USAID
a) Power stations (generating station) 0.5 ohms
b) EHT Sub-station 1.0 ohms
c) 33 KV Stations 2.0 ohms
d) D/t Structure 5.0 ohms
e) Tower Foot resistance 10.0 ohms
IEEE STANDARD 142
Chapter: 4.1.3 , page 164
For industrial plant substations and buildings and large commercial 1Ω to 5 Ω
installations.
Resistances of less than 1 ohm may be obtained using a number of individual electrodes
connected together. Such a low resistance is only required for large substations,
transmission lines, or generating stations.
National Electric code (NEC) 2011, (IS SP30 Chapter 14 -India)
Chapter: 3.0.9
unless otherwise specified ,It is recommended that the value of any
5Ω
earth system resistance shall not be more than
IS 3043 (India)
Chapter: 22.2.3
The continuity resistance of the earth return path through the earth
grid should be maintained as low as possible and in no case greater 1Ω
than
This applicable for main earth grid connected with the transformer/return path
Oil Industry Safety Directorate Government of India (OISD
STANDARD – 137)
Chapter: (7. ii. b) Allowable earth-Resistance Values
Allowable earth-Resistance Values The resistance value of an earthing system to general
mass of the earth should not exceed.
For electrical systems and metallic structures. 4Ω
For storage tanks. 7Ω
for main earth grid, and bonding connections between joints in
1Ω
pipelines and associated facilities.
for each electrode to the general mass of the earth 2Ω
IS 2309 (india) / BS 7430:1998
Clause:12.3.1 Page 32,Resistance to Earth
Lightning arrestors ground resistance for Protection of buildings and
10Ω
allied structures is
An earth electrode should be connected to each down conductor. Each of these earths
should have a resistance not exceeding the product given by 10 a multiplied by the
number of earth electrodes to be provided.
The whole of the lightning protective system, including any ring earth, should have a
combined resistance to earth not exceeding 10 Ω without taking account of any bonding.
If the value obtained for the whole of the lightning protective systems exceeds 10 Ω, a
reduction can be achieved by extending or adding to the electrodes or by interconnecting
the individual earth terminations of the down conductors by a conductor installed below
ground, sometimes referred to as a ring conductor
IS 2689:1989
Table 4 page 28 (Reaffirmed March 2010)
Lightning arrestors ground resistance for Protection of buildings and 10Ω
allied structures is
NEC 250.56
Clause: 250.53 Grounding Electrode System Installation.
The maximum resistance for a single electrode consisting of a rod, 25Ω
pipe, or plate.
If a higher resistance is obtained for a single electrode, a second electrode of any of the
types specified in the NEC is required.
This should not be interpreted to mean that 25 ohm is a satisfactory resistance value for a
grounding system.
IEEE Std 80-2000 (Revision of IEEE Std 80-1986)
the evaluation of ground resistance for the most transmission and
1Ω or less
other large substations, the ground resistance is usually about
In smaller distribution substations, the usually acceptable range is 1Ωto 5Ω
. NFC 17-102, July 1995
that the resistance value measured using conventional equipment
1Ω or less
should be
This resistance should be measured on the earthing termination insulated from any other
conductive component.
IEC 62305-1
edition 2.0 – 2010-12
the conventional earthing impedance related to the earth termination
system is (*for the soil resistivity less than or equal to 100 Ω) 4Ω
Ministry of Railways- Government of India
The acceptable Earth Resistance at earth MEEB bus bar shall not be
1Ω
more than
For achieving this value more than one earth pits can be installed if necessary depending
upon the soil resistivity. In places where space is not available to provide parallel earth
pits then longer earth rods may be provided.
The longer earth rods thus provided should be in multiples of three meters.
The combined resistance of the earthing system shall be not more than the following
values
Traction substation 0.5Ω
Switching station 2Ω
Booster transformer station 10Ω
Auxiliary transformer station 10Ω
Maximum values of earth resistances specified for earthing of Signalling and
Telecommunication equipments are as under
Telegraph and Block Instrument using earth return circuit 10 Ω
Earths for surge arrestors/ lightening dischargers 10Ω
Earthing of Signalling equipment 10Ω
Earthing of signalling cable screen in AC electrified areas 10Ω
Earthing of Telephone Exchange 5Ω
Earthing of aluminum sheathed telecom cable in AC electrified area 1Ω
Earthing of equipment in VF repeater stations and cable huts. 5Ω
Axle counter cable screened in AC electrified area 1Ω
Electronic Interlocking installation 1Ω
Integrated Power Supply System & its individual modules 2Ω
Digital Axle Counter EJB and its apparatus case connected to same
1Ω
earth All cable armours connected to same earth.
Reset box of Digital Axle Counter connected to earth (indoor) near
1Ω
SM’s Room.
Railway Vikas Nigam Limited
RVNL/Elect/GS/11
The earth continuity test of metallic envelopes shall be done for
electrical continuity. Electrical resistance of the same, along with the
earthing lead, excluding any added resistance of earth leakage circuit
1Ω
breaker, measured from the connection with the earth electrode to
any point in the earth conductor in the completed installation, shall not
exceed
No earth electrode shall have resistance greater than 5Ω
In rocky soil, the resistance may be up to 8Ω
Locations having more than one electrode shall be connected in parallel to reduce the
resistance.
MANUAL OF STANDARDS & SPECIFICATIONS FOR RAILWAY
ELECTRIFICATION
RDSO/SPN/197/2008
Equipments with solid state components which are more susceptible
to damage due to surges, transients and over voltages being
encountered in the system due to lightning, sub-station switching
1Ω
such as Electronic Interlocking, Integrated Power supply equipment,
Digital Axle counter, Data logger etc. shall Value of earth resistance
shall not be more than
For conventional signaling equipments the earth resistance shall not 10Ω
be more than
DHASHIN HARYANA BIJALI VITRAN NIGAM (DHBVN)
Specification no CSC-140 / DH/UH/P&D
Hose hold Earthing (3KA) <8Ω
Commercial / Industrial Buildings (5KA) <2Ω
Transformer / LT Line Earthing (15KA) 1Ω to 2Ω
Transformer / Substation /HT Line ,HT Switchgear (40KA) <1Ω
Lighting Arrester /Extra High Current appliances (50KA) <1Ω
UPS / Data center / ATM <0.5 Ω
*Earthing may be Single or Multiple Electrode.
Earthing Value
Earthing Condition Earthing Value
Best 0.1Ω to 2Ω
Good 2.1Ω to 5Ω
Need to be Maintenance 5.1Ω to 10Ω
Need to be Replacement >10Ω
