Earth loop
impedance shall not exceed the values specified in BS or other applicable standards.
BUILDING SYSTEMS EARTHING

Building low current systems including communication, control and alarm functions shall be
provided with earthing as shown on the drawings and in the relevant specification section.
Where applicable, requirements of functional earthing shall also be complied with.

The installation of earthing for building systems shall be in accordance with the
recommendations of standards, and the applicable provisions of this section.

3.07

SUPPLEMENTARY AND EQUI-POTENTIAL BONDING

In accordance with Section 547 of the IEE Wiring Regulations (BS 7671), bonding
conductors shall be installed in appropriate locations to ensure all simultaneously accessible
exposed or extraneous conductive parts are at equal potential. Undertake such tests and install
such supplementary bonding conductors that are necessary to ensure compliance with these
requirements.

Supplementary bonding conductors shall conform to the requirements of section 547-03 of

the IEE Wiring Regulations and shall have a minimum cross-sectional area of 2.5 mm2 where
mechanically protected and 4.0 mm2 where not so protected.

Main equi-potential bonding conductors shall conform to the requirements of section 547-2 of
the IEE Wiring Regulations and shall have a minimum cross-sectional area of 6.0 mm2.

3.08

FIELD QUALITY CONTROL

Comply with section 26 08 00.

Earth resistance tests shall be carried out after installation of the individual earthing systems
in accordance with the specification. Earth resistance tests shall be carried out in accordance
with section 713-11 of the IEE wiring regulations 16th edition and the readings obtained shall
be officially recorded by all witnessing parties.

Prior to connection of earth rods to the earthing system, the earth resistance of individual
earth rods shall be measured by using an approved type of earth resistance tester.

After completion of all connections of the earthing system, the earth resistance shall be
measured from the earthing test point in the presence of the Engineer.

EARTHING SYSTEM

SECTION 26 05 26 - 6

MINISTRY OF HOUSING
Western Sector Projects
Sitework & Infrastructure
OMRANIA and ASSOCIATES

Project Specification

In addition to above, carry out any test(s) required to comply with the procedures of the
electricity supply authority (SEC) for power connection requirements.

All earth resistance test reports shall be submitted for the Engineers approval.

END OF SECTION

EARTHING SYSTEM

SECTION 26 05 26 - 7