2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Home / Articles / Earthing Design
Earthing System Types Explained
Low voltage and high voltage earthing arrangements explained and compared
Table of Contents
1. Earthing Systems Explained
2. Low voltage earthing systems
2.1. TN Systems
2.2. TN-S
2.3. TN-C
2.4. TN-C-S
2.5. TT System
2.6. IT System
[Link] 1/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
2.7. DC Systems
2.8. Comparison of Low Voltage Earthing Types
3. High voltage earthing systems
3.1. Solid grounding
3.2. Ungrounded
3.3. Resistance grounded
3.4. Reactance grounded
3.5. Resonant grounding and ground-fault neutralisers
3.6. Comparison of High Voltage Earthing System Types
4. Risk-based approach
4.1. Touch and step voltage hazards and the risk-based approach
5. References:
Earthing Systems Explained
An earthing system (IEC) or grounding system (IEEE) connects an electrical power system with
the earth’s surface, for both safety and functional purposes. Earthing systems also affect
electromagnetic compatibility and are required for lightning protection systems.
Earthing systems fall under two categories: system grounding and equipment grounding.
System grounding is the deliberate connection to earth of a phase or neutral conductor to
control voltage stress and voltage hazards (touch or step voltages) to within safe limits.
Equipment grounding is to electrically interconnect or to ‘bond’ the non-current carrying
conductive parts of equipment together and to the earth.
Earthing systems must be carefully designed. There are many earthing and grounding system
related standards the designer needs to consider.
Low voltage earthing systems
IEC terminology
IEC terminology from the IEC 60364-1 standard [2].
[Link] 2/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
First Letter – Relationship of the power system to the earth:
T = direct connection of one point to earth.
I = all live parts isolated from earth, or one point connected to earth via a high
impedance.
Second letter – Relationship of the exposed-conductive-parts (ECPs) of the installation to
earth:
T = direct electrical connection of ECPs to earth, independently of the earthing of any
point of the power system.
N = direct electrical connection of the ECPs to the earthed point of the power system (in
AC systems, the earthed point of the power system is normally the neutral point or, if a
neutral point is not available, a line conductor).
Subsequent letter(s) (if any) – Arrangement of neutral and protective earthing conductors:
S = protective earthing function provided by a conductor separate from the neutral
conductor or from the earthed line (or, in AC systems, earthed phase) conductor.
C = neutral and protective earthing function encapsulated into a single conductor (the
PEN conductor).
TN Systems
TN, or Terre-Neutral, systems are electrical systems where the Exposed Conductive Parts
(ECPs) are directly connected to a solidly grounded point of the source [1]. TN systems have
low fault loop impedances but carry a higher risk of damage to the neutral (with even a risk of
fire) due to higher fault currents. Additionally, earth electrodes need to be installed at regular
intervals (connected to each conductor in the system) to avoid safety issues.
TN Systems can be sorted into multiple different types, depending on the arrangements of
the conductors.
TN-S
The TN-S is the first type of TN configuration. This configuration of system is typically used in
industrial and commercial applications, where two different wires act as a protective
conductor and a neutral conductor [1]. TN-S systems tend to be the safest option of the TN
varieties due to the separation of the protective earthing and the neutral and can even be
used with flexible conductors or smaller conduits.
[Link] 3/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Figure 1: Diagram of a TN-S system
As can be seen in Figure 1 above, the TN-S system has the neutral and the protective earth
(PE) connecting ground, from the same point, to the ECP using different conductors. TN-S
systems can also be used in instances where there is no neutral (such as with a three-phase
supply in a delta configuration), so long as there is a PE conductor present.
TN-C
The TN-C system is the second type of TN configuration. Unlike the TN-S configuration, the
TN-C configuration combines the protective earthing and neutral into a single conductor. This
is a configuration typical of utilities in North America, but not a recommended practice for
industrial and commercial power systems [1]. One of the benefits of using a TN-C system is
reduced cost, due to the elimination of a device pole and a conductor, but this compromise
results in reduced safety (such as increased risk of fires or disruption by electromagnetic
interference).
[Link] 4/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Figure 2: Diagram of a TN-C system
As can be seen in Figure 2 above, the TN-C system differs from the TN-S system by combining
the PE and neutral functions into a single conductor, the Protective Earth Neutral (PEN)
conductor.
