C&G 2395-01

Level 3 Award in the

Periodic Inspection, Testing and
Certification of Electrical Installations

Earth Fault Loop Impedance Tests

1
 Revision
Inspections are made to verify that the installed electrical equipment is in
compliance with Standards, and in accordance with the regulations
Prior to the testing, you must check the instrument is fit for purpose.
There are two methods for testing the continuity of protective
conductors.
It is unacceptable to simply record a result, it needs to be reasonable.
The insulation resistance test is used to verify that the insulation of
conductors, accessories and equipment is acceptable (has a high
resistance).
Site applied Insulation test is quite rare and is only carried out when
insulation has been applied on site.
A polarity test is carried out to determine that the line conductor only is
switched, to ensure the correct operation of accessories, and to ensure that
in Edison Screw lamps, the centre-contact is connected to the line
conductor.
 Outcomes of this Session

describe the earth fault loop impedance paths for TN-S, TN-C-S and TT
systems

describe the methods of carrying out earth fault loop impedance tests in
terms of the tests used for measuring actual earth fault loop impedance
and methods of calculation of earth fault loop impedance from given data
and measurement of conductor impedance

explain how the results should be compared with relevant data such as
Table 41.2, 41.3 and 41.4 of BS 7671.
 Earth Fault Loop Impedance

Regulation 612.8.1 requires that the effectiveness of the measures for

fault protection by automatic disconnection of supply is verified for TN-
S, TN-C-S and TT systems.

This verification can be determined by measuring or calculating the

earth fault loop impedance of the circuits within an installation.
Typical TN-S Supply
Earth (Terre) and Neutral Separate

This is the newer type of TN-S system.

This is a more traditional

arrangement and is found in
many older installations.
Equivalent Earth Fault Loop for a TN-S Supply

A TN-S system usually has

an external earth loop
impedance of around 0.8 .
quoted by the distributor for
both single and three phase
supplies.

The external earth loop depends on many factors such as length and cross-sectional
area of the cable.
The external fault loop is labelled Ze and the internal earth fault loop path is labelled
(R1+R2).
When combined give the overall impedance of the fault current path. ZS= Ze + (R1+R2)
 Typical TN-C-S Supply
Earth (Terre) and Neutral Combined through part of the System

This system has a combined neutral and

earth in the supply cable, but at the
consumers installation they separate, and
are separated throughout the rest of the
installation.

Examples of this type of supply

arrangement are PME (Protective Multiple
Earthing) or PNB (Protective Neutral
Bonding)
Equivalent Earth Fault Loop for a TN-C-S supply

A typical value of a external loop impedance would be a maximum of 0.35

for single-phase supplies. For three-phase supplies the figures vary.
 TT Supply
Earth to Earth (Terre - Terre)

This system has no earth provided by

the distributor, just the normal current
carrying conductors.
The consumer must supply their own
earth via an earth electrode and RCD
installed to 411.5.3.
A typical figure for the external earth
fault loop would be 21 at the
distributors transformer. This value
covers the resistance of the neutral to
earth, the impedance of the transformer
winding and the line conductor.
 TT Supply
TT systems are most commonly found on farms and villages and are fed from an
overhead supply system. They can also be found on petrol station forecourts.

The loop on the distributors side passes via the general mass of earth.
 Testing Earth Fault Loop Impedance

The most common form of testing for the earth fault loop impedance is
using a earth fault loop impedance tester.
You can also determine the earth fault loop impedance by calculation
The earth fault loop test makes sure that the protective devices operate
within the required time. (anything from 0.05 s to 5 s depending on where
and what you are testing)
There are a number of ways in which the earth fault loop impedance can be
determined.
Direct measurement using an earth fault loop impedance tester
Measurement of (R1+R2) and adding to a known value of Ze

Zs=Ze+(R1+R2)
Test Points for Earth Fault Loop Impedance Testing

When testing sockets, all socket-outlets

should be tested, and the worse case result
recorded (the highest Zs value).
When testing lighting circuits, the end point
(furthest point) of the circuit should be
tested. Again, all lights on the circuit should
be tested, and the worse case result (the
highest Zs value) recorded.
Earth Fault Loop Impedance Testing is a
live test and the requirements of EAWR
Be aware of the increased
Regulation14 apply.
risk to others
Two-lead Instrument at a D.B

Testing at the end point gives you the

total loop impedance of that circuit. This
is labelled Zs.
You will also need to test at the intake
position and at each subsequent
distribution board.

This is the Earth Loop Test with a two

lead instrument such as a Megger.
One lead is connected to the
incoming feed with the other
connected to the Main Earthing
Terminal (MET)

Earthing and main protective

bonding conductors should be
disconnected for the test!
Three-lead Instrument at a D.B

Instrument set for ZS

This is the Earth Loop Test with three

leads such as a Robin/Fluke. One
lead is connected to the neutral or
neutral block, one to the line, and the
other connected to the MET.

Earthing and main protective bonding conductors should be

disconnected for the test!
Guidance Note 3 does not permit testing at the
terminals of a motor.
You must test on the supply side of the motor.
Motor circuits
Zs R1 + R2

The total earth-fault-loop impedance will be a combination

of the impedance readings and those from the continuity
test (R1 + R2).
Testing for Zs at the end of the circuit

You should also;

Make sure that you are taking the power for the meter from the circuit that you
are testing.
Remove the main equipotential bonding conductors.
 Checking the Values
Once measured, the earth-fault-loop impedance should be checked;
For TN systems there are a number of options:

For standard thermoplastic circuits, the values in Appendix B of the

On-Site Guide and Guidance Notes 3 can be used.
The designers own calculated figures.
Table 41.2, 41.3 and 41.4 of BS 7671, after being corrected for
temperature. (20oC 70oC) 1.2!!!!!
Using the `rule of thumb method. (80% of max.values BS7671)

Remember: Read the exam paper question carefully and use the
method requested as per the given scenario!!!
 Rule of Thumb
The IET Guidance Note 3 provides a rule of thumb to operate if you dont want
to work through all the factors. This is now agreed to be 80%. This reduction is
an allowance for the fact that a measured Zs value is measured at an ambient
conductor temperature of 20oC. However, when under full load, the conductor
temperature may rise to a maximum operating temperature of 70oC, raising the
final actual Zs value.

This is done by:

Determining the new corrected maximum tabulated value and comparing

with the measured value.

The new corrected maximum tabulated value must be greater than the
measured value (measured @ 20oC) in order to satisfy ADS!
 Earth Loop (Zs) Test problems!

An Earth Loop Impedance test instrument may cause an RCD, RCBO,

or a 6 A Type B circuit breaker to trip when a circuit is under test.
For an RCD, there are a number of solutions to this problem:

Use a meter that has No-trip setting or effective D-Lok function

Replace the RCD for the duration of the test (not a preferred option) with a
circuit-breaker

Measure the external impedance (Ze) and add this value to the measured
value of (R1 + R2)

You must not short-out the RCD!!

Similar solutions can be put in place to reduce the

tripping of a 6 A BS EN 60898 type B circuit-breaker.
 Earth Loop Impedance (Zs)
An actual measured value of Zs would generally be
lower than the calculated value due to the following
factors:

The presence of parallel paths due to the

connection of protective bonding conductors
Parallel paths through the steel
conduit/trunking containment system
The effect of the steel wire armour being in
parallel with a conductor used as a cpc.

End of chapter 6