What should be the materials for ground electrodes?

05.06.15 ,

Quite often homeowners, builders and installers have a question about organization of grounding, which they solve in completely different ways. The methods based on the regulations that impose a number of requirements to the configurations and materials of ground electrodes are correct. For example, GOST R 50571.5.54-2013 national standard, which came into effect on 1 January 2015, clearly identifies the materials and dimensions of ground electrodes, see below.

Table 54.1 - Minimum dimensions of grounding electrodes laid in the ground made of the most common materials from the point of view of corrosion and mechanical resistance

Material and surface	Profile	Diameter, mm	Cross- section (^mm2)	Thickness (mm)	Coating mass (g/^m2)	Coating thickness / of the shell (micron)
Embedded steel (naked, hot-dip galvanized or stainless)	Round wire	10
Embedded steel (naked, hot-dip galvanized or stainless)	Tape or band		75	3
Hot-dip galvanized steel	Tape or profiled tape / plate		90	3	500	63
	solid plate perforated plate
	Round rod is mounted vertically	16			350	45
	Round wire-is mounted horizontally	10			350	45
	piped	25		2	350	45
	Twisted (embedded in concrete)		70
	Two-way profile is mounted vertically		(290)	3
Steel in a copper shell	Round rod is mounted vertically	(15)				2000
Steel with galvanic copper coating	Round rod - is mounted vertically	14				2502
	Round wire -is mounted horizontally	(8)				70
	The band -is mounted horizontally		90	3		70
Stainless steel	Tape or profiled tape / plate
	Round rod - is mounted vertically	16
	Round wire -is mounted horizontally	10
	Piped	25		2
Copper	Tape		50	2
	Round wire -is mounted horizontally		(25)¹ 50
	Solid round rod - is mounted vertically	(12) 15

When using stranded copper wire or round copper wire, mounted horizontally, the use of materials with the cross section of 16 mm is allowed. The rule is valid for the cases where the risk of corrosion and mechanical damage is negligible.

Special cases:

¹ Dimensions in the brackets are only applied for protection against electric shock, while the dimensions outside the brackets are applicable for protection against lightning and electrical shock.

² When taking necessary precautions to avoid mechanical damage of copper during the mounting process,the use of round bars with 100 mm coating is allowed.

Select and mount the grounding correctly! Take advantage of the ready-made kits by ZANDZ:

See also: