) I 5MI ZM MV N -IZ P

-TM Z LM ZM IV M

PM[M :MO]TI WV[ LM[ Z JM PZMM UM PWL[ W UMI[]ZM PM ZM[ [ IV M WN

) I IV -IZ P -TM ZWLM 5M PWL ][M[ I LML I ML -IZ P -TM ZWLM M[ MZ
UM PWL ][M[ I LML I ML [ ISMTM[[ -IZ P -TM ZWLM M[ MZ IVL UM PWL
][M[ -IZ P .I]T 4WWX 1UXMLIV M UMI[]ZMUMV

.WZ WUXTM M M[ VO UM PWLWTWOa WN PM UMI[]ZMUMV WN -IZ P

-TM ZWLM ZM[ [ IV M ZMNMZ W /] LIV M VW M WN ;

5M P L MI ZM MV V LML I ML -IZ P -TM Z LM M MZ

Red
Yellow
P Green
E

15 - 25 15 - 25
Earthed
Electrode Auxilliary
under test Earth spikes

(i) a proprietary Earth Electrode test device should be used.

(ii) auxiliary Earth spikes should be applied at least 15 m apart and 15 m distant
from the Earth Electrode under test.
(iii) an Earth resistance value of less than 10 ohms is required for a Locally Earthed
System [ see Regulation 6.2 ].
(iv) an additional number of Earth Electrodes may be required (or deeper electrodes)
to achieve the required Earth resistance value.
(v) due consideration should be given to future changes in soil condition (e.g. drying
out).
(vi) sufficient time should be allowed if special chemicals or salts are added to the
ground to improve the Earth resistance values.

Note: where possible and practical, method 1 should be used to measure the
resistance of an Earth Electrode.

ION
CONNECT
EARTH
SAFETY REMO
VE
DO NOT

Earth Pit Earth Test Spike

PM -TM Z a Z VO :MO]TI WV[ P ZL -L WV

) I + V V ML

5M P L MI ZM MV V LML I ML ISMTM -IZ P

-TM Z LM M MZ ) I

Current
Earth clamp
connections

Voltage
clamp

Electrode
under test

(i) This method uses an Earth clamp-based tester without the need to disconnect
the Earthing Conductor.
(ii) This method is used when there are a number of Earth Electrodes and it is not
possible to use Method 1.
(iii) The larger the number of Earth Electrodes, the closer the measurement would
be to the electrode under test as the measurement is the Earth Electrode under
test in series with all other Earth paths in parallel.
(iv) It is important to highlight that for this method to be effective, there must be a
loop resistance to measure and the Earth mass must be part of the
measurement.

5M P L MI ZM MV V IV -IZ P .I T 4 X
1 XMLIV M M MZ

:MNMZ W )XXMVL ) J IVL )

PM -TM Z a Z VO :MO]TI WV[ P ZL -L WV

 ) 5MI ZM MV N , Z V
+ XIVa XXTa XMLIV M BM

Main Distribution Board

MCCB MCCB
+ +
E/F E/F

External Earth Loop

Impedance Tester

Main Earth
Terminal

Main Earthed
Equipotential Bonding

To Earth Electrode
A Earth Bar
Test Link removed
and Earth Electrode

Note 1: caution: this test is carried out under live conditions but with the main
isolator secured in the off position.

Note 2: Ze may be measured directly at the Electricity Intake with a specialist

Earth Loop Impedance tester. Such devices apply a resistance (typically
10 ohms) between a phase conductor and the earth conductor of the
incoming supply. The test draws a current of around 20A but is only applied
for a few cycles (e.g. 40ms). The device measures the drawn current and
divides this into the measured supply voltage to give the loop impedance
(the test resistance applied by the device is subtracted).

Note 3: as an alternative Ze may be calculated from measurement of the total

Earth Fault Loop Impedance measured within the Electrical Installation (see
A19(c)) using the formula:

ZS = Ze + ZR1+R2
Where:
Zs = total Earth Fault Loop Impedance
Ze = Distribution Company supply impedance
ZR1+R2 = impedance of the longest circuit in the Installation, taken by measuring a circuit phase
conductor impedance R1, and the same circuit’s Earthing Conductor impedance R2.
Note 4: For further advice see reference book “ Advanced Testing Technique”.

