STANDARD TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR ELECTRIC WORKS

SITE ACCEPTANCE TESTS (SAT) AFTER INSTALLATION

EARTHING SYSTEMS
STEP VOLTAGE MEASUREMENT

TRANSCO STANDARD : SAT-TR-EARTH-STEP-(REV.0-2009)

SAT-TR-EARTH-STEP (REV. 0-2009) Page 1 of 5

 SITE ACCEPTANCE TESTS AFTER INSTALLATION
EARTHING SYSTEMS
Step Voltage Measurement

General
Step voltages can be potential difference between feet around in 1m distance, that can affect a person standing on the
ground.

Step voltage can be measured with digital voltmeter with high internal resistance or, in order to simulate the human
body resistance, 1kΩ resistance can be connected in parallel to the voltmeter.

Measuring electrodes that simulate the feet, total surface area of 400 cm2 loaded with minimum 200N each, will be
used for measurement of step voltage. Voltmeter will be connected between electrodes that simulate the feet.

When measuring the step voltage on an installation component the electrode shall be set up 1 m away from the
accessible installation component and on a damp cloth or a film of water on the base.

Footprint-Electrode Method

IEEE Std 80-1986[1] has established that the average adult foot has an area of 200 cm2 and can be represented by a
circular metal disk with a radius of 8 cm (16 cm diameter). Footprint electrodes are necessary when measurements
are made to determine the resistances, touch-resistance hand-to-feet and foot-to-foot resistance respectively.

The series resistance, Rb, between two footprint electrodes spaced 1 m apart and weighted with at least 20 kg can be
measured with a 50 Hz source, voltmeter, and milliammeter. Similarly, the resistance, Rb, between footprint
electrodes, connected in parallel and spaced 1 m from electrical equipment or grounded structures to grid, can be
measured with a 50 Hz source, voltmeter, and milliammeter.

The estimated voltage across body during line-to-ground fault is calculated by

Fault current flow through grounding system

Vb = Vk ――――――――――――――――――
Test current flow through grounding system

The tolerable potential across body is calculated by

Ib
Vb ≤ 1000 ― , in V

SAT-TR-EARTH-STEP (REV. 0-2009) Page 2 of 5

 SITE ACCEPTANCE TESTS AFTER INSTALLATION
EARTHING SYSTEMS
Step Voltage Measurement

√t
Where

Vk = step or touch voltage across 1000 Ω resistor measured during grounding system test (see Fig. 12.2), in V
Ib = tolerable body current specified by IEEE Std 80-1986[1], i.e., 0.116 A for a 50 kg person
t = duration of fault current, in s

The conventional resistance of the human body is represented by a 1 k Ω resistor. See IEEE Std 80-1986[1]. The
voltmeter should have an internal impedance of 100 k Ω or more so as not to influence the measurements.

SAT-TR-EARTH-STEP (REV. 0-2009) Page 3 of 5

 SITE ACCEPTANCE TESTS AFTER INSTALLATION
EARTHING SYSTEMS
Step Voltage Measurement

Test Circuit

200 MM2
20 KG STEEL PLATE
VB = 1kΩ
F F

1M

V = Touch Voltage
VB = Resistor Representing Human Body Resistance
F = Electrode Representing Human Foot

SAT-TR-EARTH-STEP (REV. 0-2009) Page 4 of 5

 SITE ACCEPTANCE TESTS AFTER INSTALLATION
EARTHING SYSTEMS
Step Voltage Measurement

Maesurement Results

Date:__________________________
Ambient Temp:_____________ _oC
Reference Dwg. No.:_____________

No. Location V(V) I(A) Dv(VK) Vt= DV x yy kA Remarks

I

Where:

V : Power Supply Voltage (V)

I : Test Current (A)
Dv : Potential rise of Mesh (V)
Vt : Touch Voltage (V) = Dv x yy kA
I

SAT-TR-EARTH-STEP (REV. 0-2009) Page 5 of 5