Practical questions, answered directly
Things customers ask us before the first site visit.
Where do you provide project support?+
What documentation do we get after the job is complete?+
How long does a typical installation take?+
What are your payment terms?+
Can you handle annual testing for a system someone else installed?+
Is there a minimum job size?+
Do you supply materials only, without installation?+
Do you offer annual maintenance contracts (AMC)?+
How can I reach you?+
New to earthing? Start here.
Short, shareable answers to the questions customers ask before a first visit.
What is earthing, in plain language?
Earthing connects specified parts of an electrical installation to earth. Protective bonding connects exposed metalwork to the protective-conductor system. Together with correctly selected protective devices, these measures help control dangerous voltages when a fault occurs. An electrode by itself is not a complete safety system.
Does fault current disappear into the ground?
No. Current flows in a complete loop back to its supply source. In a TN-S arrangement, a protective conductor provides the metallic return path. In a TT arrangement, the loop includes earth electrodes and the soil. The protective devices and required verification differ. Compare both paths in the interactive earthing guide.
A machine or tap gives a tingling shock. Is adding a rod enough?
Treat a shock or tingling sensation as a possible electrical fault. Keep people away from the affected equipment and arrange safe isolation and inspection by a qualified electrician. Do not keep touching it to test the problem. Protective-conductor continuity, bonding, insulation and protective-device operation need investigation; adding a rod alone does not prove the problem is fixed.
What is a good earth-resistance reading?
There is no single value that proves every installation is safe. The target comes from the earthing arrangement, protective devices, design, applicable requirements and project acceptance criteria. Ask for the test method, the measured system, site conditions and the stated acceptance basis, together with the reading.
What should I look for in an earth-test report?
Look for the site and electrode/system identification, date, test method, instrument identification, relevant conditions, readings, test layout or distances where needed, and the acceptance basis. Keep previous records so changes can be investigated. Ask what was tested and what was outside the agreed scope.
Should I add water or salt to get a lower reading?
A reading taken after temporary wetting can misrepresent the longer-term site conditions. Salt can accelerate corrosion and raise environmental concerns. Investigate the electrode arrangement, connections and soil conditions, and select any enhancement material against its documentation and project design. Record the test conditions.
Does an RCCB or RCD replace earthing?
No. Residual-current protection and protective earthing/bonding have different roles and must be coordinated. An RCD detects residual-current imbalance; it is not a substitute for sound protective conductors. A test button check also does not replace the installation tests needed to verify protection.
What information should I send for a useful quotation?
Send the site location, building/use type, approximate scope, available drawings or existing test records, project stage, access restrictions and any required specification. If you only know the symptoms, describe them clearly. Use the brief builder to prepare an enquiry without needing technical terminology.
What is an ESE air terminal, and is it the same as IEC 62305?
ESE means early streamer emission. ESE product claims and declared coverage depend on their stated test and design basis, for example NF C 17-102 where specified and accepted. That coverage must not be presented as an IEC 62305 rolling-sphere, mesh or protective-angle result. Confirm the required standard, authority acceptance and complete LPS design before selecting a terminal.
Do solar modules need their own separate earth pit?
Do not assume that a separate, unconnected electrode is the correct solution. PV equipment bonding, inverter instructions, electrical earthing, surge protection and any external lightning-protection system need coordination. The designer should specify connections and any separation requirements for the actual installation.