The terms earthing and bonding are often misunderstood and used interchangeably, as they both describe two distinct ways of preventing electric shock. In fact, some electricians, unaware of the difference between earthing and bonding, talk openly about ‘earth bonding’, a phrase that is as confusing and it is meaningless.
At PTT, we offer a one-day training course for electricians and to help them to understand the fundamental importance of earthing and bonding in electrical installations, and the best way to coordinate them to achieve optimal safety and functionality.
Same Aim, Different Approach: The Difference Between Earthing and Bonding
In simple terms, the aim of earthing and bonding is to reduce the risk of shock. Despite robust electrical safety legislation, severe injuries and deaths still occur each year a result of electrocution, so earthing and bonding are both compulsory requirements of all electrical installations and a crucial element of the requirements of BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations).
Electrical Earthing Definition
Earthing is used to ensure that electrical equipment is as safe as possible so that, in the event of a failure, there would be no residual voltage in the equipment that could pose a risk to users or engineers. Earthing allows equipment to be operated, maintained, or serviced, without danger of an electric shock.
Earthing is achieved by connecting accessible conductive parts of electrical appliances to earth. This allows for the immediate discharge of electrical energy directly to the earth, via a low-resistance path (the electrical earthing).
Electrical Bonding Definition
Bonding is the process of connecting all accessible extraneous metallic conductive parts such as water pipes or even structural steel members of the building to the earth terminal of the electrical installation. This ensures that, during a fault, there will be no difference in voltage between exposed conductive parts of the electrical system like the metal casing of a washing machine and, conductive extraneous parts that are not actually part of the electrical system.
Bonding conductors must be sized appropriately to ensure they can carry the maximum current that may occur during an electrical fault.
Contact PTT To Find Out More About Our Earthing & Bonding Training
At PTT, our Earthing & Bonding training course is designed to give electricians, technicians and engineers the knowledge they require to install and operate electrical equipment in accordance with relevant regulations such as for example, the Electricity at Work Regulations and BS7671 The Wiring Regulations.
To find out more, or to register for our Earthing & Bonding course, please get in touch.