TN-C-S
The last type of TN system is the TN-C-S system. In North America, the transition point from
PEN to PE is typical of the utility to user interface with inclusion of an electrode for an
intentional connection to earth at the service entrance [1]. TN-C-S systems combine the
benefits of the TN-C system with the TN-S system, but with reduced returns (i.e., TN-C-S
systems are not as safe as TN-S system and not as cheap as TN-C systems).
[Link] 5/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Figure 3: Diagram of a TN-C-S system
As can be seen in Figure 3 above, the TN-C-S system combines the function of both the TN-C
and TN-S systems, where certain ECPs will be connected to ground via the PEN conductor,
and others will be connected to a PE and neutral conductor, both of which are split from the
initial PEN conductor.
TT System
[Link] 6/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
TT, or Terre-Terre, systems are electrical systems where the loads being supplied are
connected to ground electrodes that are independent of ground electrodes connected to the
source [1]. TT systems tend to not require continuous monitoring (with the exception of any
RCDs, or residual current devices, connected to the ECPs). One deficit of the TT system is the
high loop impedance, which causes high step voltages and leakage currents, meaning RCDs
are required for the usage of this system.
Figure 4: Diagram of a TT system
From Figure 4 above, it can be seen that the system grounding occurs at two different points:
The first being the point where the neutral conductor is connected, and the second being the
point where the PE conductor is connected. These two grounding points are independent of
each other.
IT System
IT, or isolation terre, systems are electrical systems where the source is insulated from the
ground or connected to it with incredibly high impedance. To prevent potential damage from
[Link] 7/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
fault currents, IT systems are able to be earthed both individually and collectively [1]. IT
systems offer the best continuity of service during operation (i.e., insulation faults are very
easily caught and eliminated without much disruption), but also requires a high degree of
maintenance. Additionally, the earth fault loop impedance is very high due to the high level of
insulation in the network, and IT systems run the risk of having two simultaneous fault
currents in the network.
Figure 5: Diagram of an IT system with individually earthed ECPs
[Link] 8/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Figure 6: Diagram of an IT system with collectively earthed ECPs
Both Figure 5 and Figure 6 show examples of an IT system. Note that in both examples, the
system is grounded through an incredibly high impedance (i.e., the open circuit), and the PE
conductor is grounded separately. Figure 5 shows an instance where the ECPs have
independent PE conductors, whereas Figure 6 shows an instance where the ECPs have a
common PE conductor.
DC Systems
[Link] 9/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
DC, or direct current, systems are a type of system earthing designed for direct current rather
than AC, or alternating current. They are usually earthed via a positive and negative pole using
a two-wire system [2]. The aforementioned systems have a DC system equivalent that differs
from their AC counterparts functionally.
Comparison of Low Voltage Earthing Types
The advantages and disadvantages of the low voltage earthing methods are summarised
below:
Parameter TT IT TN-S TN-C TN-C-S
Earth fault loop
impedance High Highest Low Low Low
RCD preferred? Yes N/A Optional NO Optional
Need earth Yes Yes No No Optional
electrode at site?
PE conductor cost Low Low Highest Least High
Risk of broken
neutral No No High Highest High
Safety Safe Less Safe Safest Least Safe
Safe
Electromagnetic Least Least Low High Low
Interference
High loop
Double fault, Broken Broken Broken
Safety risks impedance overvoltage neutral neutral neutral
(Step voltages)
[Link] 10/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Parameter TT IT TN-S TN-C TN-C-S
High voltage earthing systems
Safe and Continuity of Safety
Advantages Safest Cost
High voltage (above 1 kV) earthing systems have three fundamental requirements: and cost
reliable operation, cost
1. Safety of people.
The earthing system shall not impose any person including those in the public population any
unreasonable risk.
The main hazard to a person associated with earthing systems is current flowing through the
heart leading to ventricular fibrillation.
2. Protection of equipment.
The earthing system should provide for the expected operation without damage to any
equipment. Specifically, this means the earthing system must be capable of (a) withstanding
fault currents; (b) maintaining integrity for the lifetime of the installation; (c) avoiding damage
to equipment due to excessive voltage rise or current flows during faults; and (d) contributing
to ensure system electromagnetic compatibility.
3. Operational security.
The earthing system must support operational security by maintaining a dependable voltage
reference.
