LONG DURATION GROUND ELECTRODE PERFORMANCE PROGRAM

W. K. Switzer, C. R. Stidham
ERICO, Inc
United States of America

Abstract The program was initiated in 1992 by a small group of

Requirements for today’s modern facilities dictate an electrical inspectors, members of the International
elevated stringency in electrical grounding. This has led Association of Electrical Inspectors, in Clark County,
to the implementation of a long duration testing Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The test program was
program focused on the evaluation of commonly used originally planned to last five to ten years. Four years
and commercially available ground electrodes. The into the program, the local inspector group could no
program, conducted in two phases, will provide longer sponsor the program and enlisted The National
performance data over a period of at least ten years for a Fire Protection Research Foundation (NFPRF) to
variety of soil and climatic conditions. Test results from manage the program. The NFPRF then invited
Phase 1 of the program, completed at the end of 1997, interested companies and organizations to join and fund
are presented. Results include 19 different types of the project as a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
electrodes at five sites. The program for Phase 2 is to the project, now called the National Electrical
discussed. Grounding Research Project (NEGRP). With this new
organization, the test program has continued at the
Introduction Nevada sites (Phase 1) and is expanding to include
A test program is being conducted in North America to several new sites (Phase 2) being installed across North
evaluate the long-term performance of numerous types America. The authors are members of the TAC.
of ground electrodes in a variety of soil conditions. The
need for long term performance data of commercially Approach
available ground electrodes is essential to engineers and The electrodes tested in the program fall into three basic
designers of electrical ground systems to enable them to categories. The first are NEC [1] required electrodes,
provide designs that will be reliable and effective for the the second are proprietary electrodes, and the third
long life of the installation. The need for an effective contain electrodes not required by the NEC nor are
ground has been recognized for decades by power proprietary in nature. Table 1 describes the electrodes
utilities, but the emergence of electronics has resulted in used in both Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 2 of the
the increase in the requirements for power and lightning program has some electrodes that were not included in
ground systems for equipment used in wireless Phase 1, and a number of electrodes evaluated in Phase
telecommunications, data processing and other 1 of the program were not included in Phase 2. Test
commercial installations. Modern electronic devices are sites have been selected to provide a variety of different
highly susceptible to the effects of electronic soil and climatic conditions. Phase 1 of the program
disturbances transmitted over power and data lines. The includes five test sites in the Las Vegas valley area of
performance of the devices used to protect electronic Nevada. Phase 2 of the program includes continued
equipment, particularly transient voltage surge testing at four of the five Phase 1 sites and an additional
protection devices, are highly dependent on the five sites across the United States. The nature of the soil
existence of an effective low impedance ground system. at each site is evaluated prior to inclusion into the test
program.
The objective of the test program is to evaluate the
performance and physical integrity over time of the Phase 1 of the test program included from 17 to 19
electrodes, as determined by resistance measurements, different grounding electrodes installed in similar
under varying soil conditions including geological, schemes at five different sites in Nevada. Samples R and
moisture content and temperature. The type of S were only installed at one and two of the five sites
connection used to attach the ground conductor (test respectively. Two samples for each electrode under test
lead) to the ground electrode is also under evaluation. were installed at each site. The electrodes tested in
Phase 1 had two test leads attached, one with a
mechanical bolted connector and one with an electrode resistance, but rather a system performance
exothermically welded connection. The test leads used requirement.
are 13.3mm2 (#6 AWG) THW insulated copper wire.
The leads from each electrode are routed through Table 3 and Table 4 list the results of the ground
conduit to a centralized pull box where they are attached resistance measurements for all the Phase 1 electrodes.
to individual terminals to facilitate ground impedance Presented are the average resistance values based on the
readings. At no other location is an individual electrode monthly values sampled over the duration of the five
bonded to another electrode. Figure 1 shows a typical year program. In addition, the highest and lowest
Phase 1 site layout. The distance maintained between resistance values measured are also presented.
adjacent electrodes was 1.5m. In Phase 2 of the
program, a third test lead was added, attached with a Electrode resistance readings through December 1997
compression connection. Figure 2 shows a typical Phase for Phase 1 indicate that some electrodes were not
2 site layout. The minimum separation distance of capable of meeting the 25 ohm resistance criteria. As a
electrodes in Phase 2 is 3m. result, a number of these electrodes will not be included
in the Phase 2 installations. Future readings will
Apparent soil resistivity measurements are made using indicate if a trend toward resistance increase is taking
