Street lighting

ses · Apr 23, 2012

Hi chaps anyone know anything about earthing requirements for street lighting.

We connected up some street lights on a new build site and the council have said that 4mm earth used from earth block to door on lamposts is incorrect?

Guest123 · Apr 23, 2012

You'll find as the council will be adopting the system and taking responsibilty for the ongoing maintenance, they will tell you to do whatever they want.

My local authority are above ----, but they have you by the short & curlies because they will refuse to adopt the system unless it is to their exact likeing.

My advice is just do what they want and make a note of it for the next time.

ses · Apr 23, 2012

I totally agree with you, they havnt said what to do tho just that the incorrect type of earth was used to earth the doors.
Is there any regs on this i can look at?

Guest123 · Apr 23, 2012

There is a street lighting bible, it's not cheap though & I cant find it on't tinterweb

Most councils work to this book.

When I first started doing street lighting, I asked my council for a copy of their own street lighting spec so we were all 'singing off the same hymn sheet', might be worth you doing the same.

My guess is they would want to see the door earthed in 10mm G&Y.

ses · Apr 23, 2012

Ok good idea thanks lenny

ian.settle1 · Apr 24, 2012

ses said:
Hi chaps anyone know anything about earthing requirements for street lighting.

We connected up some street lights on a new build site and the council have said that 4mm earth used from earth block to door on lamposts is incorrect?

On the site I work when we replace the lighting columns on the roadways it is normally 6mm minimum as anything smaller would break off when the door is taken on and off.

ses · Apr 24, 2012

Thanks i rechecked today and we have fitted 6mm originally so not sure what they are moaning about.
I cant get a response as yet from them so any other ideas?

Guest123 · Apr 24, 2012

Reg 559.10.3.4 covers the earthing requirements for street furniture........"it must be at least the same size as the supply neutral conductor at that point & no smaller than 6mm".

The other reason I can possibly see is that they are classing the column as an extraneous conductive part due to it being stuck in the ground and possibly liable to introduce a different earth potential to the lighting circuit contained with it. Obviously, this would require bonding as opposed to the earthing of an exposed conductive part so a 10mm may then be required.

SES, if you PM me your e-mail addy, I'll send you some info that I have from my council for you to look at.

mogga · Apr 24, 2012

It all depends where you are Most of the old "Strathclyde" councils have same spek doors earthed with 16mm tri rated the tri rated helps prevent breaking off they also specify SMK Cutouts
The person ordering the work should have given you the EXACT spec to work to
GCC Use to have an inspector of works we niknamed the ROTTWILER due to his ability to get hold of something and NEVER letting it go Best one was objecting to Hilti Pins for earthing overhead poles and making us drill and tapp every one Our argument was that the Hilti pin fused on entry and earth continuity was proved
As Lenny says they can be extremley ---- but they decide if they adopt the lighting of not and if they dont you have loads of hastle