Solid grounding
Solid grounding refers to connecting a system supply, such as a generator neutral or a
transformer, directly to the ground without any intervening impedances. This is a particularly
good way to avoid excessive fault currents. The effectiveness of a solidly grounded system can
be determined by comparing the ground-fault current to the three-phase fault current. The
higher the ground-fault current compared to the three-phase fault current, the greater the
degree of grounding in the system.
Ungrounded
In an ungrounded system, there is no direct connection whatsoever between the system
supply and the ground. They are only connected to each other via capacitive coupling [1].
[Link] 11/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Figure 7: A circuit diagram and phasor diagram for an ungrounded system
Figure 7 shows a circuit diagram and a phasor diagram for an ungrounded system. Not that
the system is grounded via 3 parallel capacitors, labelled XCO. These represent the capacitive
coupling via which the system is grounded. Both the neutral and the protective earthing are
grounded via this capacitance.
Resistance grounded
A resistance grounded system will have the system supply connected to the ground via a
resistor. Limiting current via a resistor has several benefits, including reduction of burning
and melting effects in faulted equipment, reduction of mechanical stresses in circuits, and
reduction of electric-shock hazards to personnel, to name a few.
[Link] 12/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Figure 8: Diagram of a three-phase system where the neutral is grounded via a resistor
Resistance grounded systems can be low-resistance or high-resistance, depending on the
desired outcome. Low-resistance grounded systems can be beneficial for limiting the ground-
fault current between 50 A and 1000A, whereas high-resistance grounded systems are good
where the ground-fault current is less than 10 A in magnitude.
Reactance grounded
Resonant grounding and ground-fault neutralisers
Resonant grounding is the connection of a reactor between supply system neutral and
ground to eliminate reactance in a system via resonance. Ground-fault neutralisers are the
reactors that are connected between a system supply neutral and the ground. For the
resonant grounding, the reactor is specially selected or tuned to resonate with the distributed
capacitance of the system, so that the ground-fault current becomes mostly resistive with a
low magnitude.
A reactance grounded system will have the system supply neutral connected to the ground
via a reactor (capacitor, inductor, choke, etc). Reactance grounding is typically used when
[Link] 13/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
there is a desire to limit the ground fault magnitude to a value much like the magnitude of a
three-phase fault.
Figure 9: Diagram of a resonance grounded system using ground-fault neutralisers
Figure 9 shows an example of a resonance grounded system, with the usage of a ground-fault
neutraliser. Note that the introduction of the inductor, XL, is used to counter the effects of the
capacitive coupling to the ground, thus making the ground fault current almost purely
resistive.
Comparison of High Voltage Earthing System Types
The advantages and disadvantages of the high voltage earthing methods are summarised
below:
[Link] 14/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Reactance Grounding Resistance Ground
Ground-
Parameter Ungrounded Solid Low Fault
High value Low High
value Neutraliser Resistance Resista
reactor
reactor
Current for
Less tha
phase-to- Usually
1% but n
ground Varies, designed 20% and
less than
fault in may be to Nearly zero downward
Less than 1% 5% to 25% system
percent of 100% or produce fault current to 100 A
charging
three- greater 25% to and 1000 A
element
phase 100%
3ICO
current
Not Not Not Not Not Not
Transient Very high
excessive excessive excessive excessive excessive excessiv
Supported
Line-to-
if current Not Not Not Not
neutral Not supported Supported
60% or supported supported supported supporte
loads
greater
Surge Ungrounded- Ungrounded-
arresters neutral type neutral type
Best suited
for
application Generally
in most used on
Not medium systems of
recommended voltage 2.4 kV to 15
Generally used on Not used
due to industrial kV, Used on
systems (1) 600 V and due to
Remarks overvoltages and particularly systems
below and (2) over 15 excessive
and commercial where large to 5 kV
kV overvoltages
nonsegregation systems that rotating
of fault are isolated machines
from their are
electric utility connected
system by
transformers
Risk-based approach
[Link] 15/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Generally, it is incredibly difficult to eliminate all hazards associated with earthing systems.
Risk management typically involves the minimisation of hazards to an acceptable statistical
degree rather than eliminating them. Relatively new Standards such as AS 2067 [3] provide
methodologies for risk-based calculations for earthing systems design.
Touch and step voltage hazards and the risk-based approach
The most significant threat facing a person involving earthing systems is the risk of ventricular
fibrillation due to current flow in the heart. This depends on a person’s physiology, duration of
current flow, amount of current and whether the current will interfere with the persons heart
cycle. Details about the probabilities related to the effects of current on the human heart and
heart/body impedance can be found in IEC 60479 [4].
