Colombian Association of Engineers

ACIEM Atlantic Chapter

RETI Diploma
Applied to Best Practices
of the Construction
Module: Grounding system, insulation coordination, and SIPRA

Carlos A. Cárdenas Guerra, I.E. MSc. Esp. Inspector RETIE–Final Use Installations
 Earthing System According To
RETIE

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ARTICLE 15. GROUNDING SYSTEM
All electrical installations that apply the RETIE, except where expressly indicated otherwise.
on the contrary, it must have a Grounding System (SPT) to prevent people from
contact with it, both inside and outside, are subjected to tensions of
step, contact or transferred, that exceed the thresholds of human tolerability when
a failure occurs.

The requirement for grounding in electrical installations covers the electrical system as such and the
supports or metal structures that, in the event of a temporary overvoltage, may trigger a failure
permanente a frecuencia industrial, entre la estructura puesta a tierra y la red.

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 ARTICLE 15. GROUNDING SYSTEM

Guarantee the To toast

SECURITY conditions of
of the people SECURITY

Ensure the
PROTECTION Allow to the
from the teams of
installations protection
to clear
quickly the
faults
Guarantee the
COMPATIBILITY
Electromagnetic Serve as
REFERENCE to
electrical system

It must be kept in mind that the fundamental criterion for ensuring the safety of human beings is
the maximum electrical energy they can withstand, due to step voltages, contact voltages
transferred without the value of grounding resistance taken in isolation. However, a
A low ground resistance value is always desirable to reduce the maximum rise of
potential or GPR (Ground Potential Rise).
15.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE GROUNDING SYSTEM

The metallic elements that are not part of the electrical installations do not
they can be included as part of the grounding system conductors.
This requirement does not exclude the fact that they must be grounded, in many
cases.

The main metallic elements that act as reinforcement

The structural elements of a building must have an electrical connection.
permanent with the general grounding system.

The connections that go below ground level (grounding) must be

made with exothermic welding or certified connector for burial
directo conforme a la norma IEEE 837 o la norma NTC 2206.

To verify the characteristics of the grounding electrode and its connection to the equipotential network.
comply with the present regulation, accessible and inspectable connection points must be left for
measurement time. When inspection boxes are constructed for this purpose, their internal dimensions
They must be at least 30 cm x 30 cm, or 30 cm in diameter if circular, and their lid must be removable, not
applies to the transport line electrodes.
 15.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE GROUNDING SYSTEM
To prevent the overheating of conductors in three-phase final use systems
with non-linear loads, the neutral conductors must be sized to at least 173% of the
phase current according to the guidelines of standards IEEE 519 or IEEE 1100. Likewise, it should also
accept the sizing of the neutral conductor as indicated in the IEC 60364-552 standard
(articles 523, 524, and Annex E), when the third harmonic currents are precisely known.
order, which effectively circulate through the neutral. In any case, the design must mention
expressed from the standard used.

When a building has several grounding systems due to requirements, all of them must
to be electrically interconnected, according to the criteria adopted from IEC-61000-5-2, as
appears in Figure 15.1

The previous figure makes it clear that it is necessary to

interconnect all the grounding points of a building,
that is to say, those parts of the grounding system
that are below ground level and designed to
each specific application, such as: Ground faults
low frequency, electrostatic discharge,
lightning protection or cathodic protection. This
interconnection can be done above or below
of the ground level.
 15.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE EARTHING SYSTEM
For the same building, the installation systems are expressly prohibited.
ground that appears in Figures 15.2 and 15.3, according to the criteria adopted by the IEC
61000-5-2, which is also established in NTC 2050 and IEC 60364.
 15.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE GROUNDING SYSTEM
Do not exceed the values given in Table 15.1, which correspond to the maximum voltage.
of contact applied to the human being (with an equivalent resistance of 1000Ω), which is given
depending on the earth fault clearing time, the resistivity of the soil and the
fault current. These are the maximum values of human tolerability to the
current circulation and consider the average net resistance or impedance of the body
human between hand and foot, without the presence of perforations in the skin and without the effect of the
additional external resistances involved between the person and the grounding structure or
between the person and the natural ground surface.
 15.2 GROUNDING SYSTEM DESIGN
Designer of grounding systems for generation plants, transmission lines
high and extra high voltage substations, must be checked by using a procedure
of calculation, recognized by current engineering practice, that the maximum values of the
tensions of pass and contact that human beings may be subjected to do not exceed the
thresholds of supportability. Such calculations must be based on a resistance of the body of
1000Ω per foot like a plate of 200 cm2 applying a force of 250 N.
15.2 DESIGN OF THE GROUNDING SYSTEM

a. Investigate the soil characteristics, especially the resistivity.

b. Determine the maximum ground fault current that must be provided by the Network Operator, in
medium and high voltage for each particular case.

c. Determine the maximum downtime of the failure for simulation purposes.

d. Investigate the type of load.

e. Preliminarily calculate the grounding resistance.

f. Calculate the preliminary step, contact, and transferred voltages in the installation.

g. Evaluate the value of the calculated step, contact, and transferred voltages with respect to the
human supportability.

h. Investigate the possible tensions transferred to the outside, due to pipes, meshes, neutral conductors,
cable shielding, signaling circuits, as well as the study of mitigation methods.

g. Evaluate the values of the step, contact and transferred voltages calculated in relation to the
supportability of the human being.

j. Present a definitive design.