Note 5: Test should be repeated for the Earth Electrode.

PM -TM Z a Z VO :MO]TI WV[ P ZL -L WV

) 5MI ZM MV N IT -IZ P .I T 4 X
1 XMLIV M B

Final Distribution Board

R
Y
B
R
Y
B

Main Distribution Board Y

B

RCD RCD

CECs remain
connected

to switch
(must be ON)
from
FDB

Bonding Conductors

to Test
Earth Electrode Instrument

Incoming Supply Cable

to light
(bulb removed from pendant)

Note 1: caution: this test is carried out under live conditions with the circuits under
test energised but no load is connected.

Note 2: a specialist instrument is used which measures the total Earth Loop
Impedance Zs using a similar principle as described in A19(b). The
instrument must not operate any RCD in circuit.

Note 3: the instrument may be directly connected to a socket-outlet (using the

test plug provided) and should be used at the farthest point on a radial
circuit or the mid point of a ring circuit. Alternatively, the instrument may be
used at an Accessory connection point (e.g. lighting ceiling rose) with the
appropriate test probes.

Note 4: for further advice see reference book “Testing Electrical Installations”.

PM -TM Z a Z VO :MO]TI WV[ P ZL -L WV

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: :V M

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) L
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NIZ PM[ WVVM WV XW V WZ [W SM W] TM
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WZ ¹JWZZW ML VM] ZIT
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ZM PZW]OP PM [ P
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[PW]TL JM L [ WVVM ML V WZLMZ W I ]ZI MTa UMI[]ZM : :

Check polarity Check polarity

(neutral unearthed) and record R1+R2
(and no continuity
Final DB A to neutral)

R
Y
B
R
Y
B

R
Y
B

Shorting Lead
R1+R2

PM -TM Z a Z VO :MO]TI WV[ P ZL -L WV

) L + V V ML

) L
Record R1+Rn
(and no continuity
to Earth / CEC)
Final DB A

R
Y
B
R
Y
B

R
Y
B

Shorting Lead
R1+Rn

R1+Rn
“borrowed neutral”

to switch
(must be ON)

to lamp holder
>100MΩ

:V

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I PM UMI[]ZMUMV WN MVL W MVL ZM[ [ IV M WN MI P
WVL] WZ
J PM UMI[]ZMUMV [ WN : : : :V IVL PM S VO PMZM
are no ‘bridges’ in the ring.

PM -TM Z a Z VO :MO]TI WV[ P ZL -L WV

 ) L + V V ML

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P OPMZ ZM[ [ IV M N [ ZML P I [UITTMZ WVL] WZ

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W UMI[]ZM : :V NWZ I : VO + Z ] PM W XPI[M IVL

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UMI[]ZMUMV I IVa XW V WV PM Z VO JM MMV XPI[M IVL
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PM XZM[MV M WN I JZ LOM WZ ZWVO ZW[[ WVVM WV[ I PM
., MVL WN PM + Z ]

W UMI[]ZM : : NWZ I : VO + Z ] PM W XPI[M IVL -IZ P

WVL] WZ[ NZWU PM Z VO IZM ZW[[ WVVM ML PM ZMIL VO[ I
MI P XW V V PM Z VO UIa IZa [T OP Ta NWZ I MZa TWVO Z ]
[ V M PM +-+ [ I [UITTMZ ZW[[ [M WV

PM P OPM[ IT]M WJ I VML ZMXZM[MV [ PM UI U]U : :

IT]M NWZ PM + Z ] IVL [PW]TL JM ZM WZLML WV PM M[ NWZU
N
N E
L L L

FDB FDB FDB

Conductor (R1 + Rn) (R1 + R2)

end to end test

Note 1: these tests are carried out on dead Circuits. The main isolator must be
secured in the off position.

Note 2: for new Electrical Installations, these tests should be carried out when
Accessories are in position but prior to energising the Electrical Installation.

Note 3: Circuit continuity tests must be measured for all Circuits and the resistance
values recorded on the test report, see Appendix A20(d).

PM -TM Z a Z VO :MO]TI WV[ P ZL -L WV