METHOD OF STATEMENT FOR

GROUNDING & LIGHTNING

SYSTEM INSTALLATION.

Rev.00
Consultant
Contractor

AL-ZAID
JAWDAT COMPANY

List of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Aim
Scope of Work
References
Optimal design to reduce power back land
Sequence of works
1. Material and Equipment
2. Type of connection
5.1 Procedure of installation of Grounding System
5.3.1 Installation of Exothermic Welding System
5.3.2 Earthing Cable Installation
5.3.3 Earth rod installation
5.3.4 Earth pit
3. Safety control method
4. Material storage
5. Grounding connection/
6. Execution work for Earthing of Lightning Protection
7. Handling of chemicals to reduce soil resistivity:
8. Procedure of installation of Lightning Protection system

6.
7.

Standard procedures
Inspection and testing procedures
7.1 inspection
7.2 Field test

7.2.1 General
7.2.2 Soil resistivity testing (based on wenner method)
8- Statute of completion

1. AIM/:
To describe Electrical works associated with installation of Grounding System / Lightning
Protection System.
The Grounding System / Lightning Protection System are designed to ensure the complete safety of
both persons and equipment throughout the airport terminal and all associated building and
facilities.

Due to BS-6651 for lightning protection standard, required earth resistance lightning directly
below 10
2. SCOPE OF WORKS
This method statement covers works as shop drawing indicated and schedule.

3.
o
o
o

REFERENCES
Specification
Shop drawings
B.O.Q

4. OPTIMAL DESIGN TO REDUCE POWER BACK LAND

o Original lightning position design of the roof will not change. From the air terminal
position on the roof to escape lightning ground wire connected to each copper earth rod
separately.
o Connected copper grounding rods in to the Ground Network by bare copper cable the size
of cable (95MM2, 120MM2)
o Changes to copper bonded grounding rod to pure copper grounding rod
o The Buildings have eight grounding rod , 3 meters long will be added more rods to reach
earth resistance lightning below 5 . The distance between 2 rods 2 times the length of
rod and enhancing put chemical for the trench 5 package/building(1 pack = 22.7 kg).
o The Building have 6 to 8 grounding rods , 3 meters long will be added more 6 rods 16,
length 3m. The distance between 2 rods 2 times the length of rod and enhancing put
chemical for the trench 7 package/building(1 pack= 22.7 kg).

o The Buildings are located closely and can be linked together by 95 bare copper wire to
reduce the earth resistance of the whole system down. To prevent the occurrence of voltage
difference in the area of land next to areas where they can use Equipotential Clamps to
linking the two systems to eliminate this voltage difference.
5. SEQUENCE OF WORKS
5.1 Material and Equipment
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)

Copper earth rods

Bare copper cable
Cable clamp for earth rod and copper cable
Copper tape and clips
PVC pipe
Concrete grounding pit
Cable lugs
Air terminal
Earth bar with disconnecting link
Furse Weld.
Earth Tester/.
Welding Machine/
Welding rod
Field Tester

5.2 Type of connection

o Connect earth rod to bare copper wire ( Detail-1 ).
o Connect rebar to bare copper wire (Detail-2).
o Connect copper bar to bar copper wire ( Detail-3 ).
o Connect cable trays/ladders and pipes to grounding system (Detail of electric continuity for
cable tray shall be provided in method statement for trays/ladders installation.).
5.3 Procedure of installation of Grounding System
5.3.1 Installation of Exothermic Welding System
The mould crucible with suitable size shall be used for exothermic welding.
a) The following procedures shall be followed before conduct the exothermic welding.
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)

Ensure that the mould is always clean and free of moisture.

Ensure that the tap hole is always in well-defined condition.
Ensure that the correctness of connection selector.
Ensure that the correctness of welding powder

b) Procedure to conduct the exothermic connections.

i) Fix the connection selector to the handle clamp as per the require sizes of conductor to be
welded.
ii)
Place the conductor in the mould, ensure that connection selector is used in accordance to
the conductor to be welded.

iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
viii)

Close the handle clamp and lock in the lock position, drop the metal retaining disc into the
bottom of the mould crucible. Ensure that the metal retaining disc is correctly, completely
seated and cover up the tap hole.
Deposit the welding power into the crucible and spread a little amount on top of the mould
edge as a role of starting power.
Close the mould lips, and ignite with the flint gun.
Open the mould after a few seconds where the reaction is completed or the metal has been
solidified.
Do not touch the welding surface after the reaction.
Clean up the mould for the next joint.

