Molly Ayala
Bonding and grounding are two different but complementary ways to protect against dangerous currents and electrical hazards. Electrical bonding is the process of connecting multiple conductive components that are not intended to carry a current. This creates a conductive path between equipment, housing, panels, metal parts, and other structures. Bonding is meant to connect metal materials that aren't supposed to carry current, so they all have the same electrical potential. This means that electricity cannot flow between them and prevents electricity from building up in one material, piece of equipment, or metal pipe.
Characteristics and Values of Electrical Bonding
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The practice of intentionally electrically connecting all exposed metal items not designed to carry electricity in a room or building as protection from electric shock. |
| Purpose | Protection from electric shock, minimizing electrical arcing between metal surfaces with electrical potential differences, and preventing static electricity build-up. |
| Examples of Bonded Articles | Metallic water piping systems, gas piping, ducts for central heating and air conditioning systems, exposed metal parts of buildings such as handrails, stairs, ladders, platforms, and floors. |
| Importance | Ensures that all conductors are at the same potential, reducing the risk of electric shock and preventing electricity from finding a path through a person. |
| Safety | Bonding and grounding work together to safeguard people and property from electric hazards. Bonding is particularly important in areas where occupants can come into direct contact with exposed metal parts. |
| Bonding vs. Grounding | Bonding connects two different electrical conductors to match the amount of current flowing in each conductor and prevent electricity build-up between them. Grounding, on the other hand, is the attachment of bonded systems to the earth, providing a path for electricity to flow in the event of lightning strikes or accidental contacts. |
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What You'll Learn
- Bonding and grounding are both necessary to safeguard people and property from electric hazards
- Electrical bonding is the practice of intentionally electrically connecting all exposed metal items not designed to carry electricity
- Bonding is particularly important for bathrooms, swimming pools, and fountains
- Equipotential bonding involves electrically connecting metalwork so that it is at the same voltage everywhere
- Bonding is done to match the amount of current flowing in one conductor
Bonding and grounding are both necessary to safeguard people and property from electric hazards
Bonding and grounding are essential for safeguarding people and property from electrical hazards. They are two different but complementary ways of protecting against dangerous currents.
Bonding
Electrical bonding is the practice of intentionally electrically connecting all exposed metal items in a room or building that are not designed to carry electricity. This is done as a safety measure to protect against electric shock. Bonding is also used to minimize electrical arcing between metal surfaces with electrical potential differences. If a failure of electrical insulation occurs, all bonded metal objects in the room will have substantially the same electrical potential, so that a person cannot touch two objects with significantly different potentials and receive an electric shock.
Examples of items that may be bonded include metallic water piping systems, gas piping, ducts for central heating and air conditioning systems, and exposed metal parts of buildings such as handrails, stairs, ladders, platforms, and floors.
Grounding
Grounding, or earthing, is the act of placing an electrical conductor in the earth. This protects power generators by ensuring that electrical currents have a safe path back to the power source. Grounding prevents electrical currents from flowing to unwanted areas and redirects them back to the main power generator. In the event of a lightning strike, accidental contact, static charge, or power surge, grounding provides a conductive path for electricity to flow into the earth instead of sensitive equipment, delicate circuitry, or people.
Protecting Against Hazards
Bonding and grounding work together to protect against electrical hazards. In the event of an electrical fault or surge, lightning strike, or accidental contact, electricity will flow through the bonded components. Grounding then ensures that the electrical charge is redirected into the earth. This creates an effective ground-fault current path that allows devices like circuit breakers and fault protections to work.
In large facilities, grounding loops and interference can be controlled by using an isolated ground bar. This is installed on insulating risers to keep it separate from the grounded backpan and is grounded to a single point in the facility. Single-point grounding is often preferred as it generally yields the lowest potential difference and requires less equipment and effort to install. However, the decision to use single-point or bracket grounding should be based on an evaluation of potential hazards, work site conditions, type of construction, and the nature of the work being done.
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Electrical bonding is the practice of intentionally electrically connecting all exposed metal items not designed to carry electricity
In simple terms, bonding is the connection of two or more conductive components that are not intended to carry a current. This creates a conductive path between equipment, housing, panels, metal parts, and other structures. In the event of an electrical fault or surge, lightning strike, or accidental contact, electricity will flow through the bonded components.
Bonding is particularly important in areas where people can come into direct contact with exposed metal parts, such as bathrooms, swimming pools, and fountains. In these areas, all exposed metal, including pipes, earths of electrical circuits, and structural metal, must be bonded together to ensure they are at the same potential. This prevents electric shocks, as all the metal objects will be at the same voltage, and there will be no potential difference for current to flow through a person.
Bonding is also important in areas where there is the potential for explosive gases or dust to exist, as it minimises electrical arcing between metal surfaces with electrical potential differences. This is also important in aircraft, where electrical bonding prevents static electricity build-up that can interfere with radio and navigational equipment.