 15.2 DESIGN OF THE GROUNDING SYSTEM
In final usage installations with pole-type substation, the design of the grounding can be simplified.
but the soil resistivity parameters must be taken into account, fault currents that may occur
present and the types of loads to be installed. In any case, the step and contact voltages must be controlled.
 15.3 MATERIALS OF GROUNDING SYSTEMS
The materials for grounding systems must be CERTIFIED:

15.3.1 Grounding Electrodes

For the purposes of this regulation, grounding electrodes must meet the requirements:

The PT must be made up of ONE or several electrodes. Bars, tubes, plates, strips, wires or
bare cables.

b. The use of aluminum in grounding electrodes is not allowed.

c. The manufacturers of grounding electrodes must ensure that the corrosion resistance of the
electrode, at least 15 years counted from the installation date.

d. The coating required in Table 15.2 must not be less than the values indicated at any point.

e. The adhesion and bending of the coated electrode must be tested, in accordance with the established standards.
NTC 2206 standard or equivalent.

The rod or tube type electrode must have a minimum length of 2.4 m.

g. The electrodes must meet the dimensions and values of Table 15.2, which are adapted from the
IEC 62305-3 standards, IEC 60364, BS 7430, AS 1768, UL 467, UNESA 6501F, NTC 4552, NTC 2206, NTC
2050, ASTM F 1136 and DIN ISO 10683.
15.3.1 Grounding Electrodes
 15.3.1 Grounding Electrodes

h. Marking: the rod type electrode must be identified with the company name or registered trademark of
manufacturer and its dimensions; this must be done within the first 30 cm measured from the top.

a. For the installation of the electrodes, the following requirements must be considered:

The manufacturer must inform the user if there is any specific procedure for its installation and
proper preservation.

The connection between the electrode and the ground conductor must be made with exothermic welding or with a
certified connector for direct burial.

Each electrode must be fully buried.

The connection point between the ground electrode conductor and the ground must be accessible and
The top of the buried electrode must be at least 15 cm from the surface.

This item does not apply to electrodes buried in the bases of transmission line structures or to the
horizontally installed.

The electrode can be installed vertically, at a 45° angle, or horizontally (at 75

cm in depth), as long as it ensures the fulfillment of its objective, in accordance with numeral 3 of the literal
c of section 250-83 of the NTC 2050.
 15.3.2 Grounding Electrode Conductor or Ground Conductor

It is the conductor that connects the electrode or ground mesh.

earth with the main grounding bar. For low
tension, it should be selected with Table 250-94 of the NTC
2050 or with the following equation of IEC 60364-5-54.

For the grounding electrode conductor or ground conductor, in addition to the

copper, other conductive materials or alloys of them can be used, as long as
its protection against corrosion during the lifespan of the grounding is guaranteed and
the resistance of the conductor does not compromise the effectiveness of the grounding.

The earthing conductor for medium voltage, high voltage and

extra high voltage, must be selected with the following
equation, which was adopted from the ANSI/IEEE 80 standard.
15.3.2 Grounding Electrode Conductor or Ground Conductor
 15.3.3 Protection or Grounding Conductor for Equipment
The protective conductor == equipment grounding conductor
must meet the following requirements:

The driver for BT

It must be selected with the Table
250-95 of the NTC 2050.

It must be selected in such a way that its temperature

The driver for MT, do not exceed the insulation of the conductors
A
TyEA
T assets hosted in the same pipeline, as
established in chapter 9 of the IEEE 242.

c. The grounding system conductors must be continuous, without switches or means of

disconnection and when they are joined, they must be mechanically and electrically secure through welding or
certified connectors for such use.

d. The equipment grounding conductor must accompany the active conductors throughout its
route and through the same channel.

e. The conductors of the grounding wiring that are required by the installation provision
isolate, they must be isolation color green, green with yellow stripes or identified with green markings in
the inspection points and ends.
 15.4 REFERENCE VALUES FOR GROUNDING RESISTANCE

A good grounding design must ensure the control of step voltages,

contact and transferred. Because the grounding resistance is an indicator that
directly limits the maximum potential elevation,

