Maximum Ze & Zs Values

BS 88-2.2 & BS 88-6 gG Fuses

5A : n/a

6A : 0.4s = 8.52, 5s = 13.5

10A : 0.4s = 5.11, 5s = 7.42

15A : n/a

16A : 0.4s = 2.70, 5s = 4.18

20A : 0.4s = 1.77, 5s = 2.91

25A : 0.4s = 1.44, 5s = 2.3

30A : n/a

32A : 0.4s = 1.04, 5s = 1.84

40A : 0.4s = n/a, 5s = 1.35

45A : n/a

50A : 0.4s = n/a, 5s = 1.04

60A : n/a

63A : 0.4s = n/a , 5s = 0.82

80A : 0.4s = n/a , 5s = 0.57

100A : 0.4s = n/a , 5s = 0.42

125A : 0.4s = n/a , 5s = 0.33

160A : 0.4s = n/a , 5s = 0.25

200A : 0.4s = n/a , 5s = 0.19

BS 1361 Fuses

5A : 0.4s = 10.45, 5s = 16.4

6A : n/a

10A : n/a
15A : 0.4s = 3.28, 5s = 5.0

16A : n/a

20A : 0.4s = 1.7, 5s = 2.8

25A : n/a

30A : 0.4s = 1.15, 5s = 1.84

32A : n/a

40A : n/a

45A : 0.4s = n/a, 5s = 0.96

50A : n/a

60A : 0.4s = n/a , 5s = 0.7

63A : n/a

80A : 0.4s = n/a , 5s = 0.5

100A : 0.4s = n/a , 5s = 0.36

125A : n/a

160A : n/a

200A : n/a

BS 3036 Fuses

5A : 0.4s = 9.58, 5s = 17.7

6A : n/a

10A : n/a

15A : 0.4s = 2.55, 5s = 5.35

16A : n/a

20A : 0.4s = 1.77, 5s = 3.83

25A : n/a

30A : 0.4s = 1.09, 5s = 2.64

32A : n/a

40A : n/a

45A : 0.4s = n/a, 5s = 1.59

50A : n/a

60A : 0.4s = n/a , 5s = 1.12

63A : n/a

80A : n/a

100A : 0.4s = n/a , 5s = 0.53

125A : n/a

160A : n/a

200A : n/a

BS 1362 Fuses

3A : 0.4s = 16.4, 5s = 23.2

13A : 0.4s = 2.42, 5s = 3.83

MCB's to BS EN 60898 & RCBOs to 61009-1 for disconnection times of 0.4 &
5 seconds

3A : typeB 15.33, typeC n/a, typeD n/a

5A : typeB n/a , typeC n/a, typeD n/a

6A : typeB 7.67, typeC 3.83, typeD 1.92

10A : typeB 4.6, typeC 2.3, typeD 1.15

15A : typeB n/a , typeC n/a, typeD n/a

16A : typeB 2.87, typeC 1.44, typeD 0.72

20A : typeB 2.3, typeC 1.15, typeD 0.57

25A : typeB 1.84, typeC 0.92, typeD 0.46

30A : typeB n/a , typeC n/a, typeD n/a

32A : typeB 1.44, typeC 0.72, typeD 0.36

40A : typeB 1.15, typeC 0.57, typeD 0.29

45A : typeB n/a, typeC n/a, typeD n/a

50A : typeB 0.92, typeC 0.46, typeD 0.23

60A : n/a

63A : typeB 0.73, typeC 0.36, typeD 0.18

80A : typeB 0.57, typeC 0.29, typeD 0.14

100A : typeB 0.46, typeC 0.23, typeD 0.11

125A : typeB 0.37, typeC 0.18, typeD 0.09

Tables 41.2, 41.3, 41.4

If the measured Zs value exceeds 80% of the given values, a more precise measurement may
have to be made to satisfy the requirements of BS 7671. p361

BS7671 does not give maximum Zs values for BS 3871 mcb's.

If the maximum Zs value for a circuit in a TN system cannot be met, the circuit may be
protected by a 30ma RCD. 531.3.1

If the maximum Ze value for a TN system cannot be met, the installation may be protected by
a 100ma RCD and treated as a TT system. 531.3.1, 411.5.1, 411.5.2, 411.5.3

Maximum Zs values for non delayed RCD's to BS EN 61008-1 & 61009-1 for
final circuits up to 32a in a TT system

30ma : 1667 ohms

100ma : 500 ohms

300ma : 167 ohms

500ma : 100 ohms

In practice a value not exeeding 200 ohms for the earth electrode is considered to be stable.
Table 41.5

Maximum Ze values for TN-S & TN-C-S systems

Typical maximum values published by Public Electricity Suppliers are

TN-S : 0.80 ohms

TN-C-S : 0.35 ohms

Ze Test Sequence

Turn off the supply to the ccu.

Disconnect the main earthing conductor from the main earthing terminal.

Using an earth fault loop impedance tester connect the earth lead to the main earthing
conductor, the phase lead to the phase conductor of the incoming supply and the neutral lead
to the neutral of the incoming supply and perform a test.

Reconnect the main earthing conductor.

Re-instate the supply.

Zs Test Procedure

The Zs value must be measured at the furthest point on each circuit.

Direct measurement of Zs can only be made on a live installation. The main earth and
bonding conductors are not disconnected. At the furthest point on the circuit from the ccu
perform an earth fault loop impedance test. The reading given by the loop impedance tester
will usually be less than Ze+(R1+R2) because of parallel earth return paths provided by any
bonded extraneous conductive parts.