Ground Fault Testing

Industrial Tests, Inc. provides comprehensive Ground Fault Testing services as part of our Electrical Testing and Maintenance services. We perform Ground Fault Testing for industrial plants, large commercial facilities and municipal power stations. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are maintenance manager’s first choice for electrical testing, maintenance and repair.

Overview

Industrial Tests has extensive experience in state-of-the-art electrical testing, ground fault and earth ground resistance testing. We can design a step-by-step, cost-effective electrical testing plan for you to achieve optimum ongoing productivity.  Industrial Tests is a full member of the National Electrical Testing Association with 35 years of experience.

NEC Ground Fault Protection

National Electric Code for Fault protection states that ground fault relays are meant to protect equipment from low magnitude effects that pertain to the conduction of electricity between equipment and the conducting body.  There is no guarantee for of equipment protection against effects of higher magnitude ground faults.  Protections against higher magnitude ground faults are reliant upon protective devices such as fuses and circuit breakers.  Ground fault sensors are used to identify low magnitude ground faults.

What It Is Not

• Protection against shock for employees
• Protection from phase to phase, 3 phase, or phase neutral faults
• Protection from high level ground faults for reasons specified above
• A guarantee of a selectively coordinated system. In fact, coordination may be compromised.

Reliability

A system is only as strong as its weakest link. That same cliché can be applied to ground fault relays comprised of solid state sensors, monitors, control wirings, shunt trips, and control power sources.  When one element in the system is damaged, then the whole system is jeopardized.  Ground fault relays are definitely not maintenance free devices.  Periodic maintenance is a must if you want to take preventative measures for each element listed to ensure the health of the ground fault system.  These maintenance procedures include but are not limited to calibrations, on-site inspection, and timely replacement of damaged parts.

Ground Fault Relays are NOT required For These Situations

NEC (national electric code) 230.95, 215.10, and 240.13 does not require ground fault protection for:

• Situations where a shutdown would increase hazards (for instance prevents medical equipment from operating)
• Situations where the disconnect is less than 1000A
• Single phase feeders that are 240/120 V
• High or medium voltage services or feeders. (See NECR 240.13 and 215.10 for more feeder information.)
• Impedance grounded systems.
• Fire Pumps
• For feeders where GFP is provided on the service (except forHealth Care Facilities. See 517.17.)

Ground Fault Relays are required for These Situations

• Feeder disconnects are over 150 V
• Amp rating of over 1000 A for disconnects
• Performance Testing
• Installation of equipment to pre-existing system

For more information, contact ITI or the local authority having jurisdiction for additional requirements.

Ground Fault Interrupters

Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter: A device intended for the protection of personnel that functions to de-energize a circuit or portion thereof within an established period of time when a current to ground exceeds some predetermined value that is less than that required to operate the overcurrent device of the supply circuit.

Fall of Potential Ground Test

The fall of potential grounding tests the capacity of an earth grounding system to effectively dissipate energy from an electrical source. » Learn More about Fall Of Potential Test

Industrial Tests, Inc. Providing Ground Fault Testing To Northern California

With offices outside Sacramento, California, Industrial Tests, Inc. provides Ground Fault Testing services to clients throughout Northern California, including Sacramento, San Francisco, and surrounding Northern California areas. We serve industrial, commercial and municipal clients in various industries including power stations, power plants, wind and solar, petro-chemicals, manufacturing, hotels, hospitals, municipalities, defense contractors, data centers and many other applications that rely on high power electric equipment. Whatever your Ground Fault Testing needs may be, contact us and we will make sure that your equipment is treated with the care and safety requirements that it deserves. See our full line of electrical testing.

To learn more about Ground Fault Testing, please visit our Ground Fault Testing website.