the equally spaced Four-Point Method [2]. The Three place for some or all of the electrodes. Of all the
Point Fall of Potential Method [2] is used to measure the electrodes tested in Phase 1, only one electrode, E did
ground impedance of each electrode tested. The not have at least one resistance reading over 25 ohms at
apparent soil resistivity and ground impedance are any of the five sites over the test period. In addition, the
measured on a monthly basis at each site. Permanent E electrode exhibited the most stable resistance values
test probes are installed to facilitate these of all the electrodes tested for all five sites, based on the
measurements. The probes for the ground impedance deviation between minimum and maximum resistance
measurements are installed at a fixed distance from the values. The greatest deviation in the resistance of the E
pull box. At each site, the current probe is installed at a electrode occurred at the Balboa site, where the
distance of 30.5m and the potential probe is installed at resistance measurements ranged between 12.2 and 23.0
18.9m. The probes for the resistivity measurements are ohms (Table 4).
installed at equal distances of 3m. A number of different
earth test instruments have been donated and used The three most effective electrodes for grounding in
during the program. Each instrument is factory high resistivty soil, based on average resistance values
calibrated and readings are periodically duplicated with measured at the Balboa site were the E, L, and R
other instruments to verify the accuracy of the readings electrodes. All three electrodes are proprietary. All three
[3]. The instruments utilize a test frequency below 160 electrodes were installed in 229mm (9in) diameter
Hz. augured holes. The E electrode is a 2.4m (8ft) long
copper-bonded ground rod encased in ground
Additional data will be taken for Phase 2 of the enhancement material manufactured by Erico Inc. with
program. It will include temperature and moisture at the trade name GEM. Electrodes L and R are
several depths within the soil. Side studies have also categorically considered electrolytic (chemical type)
been added to Phase 2 that include corrosion evaluation electrodes, in that they leach salts into the surrounding
of discrete ground electrodes. soil to lower the resistivity of the adjacent soil. The L
electrode is a vertical 3.0m (10ft) long chemical type
Results and Discussion electrode manufactured by Lyncole XIT Grounding with
The Phase 1 sites varied in soil type and moisture the trade name of XIT. The R electrode is a vertical
content. Table 2 lists the installation date, soil 2.4m (8ft) long chemical type electrode manufactured
description, and the high, low, and average soil by LEC Inc. with the trade name of Chem-Rod.
resistivities through 1997.
Figure 3 shows the resistance readings over the test
The (USA) National Electrical Code [1] requires a period for the two most effective electrodes E and L,
single electrode to be 25 ohms or less or a second installed at all five test sites. The E electrode is the 2.4m
electrode must supplement it. Therefore, 25 ohms was long copper-bonded ground rod encased in GEM
considered a pass/fail indicator. Other codes and guides (ground enhancement material). ERICO GEM, is a very
NESC [4] and IEEE [5] do not give a maximum low resistivity material (0.12 ohm-meter or less) that is
either installed dry (and allowed to absorb moisture
from the surrounding earth) or premixed in slurry
(similar to concrete). It is then poured into an augured
hole of given diameter with a standard copper-bonded
ground rod centered in the hole. The GEM sets up References
permanent like concrete and does not leach any [1] NFPA 70, “National Electrical Code,” National Fire
compounds into the surrounding soil. The L electrode Protection Association, Article 250, pp120-156, 1996.
consists of a 54mm diameter, thin wall copper tube,
filled with salts, capped at both ends and with holes at [2] ANSI/IEEE Std 81-1983, “IEEE Guide for
the top and the bottom of the electrode. The electrode is Measuring Earth Resistivity, Ground Impedance, and
installed in an augured hole and back-filled with a Earth Surface Potentials of a Ground System,” Institute
bentonite clay type product to just below the top holes. of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, pp12-24, 1983.
A protective cap is placed over the top of the electrode.
The manufacturer claims that the salts absorb moisture [3] Brown D., “National Electrical Grounding Research
from the air and changes in the atmospheric pressure Project, Phase 1, Interim Project Report,” National Fire
cause a pumping action forcing the salt laden moisture Protection Research Foundation, 1997.
out of the bottom holes and into the earth. [4] ANSI/IEEE C2-1997, “National Electrical Safety
Code,” Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers,
The three least effective electrodes, based on 1997.
performance at the highest resistivity site (Balboa), are
G, K, and Q. Figure 4 shows the graph of the resistance [5] ANSI/IEEE Std 80-1986, “IEEE Guide for Safety in
values of these three electrodes at both the highest AC Substation Grounding,” Institute of Electrical and
resistivity site, Balboa, which had the highest average Electronic Engineers, 1986.
resistivity of 93.6 ohm-m, and Pawnee, which had the
lowest average resistivity of 15.0 ohm-m. Address of Authors
W. Keith Switzer, ERICO, Inc., 34600 Solon Road,
The first Phase 2 test site was installed in Staunton, Solon, Ohio, 44139, USA
Virginia, during the summer of 1997. There are three
additional sites scheduled for installation during 1998, Curtis R. Stidham, ERICO, Inc., 34600 Solon Road,
they are located in Nothbrook, Illinois, Dallas, Texas, Solon, Ohio, 44139, USA
and Poughkeepsie, New York.