5.3.2 Earthing Cable Installation

a)
The earthing conductor, bare copper cable shall be installed as per approved shop
drawing.
b)
Ensure that the copper cable is straight (not wavy) so that it fits nicely into the
exothermic mould prior to the exothermic welding.
c)

5.3.3
o
o
o

Ensure that the copper cable is free of dirt / oil and dry keeping.

Earth Rod Installation

The copper rod is to be driven into the ground by means hammer drill / sledge hammer.
Make sure the rods are coupled with coupling and driving studs before hammering as it will protect
the thread or the head of the rods from damaged.
After the desired depth has achieved, the earthing conductor will be joint to the earth bar / rod
clamp of the earth pit and fastened it securely.

Resistivity check should be taken and if the resistivity is not achieved to required value then it is
advisable to drive it deeper.
The rod shall be driven at least 40 CM under ground level possible and do not force to drive it as
it may break the coupler and loose the rod.
The number of rods driven into the ground will be dependable to the soil resistivity on that
particular area and as per approved shop drawing.
5.3.4

Earth Pit

a) Install the inspection pit and ensure that it is flush with the external ground / road level.
b) Ensure that the earth pit is free from dirt and rubbish.
c) Ensure that the rod is appear and we can make test

5.4 Safety control method/

a) General/

The safety procedure generally have to be applied for all Engineers, Supervisors, Workers
as following bellow:
o
o

Make sure that all personal protection equipment (PPE) be provided on site before starting work
such as helmet, safety boot, safety glasses, glove, mask etc.
Make sure that PPE must be wear in the correctly way when working.

o
o
o

Tools and equipment shall be inspected by authorized person before carried out the work.
Barricades and sign posts for warning shall be provided on site.
Fire extinguishers shall be provided on site wherever exothermic welding works and always ready
to use.

b)
o
o
o
o

Working with welding machine and exothermic welding

Ensure worker wear safety glasses, gloves, helmet etc.
Fire extinguisher shall be always ready at work place
Welding machine must be checked carefully before using.
Welder must be qualified and skill.

c)
o
o
o

Working at height
Ensure every worker wear safety harness when working at more than 2 m height.
Safety protected handrail on top layer of scaffolding shall be provided.
Ensure A ladders are in good condition/quality.

5.5 Material storage

a) Storage of exothermic welding materials should be in a clean, dry, NO SMOKING area and
should be restricted to access by authorized personnel only.
b) Storage condition shall be such that exothermic welding materials are not subject to rough handling
or physical damage. Storage shall be in cool place and in condition no humidity and moisture.
c) All boxes or container of material should be stored in accordance with container (carton) or label
marking This Side Up
d) These materials must be stored under shelter to protect the boxes from the elements and raised to
protect them from dampness or wet surface.

5.6 Grounding connection/

Detail-1
o

Connect earth rod to bare copper wire.

BARE COPPER WIRE 95sqmm

EXOTHERMIC WELDING
FURSEWELD CONNECTION
(CR1 TYPE)

EARTH ROD M20 x 3000L

Furseweld connection detail/

Detail-2/
o

Connect rebar to bare copper wire:

REBAR Dia 32 mm
FURSEWELD CONNECTION
(CRE2 TYPE)

BARE COPPER WIRE

95sqmm

Detail-3/

5.7 Execution work for Earthing of Lightning Protection

o Drive the earth rods into the earth by hammer.
o Excavate a trench (D x W: 800:500) to link earth rods together by soft drawn bare copper
wire.
o Link earth rods to Grounding network.
o Backfilling the trench.
o Testing and record earthing resistant value.
o Joints shall be protected against rust by cold galvanized paint.
o Contact surfaces shall be flush prior to jointing.
o Bolt connections of copper wire with hot dip galvanized steel bar and copper wire with
copper bar should reach mechanical effect and electrical effect.
o During the driving of the rods into the earth, it is better to measure value of the resistance
to earth in order to quantity of necessary grounding rod.
5.8 /Handling of chemicals to reduce soil resistivity:
o Prepare wiring trench
o Ensure no garbage on the trench
o Put the chemicals along the track covers a thick layer of copper 3mm
o Backfilling the trench.
5.9 Procedure of installation of Lightning Protection system