To ensure bonded systems are as safe as possible, they should also be grounded, or earthed. Grounding is the connection of an electrical circuit to the earth, which provides a path for electricity to flow in the event of lightning strikes, accidental contacts, static charges, and surges. Grounding allows electricity to be redirected back to the power source or main power generator, protecting the system and personnel.
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Bonding is particularly important for bathrooms, swimming pools, and fountains
Bonding is a critical safety feature in electrical systems, and this is especially true for bathrooms, swimming pools, and fountains. These areas often contain a mix of electrical and metallic components, which, if not properly bonded, could result in electric shock or other hazardous situations.
In bathrooms, equipotential bonding is essential. This involves connecting all exposed metal, including metal pipes and electrical circuits, to ensure they are at the same electrical potential. This is a safety measure to protect against electric shock. For example, if someone touches the un-earthed metal casing of an electrical device, such as a hairdryer, while also in contact with a metal object connected to a remote earth, they could receive an electric shock if the device has a fault. However, if all metal objects are bonded and at the same potential, this hazard is eliminated.
Swimming pools and fountains also require special attention when it comes to electrical bonding. Any metal objects in or around the pool or fountain (excluding conductors of the power circuit) must be bonded to ensure all conductors are at the same potential. This is important because pools and fountains are often in direct contact with the ground, which can create a better ground connection than the electrical panel ground. By bonding all conducting elements, the likelihood of an electric current passing through a swimmer is significantly reduced. Additionally, in concrete pools, the reinforcing bars must be connected to the bonding system to prevent dangerous potential gradients during a fault.
Furthermore, bonding and grounding work together to ensure the electrical safety of pools and fountains. Bonding connects the electrical and non-electrical metal components into a network, preventing the transmission of harmful electrical voltages. Grounding, on the other hand, directs any excess or harmful electrical current into the ground and away from people, pool equipment, or pets. Together, these measures provide an important layer of protection for anyone using these facilities.
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Equipotential bonding involves electrically connecting metalwork so that it is at the same voltage everywhere
Electrical bonding is the practice of intentionally electrically connecting all exposed metal items not designed to carry electricity in a room or building. This is done as a safety measure to protect from electric shock and to minimize electrical arcing between metal surfaces with electrical potential differences.
Equipotential bonding (EPB) is a type of electrical bonding that involves electrically connecting metalwork and conductive parts, both exposed and extraneous, so that they are at the same voltage. This is important because if two charged objects have different potential voltages, a circuit is created between the two points, as energy will flow from the higher potential point to the lowest potential point. If a person comes into contact with one of these objects, the current will flow through them, resulting in an electric shock.
In buildings with electricity, it is common to connect all metal objects, such as pipes, to the mains earth to form an equipotential zone. This is especially important in areas where occupants can come into direct contact with exposed metal parts, such as bathrooms, swimming pools, and fountains.
The exact rules for electrical installations vary by country, locality, or supplying power company. However, equipotential bonding is typically done where the distribution wiring enters the building and connects to incoming water and gas services. This is known as main bonding. Supplementary bonding is then done within rooms, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms, to link any items that may become live in the event of a fault.
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Bonding is done to match the amount of current flowing in one conductor
Bonding is a critical aspect of electrical systems, and one of its primary objectives is to ensure the safety of people and equipment. While it may be done for various reasons, one key purpose is to match the amount of current flowing in one conductor. This process, known as electrical bonding, involves connecting two different electrical conductors through electrical means or with a simple binding instrument.
When two conductors with different voltages come into contact, it can result in hazardous situations such as arcing. By performing electrical bonding, the two conductors are forced to share the same current, preventing the buildup of electricity between them. This technique is particularly useful when two high-voltage conductors are in close proximity, reducing the likelihood of collisions and potential hazards.
In practical terms, electrical bonding is often used to connect all exposed metal items in a room or building that are not designed to carry electricity. This includes items such as pipes, handrails, stairs, ladders, platforms, and floors. By bonding these items, they are all maintained at the same electrical potential, protecting occupants from electric shock. This is especially important in areas like bathrooms, swimming pools, and fountains, where the risk of electric shock is elevated.
Additionally, bonding plays a crucial role in preventing other objects from becoming energised. Certain electrical appliances and equipment have non-current-conducting parts that must be bonded. Without proper bonding, these appliances can become fire hazards. Bonding also helps ensure personnel safety by reducing the current flow on power and data conductors between pieces of equipment at different potentials.
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Frequently asked questions
Electrical bonding is the practice of intentionally electrically connecting all exposed metal items not designed to carry electricity in a room or building. It is done as a safety precaution to protect from electric shock.
Grounding is the attachment of bonded systems to the earth. It is the act of placing an electrical conductor in the earth to protect power generators and ensure the electrical current has a safe path back to the power source. Bonding, on the other hand, connects two different electrical conductors to prevent a buildup of electricity between them.
Examples of electrical bonding include bonding metal pipes and electrical circuits in bathrooms, bonding metallic water piping systems, gas piping, ducts for central heating and air conditioning systems, and exposed metal parts of buildings such as handrails, stairs, ladders, and platforms.