The fulfillment of these values does NOT EXONERATE the designer and builder from guaranteeing
that the step, contact, and transferred tensions applied to the human in the event of a
Ground failure, do not exceed the permitted maximums.
15.4REFERENCE VALUES FOR GROUNDING RESISTANCE

When there are high soil resistivity values, high currents of

earth fault prolonged clearing times of the same, it MUST:

a. Make areas inaccessible where it is anticipated that thresholds will be exceeded.

supportability for human beings.

b. Install floors or pavements with great insulation.

c. Isolate all devices that can be held by a person.

d. Establish equipotential connections in critical areas.

e. Isolate the ground electrode conductor at its entry into the

land.

f. Provide signage in critical areas where professionals may work

competent, as long as they have instructions on the type of risk and are equipped
from personal protective equipment with adequate isolation.
 15.5 MEASUREMENTS FOR GROUNDING SYSTEMS
15.5.1 Measurement of Apparent Resistivity
There are various techniques to measure the apparent resistivity of the ground. For the purposes of
This regulation allows the application of the Wenner tetraelectrode method, which is the most
used for electrical applications and shown in Figure 15.4. They can be used
other methods duly recognized and documented in the standards and practices of
engineering.
 15.5 MEASUREMENTS FOR GROUNDING SYSTEMS

15.5.2 Grounding Resistance Measurement

The grounding resistance must be measured before the commissioning of a

electrical system, as part of the maintenance routine or exceptionally as part of
the verification of a grounding system. For its measurement, the method can be applied.
Potential Drop, whose mounting arrangement is shown in Figure 15.5.

The value of ground resistance

what should be taken when applying this
method, is when the arrangement of
auxiliary tension electrode
find 61.8% of the distance from the
auxiliary current electrode, always
that the land be uniform.
Likewise, other ones can be used.
properly recognized methods and
documented in the standards and
engineering practices.

In transmission lines with a guard cable, the measurement must be made by decoupling the guard cable or
using a high-frequency tellurimeter (25 kHz).
15.5 MEASUREMENTS FOR GROUNDING SYSTEMS

For which type of installation is measurement performed?

step and contact tensions?
 15.5 MEASUREMENTS FOR GROUNDING SYSTEMS

15.5.3 Measurement of step and touch voltages

a. Measurements should preferably be taken at the periphery of the installation.
earth.

b. For substations, measurements must be taken up to one meter outside the enclosure and in the case of
towers or posts one meter from the structure.

c. It should be ensured that the injected current is 1% of the current for which it has been designed.
sized the installation and not less than 50 A.

d. Los electrodos de medida para simulación de los pies, deben tener cada uno una superficie de 200
cm2 and exert a force of 250 N on the ground.

e. The calculations to determine the possible maximum stresses will be made assuming that there is
proportionality.

f. Other measurement methods are accepted as long as they are supported by technical standards.
international, regional, of international recognition or NTC; in such cases, whoever uses
This method will provide a written record of the method used and the standard applied.
 15.5 MEASUREMENTS FOR GROUNDING SYSTEMS

15.5.3 Measurement of step and touch voltages

Medium voltage substations MUST measure the step and touch voltages at the edge of the
enclosure mesh, if the fault currents are greater than 10 kA or if the resistance measurement of
grounding results or more times the value considered in the design.

Figures extracted from the memories of the PT Seminar, ACIEM 2008 Gustavo García
 15.6 MAINTENANCE OF GROUNDING SYSTEMS

The components of the grounding system tend to lose their effectiveness after a few years due to
corrosion, electrical failures, mechanical damage and lightning strikes. The inspection and maintenance work
they must ensure a continuous update of the SPT for compliance with the RETIE. If an inspection shows
repairs are required, these must be carried out without delay and not postponed until the next cycle of
maintenance.

The inspection must be carried out by a specialist in the field, who must provide records of the observations made.
inspection includes the verification of technical documentation, visual reports, tests, and records. All SPT
it must be inspected according to Table 15.5.
15.6 MAINTENANCE OF GROUNDING SYSTEMS

15.6.1 TESTING

TESTS THAT MUST BE CARRIED OUT

Carry out equipotentiality tests.

Measure ground resistance. The results must

to be recorded in the inspection reports.

Measure stray currents or common mode.

15.6 MAINTENANCE OF GROUNDING SYSTEMS

15.6.2 RECORDS: The inspection of the SPTDEBEdocument and provide evidence

through records, at least the following information:

a. General conditions of the system drivers.

b. Level of corrosion.

c. State of the unions of the conductors and components.

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e. Deviations from the requirements regarding the RETIE.

f. Document all changes since the last inspection.

g. Results of the tests performed.

h. Photographic record

i. Redesign or proposal for improvements of the SPT if required

15.7 TEMPORARY GROUNDING