Achieving negligible hazard levels is rarely possible. Determination of the hazard level is
related to the risk of fibrillation and the usage of probability calculations as detailed in IEC
60479.
If hazards cannot be reduced, risk assessment must be employed. This should include
the occurrence rate and duration of faults, along with the frequency and duration of contact
for a person on-site. Risk mitigation should be applied as reasonably practicable, where the
cost is not grossly disproportionate to the benefit gained.
References:
[1] IEEE Std 3003.1-2019 Recommended Practice for System Grounding of Industrial and
Commercial Power Systems.
[2] IEC Std 60364-1 Low Voltage Electrical Installations – Part 1: Fundamental principles,
assessment of general characteristics, definitions.
[3] AS 2067:2016 Substations and high voltage installations exceeding 1 kV a.c.
[4] IEC 60479-1:2018 Effects of current on human beings and livestock – Part 1: General
aspects.
SafeGrid Earthing Software
Easily design safe earthing systems in compliance with Standards.
Try For Free
[Link] 16/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Related Articles:
Earthing modelling of concrete slabs
Switchgear in substations is installed on top of concrete slabs containing substantial quantities of steel
reinforcement. Often the embedded steel reinforcement is bonded to the main earthing system and used to
cost-effectively improve earthing electrical performance and safety.
Safety Limit Calculations to IEEE and IEC Standards
A safe earthing system design has two objectives; to provide a means to carry normal and fault current
without exceeding equipment limits or adversely affect continuity of service and to reduce the risk of a
person in the vicinity of an earthed facility being exposed to the danger of a critical electric shock.
[Link] 17/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Fundamentals of Earthing Design
Key earthing design concepts covered including Grid Potential Rise, design to reduce touch and step
voltages, fault current distribution, effects of soil resistivity and use of rods to improve safety along with
calculation and modelling examples.
7 Best Earthing and Grounding Design Software Packages
We compare the best and latest earthing and grounding system design software including SafeGrid, CDEGS,
XGSLab, ETAP and more based on technical features and compares price.
Surface Material Resistivity
This article provides typical values for surface layer resistivity to be used for earthing and ground electrical
calculations of touch and step voltages.
[Link] 18/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Multilayer Soil Effects on Earthing Grid Resistance
This article shows the effects of soil resistivity and thickness of layers on grid resistance for earthing systems
in multilayer soils. Increasing the resistivity of soil layers tends to increase the grid resistance, no matter
which soil layer that is. Increasing the thickness of any soil layer with high resistivity also increases grid…
Earthing System Types Explained
Low voltage earthing systems include TN-S, TN-C-S, TT, IT and DC. High voltage earthing includes solid,
ungrounded, resistance, reactance and resonant.
Lightning Strikes to Buildings with Earthing Systems
This report shows the effects of a direct lightning strike to an air terminal installed on top of a building which
is connected to a buried earthing system.
[Link] 19/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Reach Touch Voltages Explained
FOR INFORMATION OR TO SPEAK WITH OUR HELPFUL ADVISORS
Reach touch voltages are different to touch voltages and automatically set to zero when the distance
between the voltage point on the ground surface and the grid conductor which is touched exceeds a reach
distance.
GET IN TOUCH
Electrical Power Systems Design & Analysis Software
FOLLOW US
SOFTWARE
Cable Pro Web
Protection Coordination
SafeGrid Earthing
Cable High Voltage
Cable Pulling
Line Rate
Power Bundle
FREE CALCULATORS
Cable Sizing AS3008
Cable Sizing BS7671
Voltage Drop
Arc Flash
[Link] 20/21
2/27/23, 7:15 PM Earthing System Types Explained - ELEK Software
Earth Cable Sizing
Fault Loop Impedance
Earth Grid Resistance
Earth Grid Conductor Sizing
Earthing Rods Resistance
Lightning Protection Design
Relay Tripping Time
Equivalent Thermal Resistance
RESOURCES & SUPPORT
Articles
Software Tutorials
Technical Publications
Training and Certification
Customer Licence Portal
CONTACT US
Email:
enquiry@[Link]
Need Help?
Lodge a Support Ticket
Phone:
1300 093 795
International:
+61 (0)2 8231 6673
© 2023 All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy Quality Policy Terms of Use
[Link] 21/21
