1. Integrated Grounding, Equipotential Bonding and Lightning Protection in Smart Grids and Smart Buildings – A Multi-Faced Approach
Ladies and gentlemen, g‘day everyone.
I would like to present you,
a multi-faced approach
to integrate
grounding,
equipotential bonding and
lightning protection systems,
with the focus on
personal safety as well as on enhanced requirements
concerning the functioning and reliability
of electrical and electronic equipment and
communication systems with narrow and broad band techniques
Ernst Schmautzer, Stephan Pack, Maria Aigner, Chr. Raunig – Austria – Session 2 – 0760

2. Introduction
Modern low-voltage grids and building installations  need to be suitable for a bidirectional energy and high-speed information flow considering the demands of high reliability  have also to fulfil requirements of ensuring safety and protection measures against electric shock, over-voltages, ohmic and inductive interference (EMC-EMI),…
To guarantee the reliable functioning of necessary electronic equipment new concepts regarding integrated systems are a pre-condition starting from the transformer stations via the mains connection to the final location of the electrical / electronic equipment in the buildings.
Modern low-voltage grids (smart grids) and building installations (smart buildings) need a bidirectional energy and high-speed information flow
Technical solutions in smart grids and smart buildings have also to fulfil requirements of safety and protection measures against electric shock
especially touch voltages and current flow,
and they have to provide the basis
for the reliable functioning of electronic equipment
considering ICT, EMF, over-voltages, ohmic and inductive interference
The whole path
starting from the transformer stations
via the mains connection
to the final location of the electrical / electronic device in the buildings
has to be considered to guarantee the reliable functioning
Ernst Schmautzer – Austria – Session 2 – 0760 2

3. Introduction
To provide the base for a safe and reliable use concerning low and transient effects in new build and revitalized buildings two approaches are presented:  The first approach includes the integration of grounding, bonding, lightning protection and shielding from the beginning of the planning and construction phase of the electrical installation  The second approach demonstrates the integration of a closed-meshed fish trap structure of grounding, bonding, lightning protection and shielding in case of refurbishment of old buildings
To provide the base for a safe and reliable use in new built and refurbished buildings
two approaches are presented
The first approach includes an integrated
grounding, bonding, lightning protection and shielding system
in the entire building
The second approach proposes in the case of refurbishment of old buildings
the cheep and easy realization of a locally restricted
closed-meshed / fish-trap-like structure
instead of the solution with a overall-meshed-grid
Ernst Schmautzer – Austria – Session 2 – 0760 3

4. Introduction
Beginning in the planning phase, and continued in the implementation and examination state  grounding  equipotential bonding, shielding (EMC zones)  lightning protection (LPZ lightning protection zones) usually are considered separately
This leads to a multitude of problems in practice caused by low-frequency and transient currents, such as  stray-currents  undesired interfering electromagnetic fields and  ohmic and inductive influences  transient currents caused by switching operations in the grid  transient currents caused by atmospheric discharges
Beginning in the planning phase, and continued in the implementation and examination state  grounding,  equipotential bonding, shielding and  lightning protection zones
usually are considered separately
This leads to problems in practice caused by low-frequency and transient currents, such as  stray-currents,  undesired interfering electromagnetic fields  ohmic and inductive influences  transient currents caused by switching operations in the grid and  transient currents caused by atmospheric discharges
Ernst Schmautzer – Austria – Session 2 – 0760 4