Conclusion
Several electrodes commonly used and even specified as
acceptable electrodes by several code bodies have
proven to be ineffective at meeting the 25 ohm
requirement and are acceptable only in the lowest
resistivity soils. In very high resistivity soil, only the
proprietary electrodes, vertical chemical type (L, S) and
the vertical ground rod encased in GEM (E), provide an
excellent alternative to large number and/or deep driven
ground rods when system resistance below 25 ohms is
required. The E electrode demonstrated the most stable
resistance values of all the electrodes tested in the five
test sites from Phase 1 of the program.

Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the efforts of the
TAC committee members and the sponsoring
organizations for their time and monetary support of
this program. Specifically, the authors would like to
commend the efforts of Travis Lindsey and Doug Brown
for their dedication and guidance provided in the
implementation of this program.
Fig. 1. Typical site layout for Phase 1 installations.

Fig. 2 Typical site layout for Phase 2 installations.

 RESISTANCE - OHMS RESISTANCE - OHMS
RESISTANCE - OHMS RESISTANCE - OHMS
12
/5
/9

0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2
8/ 8/
6/ 22

50
22 17

0
100
150
200
250
300
350
2/ /9
23 /9 10 2

0
2

10
20
30
40
50
60
/9

100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000

0
/9
2 3 9/ /1
12 9/ 0/
6/ 92 92
/2 5/
93
12 1/
23
/9 /2 /9
2 9/ /9 3
4/ 28 2/ 2 4/
/9 23 30
30 3 /9 /9
12 7/ 3 7/ 3
/9 /2 31 31
9/ 3 9/
93 /9 /9
28 4/ 11 3 11 3
18 /1 /1
/9 /9 /9 /9
3 4 2/ 3 3
2/ 8/ 28 2/
28 28
/9 /9
/9 4
28
/9 4 6/ 6/ 4
12 25 23
4 /2 /9 /9
8/ 7/ 10 4 10 4
94 /2
28 3/ /2
4/ 94 3/
/9 15 2/ 94
4 /9 19 2/
2/ 5 /9 19
8/ 5 /9
6/ 5
19 31
/9 /9
10 6/
5 10 /9
5
10
8/ 5 12
/2 /2 10
/9
5
31 1/ 0/ /2
95 95 0/
/9 1/ 95
2/ 27 1/
1/ 5 24
/9
/9 27
27 6 3/ 6
30
/9
6
4/ /9 3/
/9 27 30
/9 5/ 6 /9
4/ 6 6 25 5/ 6
6/ /9 25
27 29 6/ 6 /9
/9 29 6
/9 6 /9 7/
6 8/ 27

