High-Integrity Earthing

Question

Hi All, 
 Reg:543.7.1.203 gives a number of options for circuits been supplied with a protective conductor exceeding 10mA with (i) stating "A Single protective conductor having a CSA of not less than 10mm. 
 Is this additional to the CPC? 
 We are installing a piece of equipment that the manufacturer has advised has a standing leakage of between 36-49mA. The equipment is balanced 3 phase and already has a 25mm 4-core cable installed so I have suggested that we use the spare core for the earth as this also satisfies the above regulation but my colleagues say we still need to install an additional cable or use the SWA also. 
 Please could you help clear this one up. 
 Regards 
 Mark

mapj1 · Accepted Answer

When we do this we consider the case when the 10mm is the only CPC to be an acceptable case as well. 
 The thinking goes as you chase back towards the origin, while you have meshes and multiple earthing at the low current load end. at some point there is a single CPC at a point where there is a lot of leakage, - even if it is only where it joins the suppliers cables, but by that point the connection is so chunky and so important already that accidental disconnection perhaps from a minor damage, is most unlikely. 
 This allows circuits that really need a 300mA RCDm by dint of leaking a lot more than 30, to have one, and just be done in suitably chunky cable - even f at the load end we have racks with 3 core cables and additional braids and fly-leads. 
 We tend to go a bit beyond the regs and have additional warning labels for kit /installations where high CPC currents are expected. 
 Mike

AJJewsbury · Answer

Is this additional to the CPC? 
 
 Nope, it's a single conductor. Duplicate c.p.c.s come under (iii). 
 The requirement is just 10mm&sup2; rather than 10mm&sup2; or 10mm&sup2; copper equivalent, so it's likely the steel armour of your cable alone would be sufficient. Use a core in parallel by all means, especially if there's any doubt of the reliability of the glanding or connections to the gland (e.g. via a painted gland plate), or you wish to minimise R2 (always a good thing), but 543.7 doesn't demand it. 
 - Andy.

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