5. State of the Art (Standards)
HD : Low-voltage electrical installations – Part 1: Fundamental principles, assessment of general characteristics, definitions
HD : Low-voltage electrical installations – Part 4-41: Protection for safety - Protection against electric shock
HD : Low-voltage electrical installations – Part 5-54: Selection and erection of electrical equipment - Earthing arrangements, protective conductors and protective bonding conductors
EN 50310: Application of equipotential bonding and earthing in buildings with information technology equipment
EN 50173: Information technology - Generic cabling systems - Part 1: General requirements
EN 50174: Information technology - Cabling installation - Part 2: Installation planning and practices inside buildings
EN 50178: Electronic equipment for use in power installations
EN 50122: Railway applications - Fixed installations - Electrical safety, earthing and the return circuit - Part 1: Protective provisions against electric shock
EN 50522: Earthing of power installations exceeding 1 kV a.c.
EN 62305: Protection against lightning
EN 50162: Protection against corrosion by stray current from DC systems
IEC TR
ANSI/TIA/EIA-607 (USA)
ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.1-2 (USA)
BS 7671 (UK IEE Wiring Regulations)
VDE 0100 (Germany)
VDE 0800 Teil 174-2
VDE 0800 Teil 31
ITU-T
OVE/ONORM E : Erection of electrical installations with rated voltages up to ~ 1000 V a.c., HD 384
OVE/ONORM E 8383: Power installation exceeding 1 kV, HD 637 S1: 1999
OVE/ONORM E 8384: Earthing in AC installations with rated voltage higher than 1 kV
OVE/ONORM E 8014: Erection of earthing installations for electrical installations with rated voltages up to AC 1000 V and DC 1500 V – Part 1: General requirements and definitions
EMC, EMI …
I prepared this slide just to show
the sometimes confusing situation
of uncoordinated international and national standards
regulating each topic separately
for instance
- low voltage installation,
- equipotential bonding,
- lightning protection and
- the entire field of ICT wiring
- handling of shielding in energy and information systems.
You can see harmonized documents,
ENs, national German, Austrian, US standards and so on
Ernst Schmautzer – Austria – Session 2 – 0760 5

6. State of the Art (Standards)
EN 62305:
Protection against lightning
In this slide, some solutions coming from diverse standards are recapitulated
On the upper left side you can see the single point grounding concept
based on harmonizing document HD 60364,
provoking sometimes the problem,
that the star-point-connection conductor
transports - in spacious buildings – the short circuit over long distances
causing interferences that again have to be reduced as well
Or on the right side of the slide you see the solution
coming from EN “lightning protection”
with an unique solution for lightning protection conductors,
ignoring mainly the rest of the necessary bonding system
Only in some IT standards, shown in the figures below
especially in the series 50173, 4 and 8 (fifty-one-seventy three, four and eight)
integrated earthing and equipotential bonding systems are proposed. On the other hand the lightning protection system is not considered here.
HD : Low-voltage electrical installations – Part 1: Fundamental principles, assessment of general characteristics, definitions
Shielding
EN 50174: MESH
DI Dr. Ernst Schmautzer – Austria – Session 2 – 0760 6

7. Methodology – New Buildings
The minimum level in most European countries (also in Austria) is preferably the establishment of a concrete footing-type grounding electrode system in the foundation area (base plate, granular sub-grade course, blinding concrete)
In buildings with specific EMC requirements of information technology (especially for the reduction of magnetic interference fields, inductive and resistive influences by transient currents) the construction of an additional equipotential bonding system for each floor is essential
The minimum level in most European countries
is a concrete footing-type grounding electrode system in the foundation area
with a mesh-grid distance of 10 x 20 meters
to provide the fundamental protection level at low frequency for instance 50 Hz.
In buildings with extended information technology and specific EMC requirements
a more closed meshed grid is necessary
and an additional equipotential bonding system
for each floor is essential to realize a appropriate shielding and equibonding effect in the short circuit and lightning-relevant frequency range - some kHz to 1 MHz,
Horizontal grid dimensions
with a distance about 5 m or less
and the integration of the concrete reinforcement in the walls
are necessary.
Ernst Schmautzer – Austria – Session 2 – 0760 7

8. Methodology – New Buildings
To give you an impression of the application of the presented suggestions in new buildings
You can see –
depending on the basic concept of ICT in the smart building
integrated in the smart grid structure,
the fundamental grounding system as a basic requirement in Europe with grid dimensions from 10 x 20 m, down to m to handle 50 Hz and transient currents
vertical electrodes,
- vertical equibonding rods integrated with the concrete reinforcement and the lightning protection system
- horizontal equibonding in form of a variable designed meshed-grid
- energy and ICT electrical installations,
- single point grounding and/or better but more expensive - an equipotential bonding system instead.of the SPG
Integrated grounding electrode system, shielding, equipotential bonding and lightning protection system
Ernst Schmautzer – Austria – Session 2 – 0760

9. Methodology – New Buildings
Combined high- and low-voltage grounding system
Sensible ICT-components can be installed in all parts of the building structure
It is important that the combined high- and low-voltage grounding system
with narrow meshed grid
has a low impedance,
necessary to deal with problematic transients currents
and leads to a quick spatial distribution and so reduction
of disturbing currents.
In consequence sensible ICT-components
can be installed in all parts of the building structure.
Ernst Schmautzer – Austria – Session 2 – 0760

10. Methodology – Old Buildings
Most of the before mentioned measures concerning the low inductive meshed grounding, equipotential bonding and lightning protection system cannot be realized at low efforts and costs
The proposal is, to invert the grounding and equipotential bonding system at spatially defined locations by realizing a fish trap like structure of conductors to achieve a preferably low impedant equipotential system
As the grounding and equipotential bonding system changes to a predominate equipotential system the refurbished grounding system has now to meet only the demands of a proper lightning protection system and can be realized usually with vertical grounding rods
In old buildings
most of the mentioned measures cannot be realized at low efforts and costs.
The proposal is now,
to evert the grounding and equipotential bonding system
to realize
a fish-trap-like structure of conductors
to achieve the necessary low ohmic and inductive equipotential system
Ernst Schmautzer – Austria – Session 2 – 0760

11. Methodology – Old Buildings
The fish-trap like equibonding structure provides a low impedance
So protection and safety measures can easily be realized (equipotential and function equipotential bonding, overvoltage suppression)
The low impedance equipotential system is provided only in dedicated areas in the near vicinity of the fish-trap like construction
The fish-trap like equibonding structure
the grid depicted on the right side of the slide
provides the necessary low inductive network.
The disadvantage of this concept is
that the low impedance equibonding system
is provided only in dedicated areas
and that the whole building
as shown before
cannot be used for sensible electronic systems.
Only the volume inside the fish-trap-like construction can be used mindless.
Ernst Schmautzer – Austria – Session 2 – 0760 11

12. Conclusion
Realising the grounding, equipotential bonding, shielding and the lightning protection system as well as considering EMC- and lightning protection-zones as a jointly co-ordinated system meets the requirements for  protection against electric shock,  minimizes resistive, inductive and capacitive interference,  reduces the occurrence of electromagnetic fields and  enables the implementation of high-quality measures for the electric/electronic equipment safety,  as well as a efficient lightning and surge protection
Additionally the reduction of the data transfer rates caused by inductive and ohmic interference can be minimized
The proposed grounding and equipotential bonding system can be used in new and refurbished buildings
The integration in the design concept of architectural structures is easy
The proposed system can be integrated easily, if early enough considered
Coming to the conclusion we can summarize
That if we realize the grounding,
equipotential bonding, shielding and the lightning protection system
as a jointly co-ordinated and integrated system
the following tasks can be fulfilled:
 protection against electric shock,  minimisation of resistive, inductive and capacitive interference,  reduction of electromagnetic fields  efficient lightning and surge protection
Supporting shielded and unshielded ICT-concepts, with symmetrical and unsymmetrical transmission enabling high data transfer rates  and if early enough considered easy integration in the design concept of architectural structures in new and refurbished buildings
Ernst Schmautzer – Austria – Session 2 – 0760

13. Integrated Grounding, Equipotential Bonding and Lightning Protection in Smart Grids and Smart Buildings – A Multi-Faced Approach
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for your attention
Ernst Schmautzer, Stephan Pack, Maria Aigner, Chr. Raunig – Austria – Session 2 – 0760 13