Metro Rail Project ,Bullet Train Project Electrical ,Traction Power,BMS, Signal and Telecom,Station Building Upper and Under Ground ,EPC Companies,Electrical Contractor,Consultants
14. Copper Bonded Rod Life
Driven Rod
Advanced Driven
Rod
Grounding Plate
Concrete
Encased
Electrode
Building
Foundation
Water Pipe
Electrolytic
Electrode
Resistance-to-
Ground (RTG)
Poor Average Poor Average Above Average
Poor to
Excellent**
Excellent
Corrosion
Resistance
Poor Good Poor Good * Good * Varies High
Increase in RTG
in Cold Weather
Highly Affected Slightly Affected Highly Affected Slightly Affected Slightly Affected
Minimally
Affected
Minimally
Affected
Increase in RTG
over Time
RTG Worsens
RTG typically
unaffected
RTG Increases
RTG typically
unaffected
RTG typically
unaffected
RTG typically
unaffected
RTG Improves
Electrode
Ampacity
Poor Average Average Average * Above Average *
Poor to
Excellent**
Excellent
Installation Cost Average Excellent Below Average Below Average Average Average Poor
Life Expectancy Poor5–10 years
Average15–20
years
Poor5-10 years
Average *15-20
years
Above Average
*20-30 years
Below
Average*10-15
years
Excellent30-50
years
16. Driven rods are relatively inexpensive to purchase, however ease of installation is dependent upon the
type of soil and terrain where the rod is to be installed. The steel used in the manufacture of a standard
driven rod tends to be relatively soft. Mushrooming can occur on both the tip of the rod, as it encounters
rocks on its way down, and the end where force is being applied to drive the rod through the earth.
Driving these rods can be extremely labor-intensive when rocky terrain creates problems as the tips of the
rods continue to mushroom. Often, these rods will hit a rock and actually turn back around on themselves
and pop back up a few feet away from the installation point.
Because driven rods range in length from 8 to 10 feet, a ladder is often required to reach the top of the
rod, hi h a e o e a safet issue. Ma falls ha e resulted fro perso el tr i g to literall ha k
these rods into the earth, while hanging from a ladder, many feet in the air.
The National Electric Code (NEC) requires that driven rods be a minimum of 8 feet in length and that 8 feet
of length must be in direct contact with the soil. Typically, a shovel is used to dig down into the ground 18
inches before a driven rod is installed. The most common rods used by commercial and industrial
contractors are 10 ft in length. Many industrial specifications require this length as a minimum.
A common misconception is that the copper coating on a standard driven rod has been applied for
electrical reasons. While copper is certainly a conductive material, its real purpose on the rod is to provide
corrosion protection for the steel underneath. Many corrosion problems can occur because copper is not
always the best choice in corrosion protection. It should be noted that galvanized driven rods have been
developed to address the corrosion concerns that copper presents, and in many cases are a better choice
for prolonging the life of the grounding rod and grounding systems. Generally speaking, galvanized rods
are a better choice in all but high salt environments.
An additional drawback of the copper-clad driven rod is that copper and steel are two dissimilar metals.
When an electrical current is imposed, electrolysis will occur. Additionally, the act of driving the rod into
the soil can damage the copper cladding, allowing corrosive elements in the soil to attack the bared steel
and further decrease the life expectancy of the rod. Environment, aging, temperature and moisture also
easily affect driven rods, giving them a typical life expectancy of five to 15 years in good soil conditions.
Driven rods also have a very small surface area, which is not always conducive to good contact with the
soil. This is especially true in rocky soils, in which the rod will only make contact on the edges of the
25. Lightning Strikes Lost of Lives and Assests we have to protect
Advance Lightning Protection (ESE Type) NC17-102
A strike can average 100 million volts of
electricity
Current of up to 100,000 amperes
Can generate 54,000 oF
Lightning strikes somewhere on the Earth
every second
Kills Many Lives
31. BT has confirmed that ESE National Standards would remain valid and thus BT recognized
there ould e o e ide e of o fli t et ee NF C ‐ a d IEC EN ‐ sta dards a d
consequently there is no reason, technical or otherwise, for the withdrawal of the respective
national standard.BT has requested that this standard be modified in order to cancel all
refere e to the IEC EN ‐ series, allowing the NF C ‐ sta dard to e ist, ith the
proposal of possible future migration to international level (lEC). Accordingly, it was established
that European ESE standards (France, Spain, Portugal, Slovaquia, etc.) will not
conflict with other European standards and will remain valid.
• GIMELEC would draw your attention to the fact that
the ter s of refere e of NF C ‐ a d
• other standards, addressing alternative terminals (NF
C ‐ , PR EN ‐ ‐ ) ere fro the
• outset, er differe t. It is a fa t that NF C ‐ ,
whilst referring to ESE Technology also
• comments on other standards for lightning protection
systems, particularly incorporating
• faraday cage, franklin rod and catenary wire systems.
the 'camouflaging' of NF C ‐102 by IEC EN
• ‐ and its proponents, that FRENCH STANDARD
NF C ‐ is still in full force.