BALBOA
7/ 10 8/ 6 /9

93.6 OHM-M AVG.

/9 10 6
6 9/
27
/9 10 10 /96 28
/3 /3 /9

NEGRP - PECOS SITE

10 6 1/ 1 11 6
96 /2
NEGRP - BALBOA SITE

/3 12 /96
12 /2 5/
/2 9/ 96
9
1/ 9/ 1/

18.7 OHM-M AVERAGE SOIL RESISTIVITY

96 2/ 6 22
22 /9
93.6 OHM-M AVERAGE SOIL RESISTIVITY

7
1/ 96 2/
22 22 /9 3/
/9 4/ 7 22
/ 7

22.1 OHM-M AVERAGE SOIL RESISTIVITY

NEGRP - LONE MOUNTAIN SITE
27 /9
4/ /9 5/ 7
4/ 97 27 6/ 7 31
/9
27 7 28 /9
/9 7
/ 6/
28 8/ 7
31
7/
27
/9 / /9
7/ 97 7 10 97 7
8/ 9/
/3
27 31 28
/9 0/ /9
10 /97 7 12 97 11 7
10 /1 /3
/3 /3 3/ 0/
0/ 97 97
0/ 97
12
/1
97
3/
97

L
E
L
E

L
E

K
Q
G
RESISTANCE - OHMS RESISTANCE, OHMS
RESISTANCE - OHMS RESISTANCE - OHMS
5/ 1/
5/ 9/ 23 8/

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
92 /9
10
20
30
40
50
60

9/ 22
3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35

/9

100

0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2
92 8/ 10
1/ 4/
9/ 92 30 /1
10 /9 0/
9/ /1 92
9 0/ 3 1/
1/ 2 92 7/ 23
1/ 31 /9
23 23 /9 3
/9 /9 3 4/
3 3 30
4/ /9

the same electrodes at the Pawnee site which has the lowest resistivity.
30 11 3
6/ /9 /1 7/
5/ 3 /9 31
9 7/ 3 /9
31 2/ 11 3
11 3 /9
/1 3 28 /1
11 /9 /9
/9 /1 4 3
/9 2/
4/ 3 3 6/ 28
2/ 23 /9
4
18 28
/ /9 /9 6/
10 94 4 4 23
6/ 10 /9
/2 23 /2 10 4
/9
3/
9 10 4 3/
94 /2
3/
4/ 4 /2 94
3/ 2/ 2/
15 94 19 19
/ 2/
21 /9
5
/9
5
10 95 /9 6/
/2 6/ 5 6/ 10
10 /9
0/ 10 10 5
9 /9
5
/9
5 /2
10 10 0/
2/ 5 /2 /2 95
24 0/ 1/
/9 95 0/ 27
1/ 95 /9
5/ 6 27 6
/9 1/ 3/
25
3/ 6 27 30
/9 /9 /9
30 6

PAWNEE
/9 6 5/
8/ 6
5/ 6 3/ 25
10 /9

15.0 OHM-M AVG.

/ 25 30
/9 6
/9 7/
11 96 6 6 27
7/ /9
SITE DESTROYED JULY 1997

/2 27 5/ 6
5/ /9 25 9/
9 6 /9 28
/9
NOT USING 3/97 READING

2/ 6 9/
28 6 6
11
NEGRP - PAWNEE SITE

/9 7/
6 /2
NEGRP - BALBOA SITE

22
20.8 OHM-M AVERAGE SOIL RESISTIVITY

/9 11 25 5/
/2 /9 96
6
NEGRP - EAST CHARLESTON SITE

5/ 1/
5/ 7 96 22
15.0 OHM-M AVERAGE SOIL RESISTIVITY

31 1/ 9/ /9
93.6 OHM-M AVERAGE SOIL RESISTIVITY

/9 22 28
/9 7
/9 3/
8/ 7 3/ 7 6 22
11 /9
31 22
/9 /2 5/ 7
/ 7 5/ 31
11 97 5/ 96 /9
/3 31 7
/9 7/
0/ 7/ 7 1/
22 27
/9
7
97 27 /9
/9
7
7 9/
9/ 3/ 28
/9
28
/9
22 11 7
7
/9 /3
11 7 0/
/3 5/ 97
0/ 31
97
/9
7
Fig. 3. Resistance graphs of the two most effective electrodes at each site from installation thru end of 1997.

K
Q
G
L
E

L
E
L
E

Fig. 4. Resistance graphs of the three least effective electrodes at the Balboa site which has the highest resistivity and
 Table 1. List of Electrodes used in Phase 1 and Phase 2.
Used In Phase
Item Description
1 2
A #2 AWG (33.6mm2) Cu x 50 ft (15m) in 12 in (305mm) sand in a trench. X
B ½” (12mm) horizontal steel rebar concrete encased in a trench. X X
C #4 AWG (21mm2) horizontal solid Cu x 25 ft (7.6m) encased in ground enhancement X
material in a trench.
D #4 AWG (21mm2) horizontal solid Cu x 25 ft (7.6m) encased in concrete in a trench X
E 5/8” x 8’ (16mm x 2.4m) vertical copper bonded rod in a 9 in (230mm) diameter hole X X
encased in ground enhancement material.
F 5/8” x 8’ (16mm x 2.4m) horizontal copper bonded rod encased in ground enhancement X X
material in a trench.
G 5/8” x 8’ (16mm x 2.4m) horizontal copper bonded rod in a trench at 30 in (760mm). X X
H 5/8” x 8’ (16mm x 2.4m) vertical copper bonded driven rod. X X
I ¾” x 10’ (19mm x 3m) vertical galvanized steel driven rod. X
J ¾” x 10’ (19mm x 3m) horizontal galvanized steel rod in a trench at 30 in (760mm). X
K 12” x 12” (305mm x 305mm) copper plate buried 30” (610mm). X
L 10 ft (3m) vertical chemical type electrode (XIT). X X
M 24 in. (610mm) square x 30 in. (760mm) reinforced concrete. X X
N #4 AWG (21mm2) x 20 ft. (6 m) coiled copper wire encased in concrete in trench. X
O #4 AWG (21mm2) x 20 ft. (6 m) coiled copper wire encased in ground enhancement X
material in trench.
P Copper “butt plate” on wooden pole with #6 AWG (13mm2) spiral wrap. X
Q 1/2” x 8’ (16mm x 2.4m) horizontal copper bonded rod in a trench at 30”. X X
R 8 ft (2.4m) vertical chemical type electrode (Chemrod). X X
S 8 ft (2.4m) horizontal chemical type electrode (XIT). X X
T ¾” (19mm) x 8 ft (2.4m) vertical pipe. X
V 4/0 AWG (107 mm2) x 20 ft (6m) copper in a trench. X
W Grounding cage of 6 each 5/8 (16mm) x 8 ft (2.4m) rods encased in concrete. X
X 5/8” (16mm) x 8’ (2.4m) stainless steel vertical driven rod. X
Y 8 ft (2.4m) horizontal chemical type electrode (Chemrod). X
Z #6 AWG (13mm2) wire mesh on 4 in. (102mm) centers, 2 ft (0.6m) x 8 ft (2.4m) in X
trench.

Table 2. Installation dates, resistivity values, and soil descriptions for Phase 1 sites.
Site Date Resistivity, Ohm-meters Soil Description
Installed
High Low Avg.
Balboa Aug 92 134 46.0 83.2 Gravel, loosely compacted, normally dry
Lone M. Jun 92 33.7 19.2 24.0 Sand & silt, normally dry
E. Charleston Dec 92 34.5 11.5 22.1 Sand & small rocks, signs of ground salts or sulfides
Pecos Dec 92 25.3 11.5 18.5 Dry sand and silt to 6 ft., wet clay to 12 ft.
Pawnee May 92 16.9 7.7 13.2 Silt & clay, high water table
Table 3. Phase 1 electrodes at the three mid-range site and their resistances from installation to Dec. 1997. Resistances
values are in ohms.
Sites
Electrode
Pecos (18.7 Ω-m) East Charleston (20.8 Ω-m) Lone Mountain (22.1 Ω-m)
Avg. High Low Avg. High Low Avg. High Low
A 23.0 48.1 4.9 34.2 81.1 10.5 14.4 28.0 2.3
B 16.0 32.0 4.7 14.1 27.8 4.6 8.4 15.0 2.4
C 10.2 17.4 3.2 35.0 66.4 6.0 5.2 13.0 1.6
D 34.1 69.0 5.2 96.6 554 9.1 10.3 18.4 3.0
E 5.0 7.0 2.0 4.0 5.8 3.0 3.8 6.1 2.5
F 5.4 8.6 2.5 7.9 15.2 4.0 4.5 8.0 2.0
G 24.3 44.9 5.6 48.1 78.0 11.5 80.8 311 5.8
H 6.5 11.0 3.0 12.0 20.0 6.2 6.6 11.0 2.7
I 8.3 12.0 4.5 6.4 15.0 4.7 7.0 12.0 3.5
J 12.4 20.4 4.6 22.6 76.0 10.9 11.2 36.4 3.6
K 145.2 303 7.4 68.8 518 11.5 81.7 420 5.1
L 6.3 11.7 2.2 13.5 49.3 5.1 20.3 54.0 2.5
M 24.6 43.0 4.9 17.8 154.2 9.4 33.0 74.6 4.2
N 33.4 51.3 4.8 65.2 1908 10.4 14.3 22.0 3.8
O 26.9 46.8 4.7 4.3 13.0 2.6 7.5 15.4 2.3
P 8.2 19.5 4.5 10.4 17.0 7.1 15.8 24.6 3.2
Q 26.2 67.7 4.5 37.9 81.8 11.5 27.3 112 4.2
R N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
S 17.3 32.4 3.5 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
All values over 25 ohms are shown in bold.
Table 4. Phase 1 electrodes at the highest and lowest resistivity sites and their resistances from installation to Dec.
1997. Resistances values are in ohms.
Sites
Electrode
Pawnee (15.0 Ω-m) Balboa (93.6 Ω-m)
Average High Low Average High Low
A 3.6 6.5 0.5 60.0 115.0 25.5
B 5.7 9.0 0.6 34.4 62.0 19.7
C 45.2 301 1.1 29.7 86.5 13.0
D 8.5 14.0 5.1 36.3 60.4 24.5
E 2.5 3.1 1.6 17.5 23.0 12.2
F 2.9 5.0 1.6 33.9 76.9 20.0
G 12.9 20.0 2.3 213.0 569 37.0
H 8.6 13.0 2.2 49.1 71.0 33.5
I 3.5 6.0 1.9 32.8 40.0 22.0
J 6.0 10.0 2.5 154.7 546 62.0
K 49.4 420 5.2 606.4 3097 202.0
L 5.2 6.7 3.5 24.6 304.0 13.2
M 15.1 21.0 9.3 75.6 123.0 41.8
N 14.9 23.0 9.7 74.9 119.9 43.0
O 6.5 9.0 4.7 57.9 100.0 27.0
P 9.9 22.4 6.1 72.1 110.0 54.3
Q 19.4 39.4 3.0 189.1 443 41.0
R N/A N/A N/A 15.0 99.8 8.4
S 4.5 42.0 1.9 N/A N/A N/A
All values over 25 ohms are shown in bold.