o The Grounding system for Lightning protection system must be established prior to install
Lightning protection system (refer to item 4.4 for Grounding installation).
o The down-conductor shall not be isolated nor enclosed in PVC pipe .
o The down conductor should be fixed with a test joint in a position that is convenient for the
tests but shall not be reached by irresponsible persons.
o The down conductor 95mm2 bare copper wire shall be connected directly to the mounting
base of the lightning arrester by terminal lug.
o The lightning arrester should be fitted into the mounting base before lifting them .
6. STANDARD PROCEDURES

o Down conductor for air terminal (ESE type) shall be connected to earthing rods to ensure
direct connection to earth of any stroke current before interconnection with the general
Grounding System.
o All equipment connected to power supply must be grounded.
o All metal parts, structural steel, cable trays, piping, reinforced concrete must be grounded.
o All joints shall be according to shop drawing.
o Safety control
-

To secure an exit entrance whenever it has contingencies.

Keep water out where is necessary.
To keep workplace and amenities is always clean.
Barricade and sign post are available around the site work.
To pay attention to equipment/ tools as below:
+ Welding machine: insulation/
+ Drill machine: insulation and earthing terminal
+ Cylinders: Pressure Gauge Set shall be inspected by authorities
+ Cutting machine: insulation and earthing terminal

7. INSPECTION AND TESTING PROCEDURES

7.1 Inspection/

o The Grounding and Lightning Protection System shall be given a visual inspection by the
Engineer during the installation.
o The Contractor should not allow any backfilling of trenches or pits where these system are
installed before inspection by the Engineer and the appropriate documents are signed.
o Material delivered shall be inspected under the Engineers supervisor about size, quality
and quantity.
o After performing, works shall be inspected. Inspection of lightning should be included two
steps: check underground system and general. For equipment fitted inside structural work
or fix underground shall be checked and inspect before backfilling.
o Check Grounding and Lightning Protection.

o Shop-drawing approved.
o Material approved.
o Test method of visual/

Check quality of grounding conductor and grounding electrode delivered on site.

Check installation (connection, routing, and quantity) according to approved shop drawings.
Check dimension, level and finishing of foundation of air terminal.
Check installation according to approved shop drawings and manufacturers
recommendation.
Functional Test: As per design and manufacturers recommendation.
Grounding Resistance Value shall be measured.

7.2 Field test

7.2.1 General
o Grounding rods shall be tested for ground resistance value before any wire is connected.
The test shall be perform in normal dry weather, not less than 48 hours after rainfall.
o Ground resistance shall also be measured for each piece of equipment to the ground
electrode. Testing shall be with a portable ground testing megger for each ground or group
of grounds. The instrument shall be equipped with ammeter reading directly in Ohms or
fractions thereof to indicate the ground value of the electrode under test.
o All test equipment including test meter shall be provided and one copy of the ground
megger manufacturers directions, including the method shall be provided.
o The minimum resistance based on the allowable capacity of the conductor shall be as
indicated in the following table:
Resistance tests table/
Amperes/

Ohms

25 through 50

250000

51 through 100

100000

101 through 200

50000

201 through 400

25000

401 through 800

12000

Over 800

5000

o The earth resistance shall be measured either soil resistivity testing or earth resistance
testing method.

7.2.2 Soil resistivity testing (based on Wenner method)

o Equipment and procedure for soil resistivity
The test instrument is used Mega Digital Earth Tester. The instrument is connected to the

electrodes as detail below:

Four electrodes are driven into the ground, in a straight line with equal spacing between
them. Let the spacing be called a'.
The soil resistivity can then be calculated using the equation:
= 2 x 3.14 x a x R

Where = soil resistivity (ohm meters)

a = electrode spacing (meters)
R = measured resistance (ohms)

o Test Procedure
- Confirm the proposed test locations.
- Insert four electrodes into the ground in a straight line a= 2 meters spacing. Connect
instrument to the electrodes as shown above.
- Perform test and record measured resistance in Soil Resistivity Test Form.
- Shift electrodes to next spacing a= 4 meters and repeat test.
- Repeat tests a= 6 meters, 8 meters and 10 meters electrode spacing.
- Recorded measurements will be analyzed and presented in Soil Resistivity Test Report.
8. STATUTE OF COMPLETION

After finishing the installation works of Grounding and Lightning Protection System,
inspection shall be carried out and approved by relative parties such as: Consultant, Main
contractor. We can ask the Experiment Center for inspection the whole system and then
issue the Certificate Completion.