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Responsibility for earthing of an

electrical Installation
06/11/2018

Irrespective of the distributor’s responsibility, it is up to the electrical installer, acting on behalf

of the consumer, to ensure that the earthing connection is suitable for the requirements of the
electrical installation and that it is properly connected to the earthing conductor of the
installation.

A question often asked of Certsure’s helpline is; “who is responsible for providing a means of earthing for an
electrical installation”. In short, it is the consumer’s responsibility to ensure that the electrical installation is
correctly earthed.

This is because, in order to receive a supply of electricity, the consumer is required to have an installation
meeting the safety requirements of Regulations 25(1) and 25(2) of The Electricity Safety, Quality and
Continuity Regulations 2002 (ESQCR).

These requirements are to ensure that the installation is constructed, installed, protected and used (or
arranged for use) so as to prevent, as far as is reasonably practicable, danger or interference with the
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distributor’s network or with supplies to others. Compliance with the requirements of BS 7671 is likely to give
compliance with the safety requirements of Regulations 25(1) and 25(2).

In practice, it is the electrical installer, acting on behalf of the consumer, who ensures that the electrical
installation is correctly earthed before it is put into service (or returned to service).

Distributor’s obligation to offer an earthing connection

When providing a new or replacement low voltage supply connection to an installation, a distributor has a
general obligation under Regulation 24(4) of the ESQCR to make available for connection to the earthing
conductor of the installation a PEN (combined neutral and protective) conductor or, if appropriate, the
protective conductor of their network.

However, there is an exception to this obligation where this would be inappropriate for safety reasons, such as
may be the case for a petrol filling station. Furthermore, a distributor is not permitted to make available their
PEN conductor for connection to the earthing conductor of a caravan or boat, as this is prohibited by
Regulation 9(4). To assist electrical installers, some distributors publish notes of guidance advising on
situations where an earthing connection will not be made available.

A distributor is not obliged to make an earthing connection available for an existing installation where the
supply connection is not being replaced, but may be willing to do so.

Where an earthing connection is provided by the distributor, the distributor is responsible for ensuring that this
connection (that is, any earthing terminal provided by the distributor and the connection to the network) is
installed and, so far as is reasonably practicable, maintained so as to prevent danger, and is suitable for the
purpose. (Regulation 24(1) of the ESQCR refers.)

Irrespective of the distributor’s responsibility, it is up to the electrical installer, acting on behalf of the consumer,
to ensure that the earthing connection is suitable for the requirements of the electrical installation and that it is
properly connected to the earthing conductor of the installation.

Basis for design

For either a new installation or an alteration or addition to an existing installation, it is important to establish at
an early stage of the design whether or not a distributor’s earthing connection for the installation will be
available at the service position.

For safety reasons, the effectiveness of any existing earthing connection should always be verified by
inspection and by measurement of the external earth fault loop impedance (Ze). A safe method of measuring
(Ze) is explained in the NICEIC publication; Inspection, Testing and Certification.

For all installations, it is important to establish the type of earthing arrangement (TN-S, TN-C-S or TT – see Fig
1), and therefore how the earthing connection will be made to the earthing conductor of the installation. For
example, in a TN-C-S system where protective multiple earthing (PME) is provided, the earthing conductor has
to be connected to the supply PEN conductor, made available by the distributor.
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Where NO earthing connection is available at the service

position
Where no distributor’s earthing connection for the installation is available at the service position, and the
distributor cannot or will not make one available, the installation will need to be connected with Earth by means
of an electrically independent installation earth electrode (Regulation 542.1.2.3 of BS 7671 refers).

In such circumstances, the requirements applicable to a TT system will have to be met. This will include the
installation of RCDs in virtually all cases to provide for automatic disconnection of supply in the event of an
earth fault. The RCDs are necessary due to the generally high value of external earth fault loop impedance
(Ze) via the installation earth electrode, compared with that usually available in a TN system via an earthing
connection provided by the distributor.

The types of earth electrode permitted by BS 7671 for an installation forming part of a TT system are listed in
Regulation 542.2.3.

A metallic pipe used to supply a gas or a flammable liquid must not be used as an earth electrode, and neither
may a metallic pipe of a water utility supply. However, this does not preclude the bonding of such metalwork
where required by Section 411 of BS 7671.

Other metallic water supply pipework (such as that attached to an underground well on private land) may be
used as an earth electrode, provided precautions are taken against removal, and the pipework has been
considered suitable for such a use.

‘Cable sheath’ earthing

Where ‘cable-sheath’ earthing is provided (TN-S system), the earthing connection to the distributor’s metallic
cable sheath or armour is made by the distributor, generally prior to the electricity metering equipment being
installed. However, there are occasions where such an earthing connection has not been made and no
distributor’s earthing terminal is available for the installation.

Where this is the case, an electrical installer should not, under any circumstances, attempt to clamp, weld (or
similar), or in any other way connect the consumer’s earthing conductor to the distributor’s metallic cable
sheath or armour. The supply cable is the distributor’s property and the installer is not authorised to interfere
with it.

Any attempt by the installer to make a connection to the metallic cable sheath or armour could result in
creating an internal fault between the conductors of the cable or between the metallic sheath (or armour) and
one or more internal conductors.

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For other guidance and publications please see the ELECSA website.

• Information about the ELECSA Domestic Installers schemes, visit www.elecsa.co.uk or call 0333 321 822.

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CONTACTS

Certsure LLP
Mansfield Business Centre,
Ashfield Avenue,
MANSFIELD
NG18 2AE

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http://www.elecsa.co.uk/

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